Integrated decision support framework for construction land reduction projects prioritization in China: a multi-criteria decision analysis approach

Construction land reduction (CLR) is a critical strategy for implementing construction land consolidation, involving the demolition and reclamation of inefficient construction land beyond the concentrated construction areas can replace the construction land and arable land quota. The pursuit of CLR projects is essential, playing a vital role in enhancing the ecological environment, improving land use efficiency, and ensuring food security. However, the funds available to support projects are limited, necessitating a rational prioritization plan for efficient project implementation. Despite the significance, there is a lack of studies that connect prioritization with CLR projects to support inform decision-making at the government level for land consolidation. In this study, we introduced multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and developed a integrated decision support framework based on the dominance-based rough set approach (DRSA) that includes two parts: extraction of decision rules and their application. The framework was validated in Baoshan District, Shanghai, China. Nineteen decision rules were extracted from the CLR capability dimension, and twenty-one from CLR potential dimension. These decision rules were then applied to prioritize other CLR projects, resulting in the successful prioritization of ninety projects and categorized into nine ordered classes. This prioritization offers valuable decision-making references for the government’s implementation of CLR projects. Furthermore, we recommend that the government should enrich the CLR database to support the coordinated development of the regional economy and ecology.