Multi-criteria Assessment Method Research Articles

Potential zones identification for district cooling system: A GIS-based multi-criteria assessment method incorporating cooling demand mapping

The district cooling system (DCS) is seen as a promising cooling solution for its flexibility and high efficiency. Identifying suitable zones for DCS construction is one of the major challenges in implementing DCS, as the characteristics of the selected zones significantly impact the performance and benefits of DCS. This paper presents a geographic information system (GIS) based two-stage assessment method to rapidly determine potential zones for DCS from a large-scale. Firstly, employing a top-down method to spatially assess cooling demand. Secondly, three novel indicators (RCI, Rday, Rcap) for DCS cooling intensity, cooling duration, and capacity utilization rate evaluation are proposed, and a multi-criteria decision-making method is applied to identify potential zones for DCS implementation. Based on the proposed method, the cooling demand in China is mapped. Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, and Shenzhen are identified as the four cities with the highest cooling demand. Furthermore, the potential zones for DCS in Guangzhou are assessed. The results indicate that zones with the highest potential exhibit high robustness against weight uncertainty and are primarily concentrated in densely populated areas. The proposed indicators and method could provide support for macro-level planning of DCS to effectively improve the decision-making efficiency.

Multicriteria Assessment Method for Network Structure Congestion Based on Traffic Data Using Advanced Computer Vision

Overloading of network structures is a problem that we encounter every day in many areas of life. The most associative structure is the transport graph. In many megacities around the world, the so-called intelligent transport system (ITS) is successfully operating, allowing real-time monitoring and making changes to traffic management while choosing the most effective solutions. Thanks to the emergence of more powerful computing resources, it has become possible to build more complex and realistic mathematical models of traffic flows, which take into account the interactions of drivers with road signs, markings, and traffic lights, as well as with each other. Simulations using high-performance systems can cover road networks at the scale of an entire city or even a country. It is important to note that the tool being developed is applicable to most network structures described by such mathematical apparatuses as graph theory and the applied theory of network planning and management that are widely used for representing the processes of organizing production and enterprise management. The result of this work is a developed model that implements methods for modeling the behavior of traffic flows based on physical modeling and machine learning algorithms. Moreover, a computer vision system is proposed for analyzing traffic on the roads, which, based on vision transformer technologies, provides high accuracy in detecting cars, and using optical flow, allows for significantly faster processing. The accuracy is above 90% with a processing speed of more than ten frames per second on a single video card.

Building green infrastructure for mitigating urban flood risk in Beijing, China

Due to climate change and accelerated urbanization, urban flooding has an increasing impact on the sustainable development of metropolitan areas. Since the 1990s, green infrastructure has developed as an alternative and sustainable approach to the mitigation of flood disaster in urban areas. To improve the resilience of urban ecological flood control and build a green infrastructure network, we provide quantitative measures of flood risk assessment to generate a grid-scale (1 ×1 km) flood risk assessment results and analyze its spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Then, we propose a GIS-based multi-criteria assessment method to determine the priority areas of green infrastructure according to four criteria, generating a distribution map of green infrastructure priorities in Beijing at the township scale. From the perspective of urban flood risk mitigation, the research proposes a new method to determine the priority areas of green infrastructure, thus establishing suggestions for future green infrastructure construction in Beijing.

МЕТОДИКА МНОГОКРИТЕРИАЛЬНОЙ СРАВНИТЕЛЬНОЙ ОЦЕНКИ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ЗАМЕНЫ СРЕДСТВ ИЗМЕРЕНИЙ И АВТОМАТИКИ

Ensuring technological sovereignty requires large-scale and massive replacement of foreign technical means in the control and automation systems of many industrial enterprises. This problem is especially relevant for critical infrastructure facilities, in particular energy supply systems and enterprises. The article presents a methodology that allows for a comparative multi-criteria assessment and selection of control and measuring instruments (measuring-and-recording apparatus) for the comprehensive re-equipment of control and management systems of energy enterprises, heat, electricity and water supply systems, industrial and household consumers. The methodology implements an integrated approach to solving the optimal choice problem based on the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology. The global efficiency criterion is formed as a result of the convolution of heterogeneous local efficiency criteria of measuring devices, which makes it possible to take into account specific technological requirements for measuring instruments and methods, the specifics of installation and operating conditions of devices. The method of multi-criteria assessment of the effectiveness of the use of measuring instruments significantly speeds up and simplifies the process of objective selection of optimal technical means and reduces qualification requirements for users. The database and algorithm for calculating global criteria can be used to create a decision support system within the framework of automatic design systems.

Auditing and Rating Sustainability of Mediterranean Buildings, Neighbourhoods and Cities

Sustainability rating systems for the built environment involve a multitude of indicators that are based on different types of data. This work capitalizes on an existing multicriteria assessment method and supporting decision-making tool at building and neighbourhood scale, to develop an enhanced method and tool at city scale. The main sustainability issues at building and city scales include site and infrastructure, energy and resources consumption, environmental loadings, climate change, environmental quality, water, waste, transportation, services, social aspects, economy and governance. Approximately 300 indicators distributed among the different scales are used to describe and quantify the various facets of sustainability. Specifically, the building scale includes a pool of 80 indicators of which 17 are key performance indicators (KPIs), the neighbourhood scale has 133 indicators of which 14 are KPIs and the city scale has a total of 99 indicators of which 10 are KPIs that were new additions to the existing method. The emphasis in this paper is given on elaborating the key performance indicators for cities and demonstrating their applicability through a case study. The common method and tools provide a flexible assessment system for local authorities and stakeholders to develop and assess sustainability plans.

Assessment of the competitiveness of tourism services in the region: modern realities

The purpose of the article is to develop theoretical provisions and methodological support for assessing the competitiveness of tourist services as the basis of a tourist destination. And the methods of factor analysis, the method of multi-criteria assessment, the correlation-regression method, the methods of indicative planning and economic and mathematical modeling were used. Some problems have been solved using comparison and linear optimization methods. The article explores theoretical and methodological approaches to the evaluation of tourist services in a constantly changing competitive environment and the actualization of new technologies. The methods of assessing and transforming the quality and increasing the competitiveness of tourist services within the regional recreation and tourism market were studied using the example of the Republic of Tatarstan, which predetermined the relevance of the stated topic, the purpose of the study and the tasks set. The practical value is confirmed by the possibility of using the results obtained in the development strategy of tourist organizations by regional government bodies, as well as in the activities of federal and regional tour operators.

Valorisation of Waste Heat in Existing and Future District Heating Systems

To recover thermal energy from different sources, its quality and possibilities for utilisation are essential. The wide range of engineering solutions includes a direct connection to the district heating (DH) system and the integration of low-quality heat using heat pumps to increase the temperature level of recoverable heat. Therefore, this article compares waste heat valorisation strategies for integration into existing DH networks, low-temperature DH, and ultra-low heat supply systems using the multi-criteria assessment method. In addition, a local scale assessment was performed to identify the waste heat role in existing RES-based DH systems. The results show that the highest waste heat valorisation rate could be reached when integrated into low-temperature DH systems due to high waste heat potential and suitable temperature conditions. However, a local scale assessment shows a significant impact on the already implemented solar technologies, as waste heat could cover around 70% of the summer heat load.

МНОГОКРИТЕРИАЛЬНАЯ ОЦЕНКА ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ МЕРОПРИЯТИЙ ПО РЕСУРСОСБЕРЕЖЕНИЮ В ИНЖЕНЕРНЫХ СИСТЕМАХ ТИПОВЫХ ЗДАНИЙ

Improving the energy efficiency of existing capital construction projects is an important and urgent task. To improve the efficiency of operation of residential apartment buildings, an analysis of existing measures for energy and resource saving was carried out, a set of particular criteria for the effectiveness of energy-saving measures for engineering systems of buildings was proposed, and the values of savings during their implementation for four types of houses were determined. A method for assessing the comparative effectiveness of energy-saving measures using the DEA multi-criteria assessment method (Data Envelopment Analysis) is proposed. Comprehensive performance criteria are formulated for the analysis of measures for heating, water supply and electricity supply systems. The use of the DEA methodology makes it possible to optimize the choice of priority areas for the implementation of resource saving measures for all types of buildings

A Novel Psychological Decision-Making Approach for Healthcare Digital Transformation Benchmarking in ASEAN

In recent years, digital transformation is seen as a mandatory and urgent requirement in the process of modernizing countries. The effectiveness of the digital transformation process in the field of public management directly affects the social life and operations of businesses. This study aims to paint an overall picture of the healthcare digital transformation of a rapidly growing region, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), through a bounded rational multi-criteria assessment method. The novel proposed method is developed in light of the psychological behavior theories and the strengths of multi-criteria decision-making methods, which are based on distance computation and statistical parameters. Therefore, it can not only determine the weight of the criteria objectively through distance correlations, but also deeply describe the subjective psychology of the decision maker. In addition to theoretical contributions with a novel approach, the findings in the benchmarking process reveal important indicators and practical lessons from the digital transformation successes in ASEAN.

A Method of Multi-Criteria Assessment of the Building Energy Consumption

The aim of this study is to develop a universal method for the unequivocal selection of the optimal combination of components determining the energy efficiency of buildings by means of an introduced global building energy consumption indicator. The basis of this method is a multi-criteria optimization of the components influencing the energy efficiency of buildings. The method requires the development of a detailed description of the set of components influencing the energy efficiency of buildings and the definition of the analysis criteria. The following analysis criteria were adopted: relative annual demand for final energy, cost, durability, and investment outlays payback time. The normalized values of these criteria are calculated in relation to the structure of a reference building. The proposed method makes it possible to explicitly indicate the most advantageous solution from the point of view of the weighted share of the individual criteria. The verification of the method was presented on the basis of the thermo modernization case study analysis for the adopted reference building. As a result, the most advantageous variant of modernization was determined, defined by the lowest value of the global building energy consumption indicator. A high effectiveness of the proposed method has been shown in relation to both the selection of the modernization option and the assessment of the individual component share in each modernization solution.

APPLICATION OF FUNCTIONAL DEPENDENCE FOR MULTI-CRETIRIAL ASSESSMENT OF LABOR SAFETY AS AN OBJECT OF QUALIMETRY

The subject matter of the article is the method of multi-criteria assessment of the indicator of labor safety in production. The goal of the work is to develop a methodology for applying functional dependence for multi-criteria assessment of labor safety in production, taking into account the characteristics of the system of harmful and dangerous production factors. The following task is solved in the article: to explore the possibility of using a functional dependence to obtain estimates of different-dimensional labor safety indicators on a dimensionless scale, while taking into account its unevenness and coordinating it with the characteristics of hazardous factors in production. Methods are used: qualimetry and mathematical statistics; expert. The following results were obtained: the existing functional dependencies between the measured values of quality indicators and their assessment on a dimensionless scale, which were used to evaluate qualimetry objects of various natures, were analyzed. It is shown that for an objective assessment of qualimetry objects, as a rule, nonlinear dependencies should be used. The main task of the researcher is to choose the type of nonlinear dependence; this requires additional scientific research. The tool for choosing one or another non-linear relationship is the understanding of the physical essence of the qualimetry object, that is, the understanding of the patterns of the relationship between the measured value of the qualimetry indicators and their assessment. For this, it is important to use the methods of expert assessments, because usually such patterns are unknown. The functional dependence used to obtain estimates of labor safety indicators in production is stepwise and includes a form parameter. By changing the shape parameter, the curvature of the dependence changes, thereby changing the estimate on the dimensionless scale. This feature of the applied dependence allows us to develop a universal methodology, that is, by changing the shape parameter, this dependence can be applied to various indicators of labor safety in any production. As an example, the article considers metallurgical production, while assessing the most dangerous factors. A step-by-step methodology for determining a generalized indicator of labor safety in production and an example of measured numerical values of hazardous factors has been developed, its effectiveness and versatility have been shown. Conclusions: to determine the generalized indicator of occupational safety at work, it is proposed to use the functional relationship between individual indicators of harmful production factors and their values on a dimensionless scale, which gives a quantitative assessment of occupational safety at work. With the help of the proposed method, you can make management decisions, which minimizes the deviation of the actual values of harmful factors from the optimal ones.

Smart buildings for smart cities: Analysis of the Smart Readiness Indicator

Subject of this study is the analysis of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), as well as its application for a residential building in Greece. The indicator, which was firstly introduced in the revised EPBD in 2018, assesses the buildings’ smart readiness through the examination of the presence and the evaluation of the functionality level of smart services. Its goal is the promotion of buildings that are energy efficient, adaptive to their users’ needs, and flexible in respect of their electricity demand, according to the three key - functionalities, as stated by the Directive. A smart building is not only characterized by its sustainability but also by its adaptiveness to the environmental conditions and its users’ preferences. Smart buildings are a basic component of smart cities, which utilize a great range of smart technologies aiming at the improvement of their citizens’ lives. The Smart Readiness Indicator as well as the sub indicators evaluate the smart buildings using a multicriteria assessment method, which is thoroughly described in this paper. Finally, the indicators’ calculation is executed for a residential building in Greece leading to results, which are discussed along with identified methodology shortcomings and difficulties.

Determining the Level of Market Concentration in the Construction Sector—Case of Application of the HHI Index

Background—competitive conditions are often distorted in the construction sector, therefore this affects the market position of all participants. This paper seeks to find the tools for properly assessment of participants by Herfindahl-Hirschmann index (HHI) and to identify what parameters have the greatest impact in the competitiveness of the construction sector. Methods: in this article the DEMATEL method was used whereas tool for assessing the balance of market concentration as it may help to determine factor with the greatest influence on a firm’s HHI. Results in this work showed how different parameters affect each other and their impact on a value of a firms’s HHI. When the parameters are determined, they can be useful for assesment of mergers their influence on the HHI and alteration of the market’s power balance. Conclusions—The calculation of the HHI by using the DEMATEL method allowed to check the empirical implementation check of the multicriteria assessment method, on the market power of business entities, operating in the distorted market conditions of the construction sector.

A GIS-Based Multicriteria Assessment for Identification of Positive Energy Districts Boundary in Cities

Discussions regarding the definition of Positive Energy Districts and the concept of a boundary are still being actively held. Even though there are certain initiatives working on the boundary limitations for PEDs, there is no methodology or tool developed for selecting peculiar spaces for future PED implementations. The paper focuses on a flexible GIS-based Multicriteria assessment method that identifies the most suitable areas to reach an annual positive non-renewable energy balance. For that purpose, a GIS-based tool is developed to indicate the boundary from an energy perspective harmonized with urban design and land-use planning. The method emphasizes evaluation through economic, social, political, legal, environmental, and technical criteria, and the results present the suitability of areas at macro and micro scales. The current study outlines macro-scale analyses in six European cities that represent Follower Cities under the MAKING-CITY H2020 project. Further research will be conducted for micro-scale analyses and the outcomes will pursue a technology selection process.

Integrated AHP-TOPSIS methods for optimization of epoxy composite filled with Kota stone dust

In this research article, Hybrid MCDM approaches like AHP (analytical hierarchy process) and TOPSIS (technique for order preference by the resemblance to an ideal solution) methods are used to rank Kota stone dust filled epoxy composites. Physical properties like density, water absorption rate and mechanical properties like hardness, compressive strength, flexural strength and tensile strength are evaluated. Relative weights of criteria are obtained using AHP technique and consistency index and consistency ratio are calculated. AHP is a multi-criteria assessment method which organizes decision-making and simplifies it. Later TOPSIS method is used to select best epoxy composite for fabrication of wind turbine blades. Finally, it is estimated that the most appropriate epoxy composites for the manufacturing of wind turbine blades are epoxy with 20 wt% of Kota stone dust.

Multi-criteria assessment of the scenarios of changing the heating system in apartments in historical buildings in Wroclaw (Poland) – Case study

The aim of this study was to carry out a detailed examination of the situation in 15 premises in buildings built before World War II in three variants: existing condition, standard use and standard use after modernization. The proposed multi-criteria assessment method made it possible to compile on one scale the results of the analysis of very different criteria (emission, energy consumption for heating, energy costs, comfort of using the premises). It was found that in 9 tested premises the energy costs and the impact on the natural environment were lowered by drastically reducing the comfort of use. Significant differences were shown in the assessment of the effects of thermal-modernization depending on the reference level. The average reduction of energy costs after modernization in relation to standard use is 41%. Whereas, the reduction of costs in relation to existing condition is on average 2%. Thanks to an in-depth analysis, it was found that even after modernization, there is a risk of improper use in 5 premises, e.g. further underheating of the premises as a result of high operating costs. However, including all criteria in the assessment, the overall situation of tested premises after modernization condition improves by on average 60%.

Optimization of waste kota stone dust filled epoxy composite by analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach

In this paper, a new class of epoxy composites with Kota stone dust as fillers are fabricated by varying the content of filler from 10 wt% to 40 wt%. Different mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, compressive strength and hardness are evaluated for all the fabricated samples. The main objective of the work is to select an appropriate combination of epoxy and Kota stone dust by using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for providing the optimized results. Selecting the most suitable combination of filler and matrix material plays a leading role in the production of epoxy composites. AHP is a multi-criteria assessment method which organizes decision- making and simplifies it. The method is explored for the first time for such combination of matrix and filler material. Finally, it is estimated that the most appropriate epoxy composites for the manufacturing of partition boards are epoxy with 20 wt% of Kota stone dust. As per AHP approach the ranking order of the selected compositions is: 80% Epoxy + 20 % wt. KSD > 70% Epoxy + 3 0 % wt. KSD > 60% Epoxy + 40 % wt. KSD > 90% Epoxy + 10 % wt. KSD respectively.

Semiquantitative Risk Assessment Method for Groundwater Source Protection Using a Process-based Interdisciplinary Approach

Potable groundwater resources are at risk as a result of industrial development and an increase in fertilizer use. Protection of the groundwater supply may require the establishment of groundwater source protection zones (GSPZs) to allow the implementation of protective measures. The aim of this study was to develop a new approach to groundwater source risk assessment (GSRA). The risk was defined as the highest of the risks identified for individual potential sources of contamination (PSCs). The risk resulting from a given PSC is the combination of its adverse impact on groundwater, unwanted event probability, and adverse effect and annoyance to the population. A multicriteria assessment method was designed to estimate indices of the potential groundwater impact of industrial facilities and noninert waste landfills with the range and weight method. Application of the proposed approach was tested considering an idealized model and three scenarios involving various industrial PSCs and fertilization practices. The overall nitrogen load was compared to the maximum effective nitrogen load for the crops in question. Sensitivity analysis of this methodology revealed that the main factors influencing the risk to the water supply include the nonreactive contaminant mass load in PSC leachate and the ratio of the groundwater volume abstracted from wells to the amount of water flowing from PSCs into wells, which determines the dilution degree of the contaminant mass. This proposed interdisciplinary approach to GSRA provides a robust basis to reach decisions on GSPZ establishment and the development of a groundwater risk analysis methodology.

Search for Effective Governments in Post-Soviet Russia While Excluding the Factor of World Oil Prices from the Results of the Country’s Economic Development

The method of multi-criteria assessment of economic development based on an econometric model with the identification of production, market and institutional factors in relation to the parameters of economic growth and development risks is developed. The methodology is applied to the study of actual data on the economic development of post-Soviet Russia, which allowed us to obtain objective assessments of the activities of individual governments on a large set of criteria: oil-dependent, oil-dependent and diversifying, progressive, regressive and passive, conservative and destructive, managed and unmanaged development, etc.both in terms of growth and development risks, as well as individual development factors. The article describes the parameters of economic development during periods of shock therapy, radical reforms, post-devaluation recovery, building a "vertical of power" and "nationalization of the elite". It is concluded that the last periods only preserved the institutionally degraded society, but did not ensure its development. The period 2004-2008 is the only one when a positive purposeful impact of the government on development risk was revealed, namely, it was organized to reduce the fluctuation of economic growth during the period of rising oil prices. There were no positive targeted effects of governments on economic growth.

Sustainability Assessment of Public Transport, Part II—Applying a Multi-Criteria Assessment Method to Compare Different Bus Technologies

Many Swedish regional transport authorities want bus fleets driven on renewable fuels. However, it may be difficult to know what technology, or combination of technologies, to choose. There is a need for improved knowledge and supportive methods for sustainability assessments that can support public procurement processes. In the companion article (Part I), a multi-criteria assessment (MCA) method for assessments of public bus technologies’ sustainability was established, consisting of four key areas and 12 indicators. In this article, the purpose is to apply the method established in part I on different bus technologies by looking at a general Swedish case and assessing buses driven on diesel, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), ethanol, natural gas, biomethane and electricity. Each technology is assessed on a scale from Very Poor to Very Good according to the indicators: technical maturity, daily operational availability, total cost of ownership, need for investments in infrastructure, cost stability, non-renewable primary energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emission savings, air pollution, noise, local/regional impact on land and aquatic environments, energy security and sociotechnical systems services. The results show the strengths and weaknesses of each technology, which are later discussed. We also critically reflect upon the usefulness and accuracy of the MCA method.