Numerical Comparison of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Techniques: A Simulation of Flood Management Multi-Criteria Systems

Abstract

Decision-making processes in water resources projects are often multi-criteria, and numerous techniques have been developed for evaluating these projects. The main concern in utilizing multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques is that different techniques may result different outputs, therefore, selecting an appropriate technique is crucially important. Most decision makers prefer simple and transparent decision-making approaches which simultaneously show the trade-offs among the different decisions. This study utilizes multiple comparisons of MCDM techniques to interpret the similarities and dissimilarities of those methods and their consequences in the same project, which is multi-criteria management of stochastic floods in the Sunland Park area (Diez Lagos) in southern New Mexico. The objectives of the Diez Lagos flood control system are flood damage reduction (FDR), increasing usable water supply (WS) from stochastic floods, E. coli remediation (ER) from storm water, riparian habitat restoration (RHR), and human health and safety (HHS) in the study area. For all techniques, we simulated the same decision in the form of a decision matrix with m alternatives (flood control rules) against n criteria (FDR, WS, ER, RHR, HHS, and related Costs). We investigate six techniques: TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), VIKOR (in Serbian: VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje), SAW (Simple Additive Weights), AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), ELECTRE (Elimination et Choice Translating Reality), and Compromise Programming (CP). The evaluation of the numerical results from this study can lead to the selection of the best decision-making technique, which can be extended to other projects.