Participatory Urban Planning for Social Sustainability: A Combination of the Analytic Hierarchy Process, with Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats Analysis, and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (A’WOT-TOPSIS)

This study explores the role of participation in achieving social sustainability in urban environments. As uncertainties about the future grow, the need for methods that ensure the representation of diverse stakeholders becomes essential. The Participatory A’WOT-TOPSIS Method is introduced as an effective approach for managing multi-actor and multi-decision-making processes. This Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method combines SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). An empirical application was conducted to assess various urban scenarios through a strategic planning process involving five distinct stakeholder groups. Using an inductive approach, one of three scenarios was selected. Findings demonstrate that the proposed method enhances transparency, ensures objectivity, reduces inconsistencies in stakeholder decision-making, and promotes collaborative representation. However, increasing the number of decision-makers and decisions may lead to greater workload and time demands for those implementing the method. This approach lays the groundwork for future research incorporating elements like representation, belonging, and identity into participatory processes to foster social sustainability in urban areas.