Selecting Key Smart Building Technologies for UAE Prisons by Integrating Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy-TOPSIS

Prisons are the structures used for incarcerated inmates and are often overcrowded and understaffed. This often leads to inhumane conditions and increased violence. Smart building technologies can help to alleviate these problems to some extent and improve communication between staff and prisoners. However, selecting appropriate smart building technology for prison building requires significant effort, knowledge, and experience. The current study aims to develop a decision-making model for selecting smart building technologies for UAE prisons following the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy-TOPSIS. The results of AHP revealed that for the main criteria, economical criteria were the highest ranked with a global weight of 0.228, followed by technology and engineering criteria (global weights of 0.203 and 0.200, respectively). For sub-criteria, prison category and security was the highest ranked criterion with a global weight of 0.082 followed by antihacking capability (0.075). Concerning the final ranking of smart building technologies by fuzzy-TOPSIS, the safety and security system was the highest-ranked technology (Ci = 0.970), followed by the fire protection system (Ci = 0.636) and information and communication information network system (Ci = 0.605). To conclude, the current findings will assist UAE policymakers and prison authorities to select the most appropriate smart building technologies for UAE prison buildings.