New Fuzzy-AHP Matlab based graphical user interface (GUI) for a broad range of users: Sample applications in the environmental field

Abstract Fuzzy-AHP (analytical hierarchy process) is a powerful method for dealing with subjective information. This popular hybrid approach is widely applied in medical and health science, and industrial management, mainly agriculture and environmental sciences. However, it is a complex, time-consuming method, which has induced us to try and optimize the decision-support system process. We create the Fuzzy-AHP algorithm and program in Matlab software, and convert it with the Matlab based graphical user interface (GUI) application. This is a new desktop tool with a wide selection of applications to help decision-makers prioritize choices and/or criteria goals based on expert judgments imported from Excel and a number of criteria. The new technique is designed to allow experts to fill the matrix judgment from both sides depending on the importance of criteria selection. Also, an optional alpha index to define stable or unstable conditions was requested for advanced users. The application was tested and applied in forest recreation and agroforestry case studies. The user-friendly Fuzzy-AHP Matlab GUI facilitates the process analysis speedily and offers an innovative way of enhancing the uncertainty to find the best compromise among experts. The tool is useful for optimizing the decision-support system process in many different fields.