The findings were published in the Formosa Journal of Science and Technology (FJST) through the article titled Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SWOT Analysis of Road Infrastructure Maintenance Priorities (Case Study of Roads in Kepanjen Regency). The study was conducted by I Ketut Nagageni from the Master of Civil Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, together with Ony Frengky Rumihin and Iswandaru Widyatmoko from the same institution.
The research offers a practical framework for local governments facing a common infrastructure challenge: how to allocate limited maintenance budgets while ensuring that roads continue to support economic activity, mobility, and public safety.
Road Infrastructure Remains a Critical Economic Asset
Road networks continue to play a central role in regional economic growth. They connect production areas, support logistics systems, improve public mobility, and influence access to education and public services.
However, road deterioration often occurs faster than governments can respond. Heavy vehicle traffic, overloaded transport, increasing urban activity, and constrained public budgets create a growing gap between infrastructure needs and maintenance capacity.
Damage can appear in multiple forms, including surface cracking, potholes, rutting, and pavement peeling. When maintenance decisions are delayed or poorly prioritized, transportation costs increase and road performance declines.
The research focused on the Wlingi–Kepanjen–Turen road corridor in East Java, a strategic route linking Malang Regency and Blitar Regency. The corridor stretches approximately 52.86 kilometers and consists of four interconnected road segments that support regional transportation and economic activity.
Combining Structured Decision Analysis with Strategic Evaluation
Instead of relying on conventional ranking methods, the researchers applied an integrated decision model that combines the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with SWOT analysis.
In practical terms, the approach compares several factors simultaneously and assigns relative importance to each of them.
The study was conducted in two stages.
First, the researchers evaluated actual road conditions using indicators related to pavement damage, structural performance, and drainage quality.
Second, they integrated those observations with expert assessments and strategic considerations to establish maintenance priorities.
Four main criteria were evaluated:
- Road condition
- Maintenance cost
- Average daily traffic volume
- Strategic factors using SWOT analysis
The SWOT framework included internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats affecting infrastructure management.
By combining technical conditions with strategic evaluation, the model created a more balanced method for selecting which roads should receive maintenance first.
Road Condition Dominates Maintenance Decisions
The study produced a clear ranking of factors influencing road maintenance priorities.
The final weighting results were:
- Road condition — 0.42
- Maintenance cost — 0.25
- Average daily traffic — 0.24
- SWOT factors — 0.09
The findings indicate that road condition carries significantly greater influence than financial and operational considerations.
Road segments experiencing more severe deterioration were consistently ranked as higher priorities because of their direct impact on traffic safety, travel comfort, and distribution efficiency.
The SWOT evaluation also revealed differences among road sections.
Road segments connecting Blitar–Kepanjen and Gondanglegi–Turen demonstrated strong internal capacity and favorable external opportunities for continued development.
Meanwhile, the Kepanjen–Gondanglegi segment showed a combination of internal limitations and external risks, suggesting a greater need for defensive infrastructure strategies and targeted maintenance intervention.
Implications for Infrastructure Policy and Budget Efficiency
The findings provide practical value for regional governments and infrastructure planners.
A structured prioritization system can help public agencies move beyond reactive maintenance practices and direct limited budgets toward road sections that generate the greatest public benefit.
For infrastructure managers, the model supports more transparent and accountable decision-making.
For communities, the potential benefits include:
- Improved road quality and reliability
- Reduced transportation and operating costs
- Better traffic flow
- Increased road safety
- More efficient movement of goods and services
According to Nagageni and colleagues from Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, road maintenance decisions become more effective when technical road conditions are evaluated together with operational and strategic considerations rather than relying on budget availability alone.
The researchers also emphasized that the prioritization model should not be applied identically across regions. Different geographical conditions, traffic characteristics, and funding capacities may require adjustments to the decision criteria.
Future development of digital decision-support systems and comparative evaluation of infrastructure prioritization tools could further improve maintenance planning accuracy.
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