Methods of Analytic Hierarchy Process in Landscape Research

Using the case of factoral-dynamic analysis of mountain-taiga geosystems (landscapes) of the Maly Hamar-Daban ridge section (Western Transbaikalia), the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method is implemented. These logical and mathematical tools of a system-hierarchical approach to complex decision-making problems consist in determining the priorities of alternatives (landscape-forming factors) to achieve the goal (zonal norm), their pairwise comparison and choosing the best alternative with the maximum priority value relatively to the main goal. The combination of the AHP algorithm with factoral-dynamic analysis of the hierarchy of geosystems–geomes (facies, groups, and classes of facies)–is shown on the case of assessing the effect of factor influence on the landscape by the criterion of territorial manifestation of facies of different factor series (subhydrolithomorphic, sublithomorphic, xerolithomorphic, and subhydromorphic). Based on the calculation of an indicator, that considers the priorities of all the compared particular criteria of different levels of hierarchy and the criterion of seriality of geosystems, a measure of deviation of the state of individual facies from the zonal norm was determined and a map of landscape variability of the studied territory was made in generalized indicators showing the influence of factors of different hierarchical levels.