Abstract
To increase the level of adequacy in multi-criteria decision-making in the case of uncertainty, it is essential to reduce the subjectivism and to increase the reality of obtained results. The study aims to propose a novel fuzzy multi-criteria method based on the fuzzy linear programming method and sequential interactive model for urban systems method (SIMUS), named fuzzy SIMUS. This paper is something completely different because it links the power of fuzzy with the advantage of the SIMUS method. Indeed, not using weights, it works with optimal values. Here, this procedure is presented for the first time. The methodology consists of three stages. The first stage includes forming the parameters of a multi-criteria model in the case of uncertainty. The initial matrix has three values: lower, medium, and upper. In the second stage, the fuzzy SIMUS model for each objective is formed based on fuzzy linear programming method. The third stage deals with the ranking of the alternatives. The methodology was experimented for planning railway intercity passenger transport in Bulgarian’s railway network. Nine alternative transport plans and eight criteria were studied. It was found that the objectives which influence ranking the most are the frequency of train stops (15%), direct operational costs (15%), train’s capacity (14.7%), and reliability (14.3%). A transport plan for railway passenger transport is proposed. A verification of the results was performed. It was found that the stability of the choice presented a suitable alternative.
Highlights
The multi-criteria analysis is an effective decision-making tool in choosing an appropriate alternative depending on different quantitative and qualitative criteria
The advantages of the novel fuzzy sequential interactive model for urban systems method (SIMUS) method are as follows: it does not use expert assessments to evaluate the criteria and rank the alternatives; it permits to decisionmaker to solve problems in the case of uncertainty; it uses fuzzy linear optimization for each objective, which allows to determine the score of each objective; it gives a ranking of the alternatives; the multi-criteria and multi-objective approaches to decision making are combined to increase the adequacy of the results; it allows the weights of the criteria to be determined if the decision-maker wants to analyse them
The methodology consists tree stages: the first stage includes forming the parameters of a multi-criteria model in the case of uncertainty; in the second stage, the fuzzy SIMUS model Symmetry 2021, 13, x FOR PEER REVIEW for each objective is formed by applying the fuzzy linear programming method.5Tohfe22third stage deals with the ranking of the alternatives
Summary
The multi-criteria analysis is an effective decision-making tool in choosing an appropriate alternative depending on different quantitative and qualitative criteria. The fuzzy logic has many applications in decision-making by using multi-criteria analysis. The sustainable development in passenger railway transport depends on development of the passenger train planning. The determination of the transport plan depends on different quantitative and qualitative criteria affecting the transport process, which in many cases cannot be precisely determined. This is due to the unevenness of passenger flows, which affects the choice of transport services. When evaluating the passenger satisfaction in passenger railway transport, it is necessary to take into account the uncertainty of criteria influencing on transport process
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