MULTICRITERIA ANALYSIS OF SAFETY FOR THE LOCATION OF INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES

Abstract

The study analyzes the application of Multicriteria Analysis (MCA) in selecting locations for new industrial facilities in Ecuador, emphasizing the importance of incorporating industrial safety as a strategic criterion in decision-making. The main objective was to assess the effectiveness of multicriteria methodologies, specifically the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the PROMETHEE method, to identify the most suitable city considering seismic risk, accessibility, emergency infrastructure, resource availability, and environmental conditions. The research followed a qualitative-quantitative approach, based on a documentary review of scientific and regulatory studies, and the comparative application showed that Cuenca is the safest and most balanced option, with lower seismic exposure, adequate service coverage, and less urban pressure compared to the other cities, obtaining higher scores in both methods. It is concluded that MCA is an effective tool to integrate technical, social, environmental, and safety criteria in complex location decisions, offering a structured and transparent framework that enhances sustainability and reduces operational risks. Furthermore, the study highlights the need to strengthen the training of engineering and industrial safety professionals in the use of these methodologies and recommends complementing their application with geographic information systems to achieve a more comprehensive and updated evaluations of environments