NAME: ALABI ISAAC IFEOLUWA

MATRIC NO: FPA/SG/23/3-0023

MULTI-CRITERIA DATA ANALYSIS (MCDA) AND ANALYTICAL

HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP)

1. Multi-Criteria Data Analysis (MCDA)

Multi-Criteria Data Analysis (MCDA) is a decision-making framework used to evaluate

multiple conflicting criteria in complex decision problems. It helps in ranking, prioritizing, or
selecting the best alternative when different factors need to be considered simultaneously
(Majumder & Majumder, 2015).

Key Features of MCDA

 Considers both qualitative and quantitative criteria.

 Supports decision-making in uncertain and complex environments.
 Provides a structured approach to problem-solving.

Applications of MCDA

 Environmental Management (e.g., site selection, land-use planning).

 Urban and Regional Planning (e.g., transportation planning, infrastructure development).
 Resource Allocation (e.g., prioritizing water distribution, energy planning).
 Risk Assessment (e.g., disaster response planning).

Types of MCDA Methods

1. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) – Uses pairwise comparisons to determine the

weight of criteria.

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 2. Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) –
Identifies the best alternative by comparing its distance from an ideal solution.
3. Weighted Sum Model (WSM) – Assigns numerical weights to different criteria and
sums them up for decision-making.
4. Elimination and Choice Expressing Reality (ELECTRE) – Uses outranking to
compare alternatives.
5. Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) – Converts qualitative criteria into utility
scores for evaluation.

2. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)

The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a popular MCDA technique developed by

Thomas L. Saaty in the 1970s. It is based on a structured decision-making approach that uses
pairwise comparisons to establish the importance (weights) of different criteria (Rawat et al.,
2022).

Key Steps in AHP

1. Define the Problem – Identify the goal of decision-making.

2. Structure the Hierarchy – Break down the decision problem into goal → criteria →
alternatives.
3. Pairwise Comparison – Compare criteria and alternatives in a matrix format, assigning
numerical values (Saaty’s scale of 1–9).
4. Calculate Weights – Normalize the matrix and compute the priority weights.
5. Check Consistency – Calculate the Consistency Ratio (CR) to ensure the judgments are
reliable.
6. Rank Alternatives – Multiply criteria weights by alternative scores and select the best
option.

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Applications of AHP

 Site Selection (e.g., choosing the best location for infrastructure).

 Environmental Decision-Making (e.g., land use, forest management).
 Urban Planning & Transportation (e.g., prioritizing road networks).
 Resource Management (e.g., selecting optimal water supply strategies).
 Business & Project Management (e.g., supplier selection, investment planning).

Comparison of MCDA and AHP

Aspect MCDA AHP

Definition A broad framework for decision- A specific MCDA method that uses
making using multiple criteria. hierarchical structuring and pairwise
comparisons.
Approach Can include various methods Uses a hierarchical model and
(TOPSIS, WSM, ELECTRE, pairwise comparisons.
etc.).
Weight Different approaches (e.g., direct Uses a consistency-based weight
Assignment ranking, pairwise comparison, calculation.
utility functions).
Mathematical Varies based on the method used. Moderate complexity with matrix
Complexity computations.
Consistency Depends on the method. Uses Consistency Ratio (CR) <
Check 0.10 to validate results.
Best Used For Broad decision problems with Problems requiring structured and
multiple techniques. logical prioritization.

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COMPARISON OF COPERNICUS (SENTINEL) AND LANDSAT SATELLITES

Below is a detailed breakdown of temporal resolution, geometric resolution, swath width,

and band types/ranges for both Copernicus (Sentinel) and Landsat missions.

1. Copernicus

Copernicus is the European Union’s Earth observation program, designed to provide continuous
and reliable environmental data for monitoring the planet. It operates a series of Sentinel
satellites, which offer high-resolution optical and radar imagery for applications such as climate
change monitoring, land use analysis, disaster management, and environmental protection.
Sentinel-1, for example, uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to capture data regardless of
weather conditions, while Sentinel-2 provides high-resolution optical imagery for vegetation and
land cover assessments. Copernicus data is freely available, supporting scientific research,
policy-making, and commercial applications worldwide.

Sentinel Temporal Geometric Swath Types of Spectral

Mission Resolution Resolution Width Bands Range
(Spatial)
Sentinel-1 6–12 days 5–40 m 250 km C-band SAR 5.405
(SAR) GHz
Sentinel-2 5 days 10 m (RGB, 290 km 13 spectral 443–
(Optical) (global) NIR), 20 m bands 2190 nm
(Red Edge,
SWIR), 60 m
(Coastal
Aerosol,

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 Cirrus)
Sentinel-3 1–2 days 300 m (OLCI), 1270 km OLCI (21 400–
(Ocean & (ocean), ~27 500 m bands), 12000
Land days (land) (SLSTR), 1 km SLSTR (9 nm
Monitoring) (Thermal) bands),
SRAL (Radar
Altimeter)
Sentinel-4 Hourly 8 km (Nadir) Geostationary UV, Visible, 290–
(Atmospheric NIR 2400 nm
Monitoring)
Sentinel-5 1 day 5.5–7 km 2600 km UV, Visible, 270–
(Atmospheric NIR, SWIR 2385 nm
Monitoring)
Sentinel-6 (Sea 10 days 300 m 350 km Radar 13.5 GHz
Level Altimeter (Ka-
Monitoring) band)

2. Landsat

Landsat is a joint Earth observation program by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
that has been providing continuous satellite imagery since 1972 (Wulder et al., 2022). It is one of
the longest-running satellite programs, offering valuable historical data for land cover change
detection, environmental monitoring, and resource management. Landsat satellites capture
multispectral and thermal imagery with spatial resolutions ranging from 15 to 100 meters,
making them useful for agriculture, forestry, water resource management, and climate studies.
With a 16-day revisit cycle, Landsat ensures consistent and reliable data, complementing other
satellite systems like Copernicus Sentinel for long-term environmental analysis.

Landsat Temporal Geometric Swath Types of Bands Spectral

Mission Resolution Resolution Width Range
(Spatial)

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Landsat 18 days 79 m 185 km 4 bands (Green, Red, 500–
1-3 (MSS) NIR) 1100 nm
Landsat 16 days 30 m 185 km 7 bands (Blue, Green, 450–
4-5 (TM) (Multispectral), 120 Red, NIR, SWIR, 2350 nm
m (Thermal) Thermal)
Landsat 7 16 days 30 m 185 km 8 bands (Blue, Green, 450–
(ETM+) (Multispectral), 15 Red, NIR, SWIR, 12500
m (Panchromatic), Thermal, nm
60 m (Thermal) Panchromatic)
Landsat 8 16 days 30 m 185 km 11 bands (Coastal, 433–
(OLI & (Multispectral), 15 Blue, Green, Red, 12510
TIRS) m (Panchromatic), NIR, SWIR, nm
100 m (Thermal) Thermal, Cirrus,
Panchromatic)
Landsat 9 16 days 30 m 185 km 11 bands (Same as 433–
(OLI-2 & (Multispectral), 15 Landsat 8) 12510
TIRS-2) m (Panchromatic), nm
100 m (Thermal)

Summary of Key Differences

Feature Sentinel (Copernicus) Landsat

Temporal 5–12 days (Sentinel-2), 1–2 days (Sentinel- 16 days
Resolution 3), 6–12 days (Sentinel-1 SAR)
Geometric 10–60 m (Sentinel-2), 5–40 m (Sentinel-1 15–100 m (Landsat 8 & 9)
Resolution SAR), 300 m+ (Sentinel-3)
Swath Width 290 km (Sentinel-2), 250 km (Sentinel-1), 185 km (Landsat 1-9)
1270 km (Sentinel-3)
Spectral Bands 13 (Sentinel-2), 9 (Sentinel-3 SLSTR), 21 11 (Landsat 8 & 9), 8
(Sentinel-3 OLCI) (Landsat 7), 7 (Landsat 4-5)
Application Higher temporal resolution for frequent Long-term data continuity for

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 Focus monitoring historical analysis

REFERENCES

Majumder, M., & Majumder, M. (2015). Multi criteria decision making. Impact of Urbanization
on Water Shortage in Face of Climatic Aberrations, 35–47.

Rawat, S. S., Pant, S., Kumar, A., Ram, M., Sharma, H. K., & Kumar, A. (2022). A state-of-the-
art survey on analytical hierarchy process applications in sustainable development. Int. J.
Math. Eng. Manag. Serv, 7, 883–917.

Wulder, M. A., Roy, D. P., Radeloff, V. C., Loveland, T. R., Anderson, M. C., Johnson, D. M.,
Healey, S., Zhu, Z., Scambos, T. A., & Pahlevan, N. (2022). Fifty years of Landsat science
and impacts. Remote Sensing of Environment, 280, 113195.

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