H-MCDM Model to the preservation of dynamic historic urban sites

Abstract The preservation of historic urban sites presents complex challenges for public administration due to the multifaceted nature of built heritage and the need for integrated, sustainable management models. This study introduced a Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making H-MCDM model to support the prioritisation of preventive maintenance for historic buildings. The model combined the Best–Worst Method (BWM) for criteria weighting with the Fuzzy Group Multi-MOORA (FG-MULTIMOORA) method for alternative ranking, specifically addressing uncertainty in decision-makers' evaluations through fuzzy logic. Key criteria were categorised into three classes: Structural Vulnerability, Cultural Significance, and Potentials and Restrictions. The model was applied to 20 buildings representing the historic center of Sobral, Brazil. A notable finding was the prominence of religious temples among the top-ranked alternatives, reflecting their historical, cultural, and structural significance, intensive use, and exposure to environmental agents. Consistency indicators, including an overall Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC = 0.498) and a high Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance (W = 0.899), underscored the model’s robustness and its capacity to integrate diverse expert judgments. -making in heritage conservation, facilitating efficient resource allocation and promoting the holistic preservation of both cultural and structural values in active historic urban sites.