Abstract:
Coastal areas are closely linked to the development of civilizations. As anchors for commercial and military activities, they bear witness to innovation in the forms and techniques of maritime appropriation. Over the centuries, this dynamic has led to a remarkable stratification of maritime heritage within coastal spaces.
However, this historical legacy is now weakened by various factors, particularly natural and climatic phenomena, as well as the rapid urbanization of coastal zones, threatening its preservation at a time when it could become a powerful catalyst for urban revitalization through its reconversion. In recent years, this intervention has become a particularly popular strategy in urban redevelopment projects. That said, it is a complex approach to implement due to the large number of stakeholders and their divergent interests. A heritage conservation project is not necessarily a vector for urban redevelopment, and vice versa.
The main objective of this research is to propose a participatory, holistic, and transferable decision-making approach within the Algerian context, combining maritime and port heritage preservation with socioeconomic and sustainable urban revitalization of waterfronts to select the most appropriate reconversion programs. The fortification system of the Port of Algiers has been chosen as a case study.
To structure the decision-making tool, the multicriteria AHP method was employed. To define the criteria, sub-criteria, and reconversion alternatives, a literature review and stakeholder analysis were conducted. To weight the criteria and sub-criteria, the binary comparison matrix and stakeholder circle methodology were used. The designed decision model consists of six criteria and twenty-three sub-criteria. Finally, the results of the reconversion program evaluation showed that the most efficient alternative was the city of craftsmanship and maritime trades.
The added value of this study lies, on the one hand, in the proposition of an original analytical approach, combining various methodological references adapted to decision-making contexts involving multiple stakeholders with diverse impacts on the decision. On the other hand, it provides an adaptable and applicable evaluation tool for decision-makers and professionals engaged in maritime and port heritage reconversion projects within urban waterfront redevelopment processes.
