THE APPLICABILITY OF MULTICRITERIA-ANALYSIS TO THE EVALUATION OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (ITS) Klaas De Brucker, Alain Verbeke and Cathy Macharis ABSTRACT This paper describes both the theoretical foundations of multicriteria- analysis (MCA), and the process-related steps to be followed when conducting an MCA in practice. Two MCA methods are discussed in greater detail, namely the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and PROMETHEE. Although the discussion of the merits of MCA in this paper can be viewed as generic, special attention is devoted to the applicability of these methods to intelligent transport systems (ITS) cases. The paper critically examines the strengths and weaknesses of MCA as compared to cost benefit analysis (CBA), especially in the context of ITS applications. 1. INTRODUCTION In contrast to cost-benefit analysis (CBA), based on neoparetian welfare eco- nomics, multicriteria-analysis (MCA) has its roots in a different discipline, namely operations research (Charnes & Cooper, 1961). MCA does not necessarily rely on welfare economics concepts such as consumer surplus, i.e. the Dupuit-Marshall Economic Impacts of Intelligent Transportation Systems: Innovations and Case Studies Research in Transportation Economics, Volume 8, 151–179 Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier Ltd. All rights of reproduction in any form reserved ISSN: 0739-8859/doi:10.1016/S0739-8859(04)08008-4 151