Prioritizing RFID Applications in Civil Engineering: A Hierarchical Approach

This study utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to assess the relative impact of various Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) application subtypes within the domains of Civil Engineering and general Engineering outputs. By normalizing and assigning weighted scores to data, a structured comparison was made across four publication categories: Civil Engineering Journal Articles, Civil Engineering Conference Papers, Engineering Journal Articles, and Engineering Conference Papers. The AHP method provided a robust framework for evaluating the significance of each application type, allowing for objective prioritization. The analysis revealed that RFID applications focused on Safety and Security consistently ranked highest across all categories, highlighting their essential role in improving infrastructure management, operational reliability, and project safety. Conversely, subtypes such as Environmental Monitoring and Water Resource Management demonstrated relatively low relevance, suggesting limited impact or underutilization in current engineering literature and practice. This research is significant as it introduces a quantitative and systematic method to evaluate the effectiveness of RFID technologies in engineering contexts. The findings offer valuable insights for researchers, engineers, and policymakers, guiding future efforts in adopting RFID systems to optimize civil infrastructure, streamline construction processes, and enhance the overall efficiency and safety of engineering projects. The study thus supports evidence-based decision-making in technology adoption.