A Multi-Criteria Decision-Support Framework for Heritage Materials

The evaluation of heritage materials remains a critical challenge within circular economy frameworks, where existing approaches primarily focus on technical and environmental performance while neglecting cultural, historical, and contextual dimensions. This study proposes a Building Heritage Material Passport (BHMP)-based multi-criteria decision- support framework that operates at the material level, integrating structured material data, multi-criteria evaluation, and decision-making within a unified methodology. The approach combines technical indicators (Compatibility and Durability) with heritage- driven indicators (Traceability and Cultural Value) and applies fuzzy scoring together with context-sensitive weighting based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), enabling the integration of qualitative and quantitative assessments under conditions of uncertainty. A key feature of the framework is the introduction of a threshold-based decision mechanism that directly translates evaluation outcomes into operational intervention strategies, distinguishing between conservation and reuse pathways. This enables the evaluation process to move beyond descriptive assessment and operate as an explicit decision-support tool. The methodology is validated through its application to two degraded heritage buildings located in the Valle dell’Agri (Basilicata, Italy), characterized by different levels of material traceability and cultural significance. The results demonstrate the ability of the framework to generate consistent, transparent, and context-aware decisions, effectively balancing technical performance with heritage values. The proposed approach contributes to bridging the gap between digital material documentation, multi-criteria evaluation, and decision-making processes, supporting more effective and sustainable management of heritage materials in circular economy contexts.