Decision Support for Peri-Urban Sustainability: An AHP–EWM Based Livability Vulnerability Assessment

In Korea, rural regions increasingly function as peri-urban zones integrated into urban systems. To assess vulnerabilities in these transitional areas characterized by mixed land use and uneven access to infrastructure, this study developed a three-tiered peri-urban livability vulnerability framework by integrating the analytic hierarchy process and the entropy weight method. The results indicated that medical facilities, childcare and education centers, and village communities consistently emerged as key indicators, linking peri-urban livability directly to the stability of settlement environments and the quality of life of residents. Contrastingly, expert evaluations and data-driven outcomes related to road networks and agricultural infrastructure displayed substantial discrepancies, revealing gaps between perceived importance and actual provision levels. Such differences highlight the risk of underestimating infrastructure-related vulnerabilities when subjective assessments are employed exclusively. By synthesizing subjective and objective weights, this study advances urban and environmental analysis and supports evidence-based decision-making for policy prioritization. The findings demonstrate that peri-urban vulnerability is shaped less by productive capacity than by social infrastructure and community stability. This conclusion offers crucial insights for enhancing livability and guiding urban planning strategies.