Comparative Analysis of Escalator Operation and Energy Performance with ARAS-Based Selection of Drive Unit

Escalators represent vital continuous vertical transportation infrastructure within high-throughput commercial and transit facilities. Accurate determination of motion resistance and motor power ratings is essential for optimizing energy efficiency and operational life cycles. This study presents a comprehensive comparative evaluation of two distinct mathematical methodologies for calculating escalator motion resistance and electric motor power requirements. Empirical data collected from a dedicated case study across two operational shopping centers during peak weekend passenger traffic (Saturday) serve as the foundation for evaluating real transport capacity. Utilizing real-time traffic profiles, key performance metrics, including overall energy consumption, the Energy Service Efficiency Index, and Specific Energy Consumption (SEC), were evaluated under actual operating conditions. Furthermore, a Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) framework was formulated to assess long-term economic performance across both installations. To resolve the trade-offs between mechanical efficiency, operational cost, and capacity, the Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) multi-criteria decision-making method was applied to select drive units for each escalator configuration. The findings reveal critical variances between classical and refined calculation models, providing practical design recommendations and decision-support criteria for selecting energy-efficient drive units in commercial building applications.