Analytical Hierarchical Process Method Research Articles

A Novel Security Risk Analysis Using the AHP Method in Smart Railway Systems

Transportation has an essential place in societies and importance to people in terms of its social and economic aspects. Innovative rail systems need to be integrated with developing technologies for transportation. Systemic failures, personnel errors, sabotage, and cyber-attacks in the techniques used will cause a damaged corporate reputation and revenue losses. In this study, cybersecurity attack methods in smart rail systems were determined, and cyber events occurring worldwide through these technologies were analyzed. Risk analysis in terms of transportation safety in smart rail systems was determined by considering the opinions of 10 different experts along with the Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) performance criteria. Informatics experts were selected from a group of people with at least 5–15 years of experience. According to these risk analysis calculations, cybersecurity stood out as the most critical security risk at 27.74%. Other risky areas included physical security, calculated at 14.59%, operator errors at 16.20%, and environmental security at 10.93%.

Developing quality indicators for cancer hospitals in China: a national modified Delphi process

ObjectiveAlthough demand and supply of cancer care have been rapidly increasing in recent decades, there is a lack of systemic quality measurement for cancer hospitals in China. This study aimed...

An analysis of barriers to the implementation of smart grid technology in Pakistan

The share of renewables in the energy mix of Pakistan has gradually been increasing over the past few years, and the generated electricity is sufficient to cater to consumer electricity demands. However, almost one-third of the population still lacks electricity because of inefficiencies in transmission and distribution systems. To address this, the government introduced smart grid projects that were ineffective. Therefore, for the successful implementation of the Smart grid technology in Pakistan, it is important to know the barriers to implementing the technology in Pakistan and determine their interrelationship with each other. This research aims to identify Pakistan-specific smart grid implementation barriers through a mixed-methods approach involving a literature review and expert surveys based on the Delphi method to identify barriers and determine their interlinkages. Nine barriers are identified: state monopoly, lack of public awareness, lack of relevant regulations and policies, organizational barriers, financial constraints, market uncertainty, a dearth of technical human resources, lack of modernized grid infrastructure, and data management issues. This is followed by developing a hierarchical model in consultation with Pakistan's Energy sector experts using the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method. The driving and dependence powers of the identified barriers are determined by using MICMAC analysis. The result shows that the nine barriers are interlinked at five hierarchical levels. These are: ‘state monopoly’, and ‘lack of public awareness (level five)’, ‘lack of relevant regulations and policies (level four)’, ‘organizational barriers (level-three)’, ‘market uncertainty and financial barriers (level-two)’, and ‘lack of modernized grid infrastructure’, ‘a dearth of technical human resources’, and ‘data management issues (level-one)’. From this, we draw the conclusion that since the barriers with high driving power are influencing those with less driving power, the identified barriers may be addressed sequentially starting from level-five for the successful implementation of the Smart grid technology in Pakistan. The existing literature on the Smart Grid Implementation barriers in Pakistan lacks a determination of the interlinkages between barriers. Therefore, the findings of this research will help the energy sector stakeholders in Pakistan understand the nature of the barriers hindering smart grid technology implementation and enable them to devise effective energy policies while simultaneously adopting intelligent implementation and operational strategies. Insights reported in this study could also be useful for policymakers and stakeholders from other developing countries with socioeconomic and political contexts similar to Pakistan. Further investigations on the findings of this study may be performed using the Analytical Hierarchical Process method to quantify the weights of barriers identified in this research, and Structural Equation Modeling may be used to check the validity of the hierarchical model developed in this study.

Land suitability assessment for wheat-barley cultivation in a semi-arid region of Eastern Anatolia in Turkey.

The efficient use and sustainability of agricultural lands depend heavily on the characteristics of soil resources in a given area, as different soil properties can significantly impact crop growth and yield. Therefore, land suitability studies play a crucial role in determining the appropriate crops for a given area and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. This study, conducted in Tusba District-Van, Turkey, represents a significant advancement in land suitability studies for wheat-barley cultivation. Using geographic information systems, the analytical hierarchical process method, and the standard scoring function, lands were determined based on the examined criteria for the suitability of wheat-barley cultivation. One of this study's main findings is identifying critical factors that influence the suitability of land for wheat-barley cultivation. These factors include slope, organic matter content, available water capacity, soil depth, cation exchange capacity, pH level, and clay content. It is important to note that slope is the most influential factor, followed by organic matter content and available water capacity. A Soil Quality Index map was produced, and the suitability of wheat-barley production in the studied area was demonstrated. More than 28% of the study area was very suitable for wheat-barley production (S2), and more than was 39% moderately suitable (S3). A positive regression (R2=0.67) was found between soil quality index values and crop yield. The relationship between soil quality index values and crop yield is above acceptable limits. Land suitability assessment can minimize labor and cost losses in the planning and implementation of sustainable ecological and economic agriculture. Furthermore, land suitability classes play an active role in the selection of the product pattern of the area by presenting a spatial decision support system.

Unlocking the hidden potential: groundwater zone mapping using AHP, remote sensing and GIS techniques

Groundwater resource problems are increasing development and planning challenges due to climate change and overexploitation, necessitating assessments of their potential and productivity. The study area has been facing a groundwater level decline problem for many years, and these results can help increase the groundwater level in the basaltic rock area. In this research, we have worked on the demarcation and suitability of groundwater potential zones using GIS and Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) methods for the Urmodi River Basin. This research prepared eight thematic maps, that is, geomorphology, geology, drainage density, land use/land cover, elevation, lineament density and slope from satellite data and GIS methods, which play a primary factor in determining the proper groundwater potential zones. In this study, every thematic map was allocated weights depending on its specific characteristics and contribution to the groundwater potential capacity. The weights were determined using the AHP method, which considers the comparative significance of every layer about others. This weighting procedure allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the factors influencing groundwater potential in the Urmodi River basin. The resulting groundwater potential map was divided into four classes, that is, good, excellent, moderate, and poor. The study revealed that approximately 22.69% of the basin had excellent groundwater potential, 28.96% had good potential, 25.32% had moderate potential, and 22.92% had poor potential. These study findings suggest that a significant portion of the Urmodi River Basin exhibits good to moderate groundwater potential, indicating promising opportunities for sustainable groundwater utilization in the region. The groundwater potential zone map accuracy is 84% based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) method. These results can have implications for sustainable groundwater resources and provide a framework for conducting similar assessments in other regions. The results can be more important for sustainable development goals and helpful in increasing groundwater levels in the area.

Cloud model assessment of urban flood resilience based on PSR model and game theory

The frequency of urban floods is increasing due to extreme precipitation events, necessitating urgent improvements in urban flood resilience (UFR). To effectively assess the level of UFR, this contribution proposes an improved cloud model UFR assessment model based on pressure-state-response (PSR) model and game theory. A UFR index system is constructed based on the PSR model, incorporating urban constituent elements, resilience characteristics and resilience realization process. Based on game theory, the analytic hierarchical process (AHP) and entropy weight method (EWM) are combined to build an improved cloud assessment model of UFR. Taking Zhengzhou City as an example, the assessment results show that with nine years of continuous efforts, the UFR of Zhengzhou has improved year by year from 2012 to 2020 and reached medium resilience level III from lower resilience level II. The pressure layer is found to be risky, the state layer is moderate resilience, and the response layer is more responsive. The assessment model is feasible, and the results are consistent with the actual situation. Optimization suggestions are made in terms of infrastructure and ecological environment, early warning and emergency management, and flood resilience knowledge learning, respectively, to provide theoretical support and decision-making reference for the improvement of the UFR management level.

Role of GDP in the Sustainable Growth Era

While there is a correlation between economic growth and the increase in living standards, economic theory is evident in the purpose of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measurement. GDP measures only the production capacity and economic growth, not the nation’s development, as often claimed by policymakers. Furthermore, as several studies show, by focusing on economic growth and neglecting the other two crucial systems, the ecosystem, and the social system, we will not be able to achieve economic growth in the future. Since the GDP was developed in 1937, it has faced criticism not only for its limitation related to its construction. Also, the concept of economic growth is currently being challenged and being replaced by the pursuit of sustainable development. Therefore, the role of GDP, as an economic growth indicator, in our economy needs to be clarified and re-assessed. The main aim of this paper is to investigate the usefulness of the GDP in the era of sustainable development. To achieve this, we investigated the historical development of various measures of economic growth, as well as the historical development of the GDP as an economic growth metric. Furthermore, we argue that the future of GDP should be in the multi-dimensional indicators, which are used to measure the sustainable development of a country, as opposed to a self-standing single-dimensional measure of economic growth. As a case study, we also construct two measures, based on Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) using the free online software ‘SuperDecisions: our Simple three-dimensional index of the nation’s growth and the enhanced holistic three-dimensional index – Holistic Nation’s Growth Index. Using the AHP method, we showcase the difference between the countries’ rankings if we consider only economic growth and if we focus on the country’s development more holistically. Our comparative study reveals that it is not enough to look only at three main systems, the economic, social, and ecosystem while assessing the countries’ development. It is necessary to also investigate and try to capture the relationships between those three main systems.

The impact of Industry 4.0 implementation on required general competencies of employees in the automotive sector

Abstract In an effort to reduce operating costs and to increase the quality and efficiency of production, production organizations in the automotive sector are trying to implement the Industry 4.0 concept, which has become a phenomenon of the last two decades. These initiatives have a significant impact on the employees in production organizations, especially in automotive sector. The main aim of the presented study is to expertly assess the importance of general competencies for transforming job positions in the automotive industry in Slovakia. The starting point of the presented study were the results of research focused on emerging positions in the automotive industry and the competencies required by employers in Slovakia. Based on the expert assessment, the hierarchical structure of the solved problem was created and the importance of competencies for analysed job positions was assessed by applying the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method. The results pointed to the growing importance of non-technical competencies. Analyses have shown that actually the most important work competencies are: basic literacy, professional knowledge, problem solving, digital skills and analytical thinking. The development of the necessary competencies will be important both, from the point of view of employers, but also of employees working in professions that are in decline, become endangered and need to be transformed into the required professions.

Factors controlling groundwater Arsenic concentration in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

The Red River Delta (RRD) has a high population density with about 19 million inhabitants. Water supply is from surface water and groundwater resources, in which surface water is from rivers and groundwater is mainly taken from aquifers in Quaternary sediments. Last two-decade research’s results show that groundwater in some areas in the RRD are contaminated with high elevated levels of Arsenic. Many research studies investigating Arsenic pollution have found that concentrations in water samples surveyed in Hung Yen, Hanoi, Ha Nam etc exceed the permissible value for domestic use as WHO guideline and Vietnam standard as well. The key factors controlling the distribution of Arsenic in the groundwater from previous studies are formation environment, sedimentary facies, sedimentary age, salinity of pore water and even neo-tectonic activity. However, which factor is more important for controlling groundwater arsenic distribution in the RRD need to be clarified. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the degree of controlling factors on the distribution of Arsenic in groundwater in the RRD. An overview of previous studies on the origin of Arsenic in groundwater is the first step to analyse the factors affecting the distribution of Arsenic in groundwater. A method of superposition of the controlling factors on the basis of ArcGIS was applied. Each controlling factor was classified and assigned a certain value. The weights of the factors were determined based on expert opinions and analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method. The results of model calibration based on the current distribution of Arsenic concentration map of the Holocene and Pleistocene aquifers allow confirming the reliability of the weights of controlling factors. Research results show that the groundwater Arsenic concentration in the RRD depends mainly on the distribution of Holocene alluvium and its age. The remaining factors are very insignificant in this case.

Asteroid Mining research based on the Global Equity Evaluation Model

With the aggravation of the imbalance in world development, people pay more and more attention to global equity. In general, global equity means that the fruits of development are shared by all mankind, and the development gap between countries is reasonable, so that people of all countries can enjoy stability and happiness. Based on the principle of global equity, this paper further studies the problem of asteroid mining. First, we established a global equity evaluation model (two-level) model, which calculates development indicators from economic, scientific and technological, cultural, social and other aspects, and uses analytic hierarchical process (AHP) and entropy weight method (EWM) to determine the dimensions and weight of indicators. We then describe our vision for asteroid mining. Based on the premise that asteroid mining is managed by a unified department, an asteroid mining allocation model (three-level) is established, using the ARIMA model to predict the data, using AHP and EWM to define the weights to reflect the impact of mining on global equity. In the end, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of our models, leaving room for further studies.

Validity of decision criteria for selecting power-to-gas projects in Poland

Renewable energy sources ultimately intend to become the only power source in modern economies. In the coming years, new generation systems based on renewable energy sources (RESs), new energy transmission systems, and new management systems will be introduced for the electricity and gas sectors. As RESs work irregularly, proper management is crucial for the reliable operation of the electrical grid. Their utility will depend mainly on energy storage capacity. Power-to-gas (P2G) technology, where electrical energy is converted into, e.g., hydrogen or methane, will become an essential solution. The forthcoming transformation will require substantial financial and technical investments. Decision-makers should consider many factors (e.g., social responsibility, location, distance from gas and electrical grids, and solar and wind resources). The implementation of individual projects should be carried out carefully. Poorly planned projects work inefficiently in terms of costs and technical aspects. This paper aims to identify the conditions necessary for implementing P2G projects. Multi-Criteria approaches based on chosen benchmarks can help to select optimal P2G projects.In the paper, the weights of the proposed decision criteria, such as investment cost, investment return time, substrate resources, environmental attraction and social acceptance, were determined based on the stakeholder surveys using the chosen elements of the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method. The proposed approach allows considering differing viewpoints and establishing the validity of each of them indirectly. The applied approach based on the AHP method, the validity of technical, economic and environmental criteria was determined based on both the preferences of experts in the field of energy and transportation as well as the energy end-users. As a result of the analysis, two dominant factors were selected: access to substrates and economic efficiency - meaning that a deep analysis of substrates resources should precede the work on P2G projects.

Analysis of erosion susceptibility through urban scenarios for an expanding area

Urban scenarios can be used by decision makers on matters related to urban expansion, especially when urban areas have socio-environmental problems, such as those resulting from erosion processes. The aim is the analysis of erosion susceptibility with the construction of urban scenarios using the AHP method to assist decision making on urban expansion. Thus, the AHP (Analytical Hierarchical Process) technique was employed to analyze the data collected and a GIS for the spatialization and building of these scenarios. The methodology was developed based on a real case of a Brazilian city located in the state of São Paulo. To validate the methodology, the current scenario of the studied area was constructed and compared with the actual situation of the place. As a conclusion, the study was validated for the applied area and proved to be a tool capable of assisting local governments regarding decision-making processes for urban expansion.
 
 Keywords: Urban Scenarios, AHP, Erosive Processes, Urban expansion, Erosion susceptibility

Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Using LiDAR Data: A Case Study of Khao Yai National Park, Thailand

Landslide is the natural problem occur worldwide due to its geological features, climatic characteristics and human activities. With the help of a geographic information system (GIS) and the Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) method, this research attempts to develop a map of landslide susceptibility. During the present investigation, a total of ten landslide influencing factors including elevation, slope, curvature, aspect, topographic wetness index (TWI), land cover, lithology, precipitation, distance to the road and drainage, were examined for the present analysis. Using AHP, weights were applied to each factor. The weight over lay approach was used to create the landslide susceptibility map, which was then divided into five classes. According to the research findings of the susceptibility classes, 19.97% of the research 's area was highly susceptible, followed by 61.65% of low susceptible, 17.33% of moderate susceptible, 0.94% of high susceptible, and 0.12% of very high susceptible. The areas with extremely high landslide susceptibility are adjacent to a road system and have a steep slope. The amount of mean annual rainfall is high and lithology belonging to the Jurassic metasediments. The findings for this map showing the research area's vulnerability to landslides in Khao Yai National Park are useful for planners and decision-makers for slope management and future development projects in the area.

Selection of mooring system configuration of a FSO using multi-criteria methods

In order to maintain and restrain the movement of a temporary storage tanker during the loading and offloading process, it is necessary to design a mooring system that is safe and reliable for its operation needs. The main problem that must be solved in this research is choosing the appropriate mooring system configuration for the temporary storage tanker equipped with a catenary mooring configuration that can be used for oil loading operations from the storage tanker to a transport tanker using the ship to ship method. This research focusses in the selection of mooring system configurations based on the strength of the anchor chain. There are nine alternatives configurations and predetermined criteria that were carried out in the study. Each alternative configuration will provide a different value of tension in each mooring line and ship movement. The analysis of the mooring tension is carried out using dynamic method with time domain approach. There are many criteria to be considered in the selection of the alternatives. The analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method is used in the selection of the best configuration based on multi criteria conditions. As case study of the study is a temporary storage tanker at Papa Field in Pertamina (Persero) ONWJ operation area as temporary storage taker is an Aframax tanker size.

The integration of digital twin and serious game framework for new normal virtual urban exploration and social interaction

COVID-19 has disconnected humanity, reduced social interaction in physical urban areas, and led to the new normal, which describes the anticipated changes in human life and professionals due to the impact of the pandemic. In addition, as part of digital transformation, the post-pandemic New Normal includes accelerating digital solutions and new standards for virtual urban exploration and planning. This study applies the concept of digital twin and serious game design and uses Minecraft, a game-based platform that inspires creative, inclusive learning through play, for virtual urban exploration and the development of social interaction among participants. Dadaocheng, a historical area of Taipei city, is then studied as a case study with the Geoboxers application to develop the prototype for a co-creation experiment in Minecraft. The prototype development and the results of the experiment are then used in the Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) method to evaluate a set of influential criteria proposed in this study through pairwise comparisons by expert panelists. The results of the AHP analysis reveal users' simultaneous preferences for urban planning and social interaction with urban characteristics (22.14%), urban exploration (12.29%), and 3D models (11.97%). Subsequently, the research results showed a need to promote the integration of digital twins and serious game applications as digital tools for urban exploration and social interaction, increasing post-pandemic virtual urban planning and applying new urban design techniques. This study also contributes to the acceleration of digital transformation in urban planning and management.

Investigation of Sustainable Rural Tourism Activities With Different Risk: A GIS‐MCDM Case in Isfahan, Iran

AbstractDevelopment of rural tourism activities improves the quality of life, with many associated benefits for local people. Accordingly, this study aims to prioritize tourism areas in Isfahan province using the multiple‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) model to provide the best ecosystem services to tourists. Nine rural tourism activities (camel‐riding, hiking, mountaineering, desert tourism, wildlife observation, cycling, canyoning, camping, and horse riding) are assessed based on integrating the priorities of each suitability criteria (fuzzy membership and Analytic Hierarchical Process method) with the different risk levels. The results show that mountaineering (86.48% moderate risk; 91% high risk) and canyoning (70% moderate risk; 97% high risk) represent the best alternatives for development of tourism. According to the results of this research, tourists can make the best decisions about individual activities by determining their priorities based on associated levels of risk.

A Hybrid Multi-Hazard Susceptibility Assessment Model for a Basin in Elazig Province, Türkiye

Preparation of accurate and up-to-date susceptibility maps at the regional scale is mandatory for disaster mitigation, site selection, and planning in areas prone to multiple natural hazards. In this study, we proposed a novel multi-hazard susceptibility assessment approach that combines expert-based and supervised machine learning methods for landslide, flood, and earthquake hazard assessments for a basin in Elazig Province, Türkiye. To produce the landslide susceptibility map, an ensemble machine learning algorithm, random forest, was chosen because of its known performance in similar studies. The modified analytical hierarchical process method was used to produce the flood susceptibility map by using factor scores that were defined specifically for the area in the study. The seismic hazard was assessed using ground motion parameters based on Arias intensity values. The univariate maps were synthesized with a Mamdani fuzzy inference system using membership functions designated by expert. The results show that the random forest provided an overall accuracy of 92.3% for landslide susceptibility mapping. Of the study area, 41.24% were found prone to multi-hazards (probability value > 50%), but the southern parts of the study area are more susceptible. The proposed model is suitable for multi-hazard susceptibility assessment at a regional scale although expert intervention may be required for optimizing the algorithms.

Geospatial approach for Landslide Susceptibility Mapping techniques: A Case Study of Ratnagiri District, Maharashtra, India

Natural and anthropogenic pressure leads to landslides which are catastrophic disaster. Due to climate and land use changes, increase in population landslides has been increasing, specifically, in the mountainous areas. It is threat to lives and their properties. It is necessary to understand geophysical setup of any region causing landslides. It is better to have scientific approach to identify landslide potential risk zones. There are several advanced techniques to study landslides. Here analytical hierarchical process and frequency ratio method incorporated with geospatial technology are utilized for identification of conditioning factors for landslides and landslide susceptibility mapping. Most of the landslide susceptible area are located in the eastern and some middle part of study region (Ratnagiri District). The landslide possibilities are very high along the riverside, high slope region and lineament surrounding. Very high susceptible zone is found to be located mainly in middle part of Chiplun, Devrukh, Rajapur and Dapoli, the southern part of Mandangarh, Khed and eastern part of Ratnagiri. The eastern part of Khed, Chiplun, Devrukh and Lanja falls under the high susceptible zone. Middle part of Guhagar, northern part of Ratnagiri and Rajapur fall under moderate susceptible zone. The southern part of Ratnagiri and western side of Rajapur fall under low susceptible zone. Proper planning and development in terms of disaster mitigation management are needed. No further construction near landslide hazards should be allowed. New laws/regulations should also restrict further construction around the zone of slope failures.

Managers’ Perception and Attitude toward Financial Risks Associated with SMEs: Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach

This study aimed to identify financial and cash flow risks associated with SMEs and investigated how managers perceived these risks using the analytical hierarchical process (AHP). Accordingly, a three-level decision model was structured using two criteria, probability and consequences, and a list of six different types of risks as decision alternatives. Data were collected by a survey questionnaire from SME managers/owners and analyzed in accordance with the AHP method. The results show that the priority weight for risk criteria was 52% for probability and 48% for consequences. Further, with an average weight of 18.8%, the risk of an increase in bank charges ranked as the highest type of risk faced by SMEs. However, the risk of low or no profits was ranked as the lowest with an average weight of 13.4%. This study is one of the few, if not the first, to investigate SME managers’ perceptions using an AHP method and to provide insightful information on how SME managers/owners perceived various financial and cash flow risks. The study results may support the use of the AHP method in understanding managers’ perceptions and attitudes toward various types of risks associated with SMEs.

RANKING OF CRITERIA FOR ORDER ALLOCATION IN A RUBBER GLOVE MANUFACTURING FACTORY USING ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS (AHP)

Malaysia is the world’s leading producer of rubber gloves, among over 150 manufacturers worldwide. Based on current practice among the manufacturer of rubber gloves, there is no fixed guideline in planning for the orders based on various criteria as each criterion has its importance, and the orders are planned based on the real-time situation. Therefore, in this study, the criteria to be considered for order allocation to factories and their importance were determined using Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) technique. Six criteria, namely quality, cost, lead time, capacity, special requirement, and regulation compliance, were identified based on the literature search of past studies in the field and supported by the expert’s opinion. Later, the experts ranked the importance of each criterion using a specifically designed questionnaire employing the AHP method. The pairwise comparison matrix was consistent with a consistency ratio (CR) value of 0.0495. Thus, the six criteria by ranking top to bottom with respective weightage are quality (25.81%), cost (21.7%), lead time (20.73%), regulation compliance (16.86%), special requirement (7.86%), and capacity (7.04%). In summary, the objectives of this research have been successfully met, according to the findings, and the criteria ranking can be used as a guideline by rubber glove manufacturers in planning for order allocation.