HIERARCHY RANKING TECHNIQUE: A DECISION-MAKING METHOD TO PRIORITIZE CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS IN ONSHORE WIND TURBINE FOUNDATIONS

This study introduces the Hierarchy Ranking Technique (HRT), a multi-criteria decision-making methodology developed to evaluate and prioritize the resolution of construction defects in onshore wind turbine foundations. The proposed technique establishes a structured prioritization strategy by considering factors such as urgency, seriousness, growth potential, time required for resolution, and associated costs. Employing data collected from an actual onshore wind farm, we applied the HRT to enhance decision-making in the resolution of construction defects of wind turbine foundations, by pinpointing, categorizing, and hierarchically ranking the mentioned defects. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the HRT in supporting decision-making processes, by assessing and ranking construction defects, thereby enabling stakeholders to systematically prioritize interventions, efficiently allocate resources, and effectively formulate maintenance strategies and mitigation plans.