Multiple Criteria Analysis Methods Research Articles

Multiple criteria analysis for electrifying off-grid island using renewable energy microgrid or submarine cable

Renewable energy microgrids are a new option for powering remote islands. To explore the feasibility of constructing island microgrid in China, based on the failed Dongfushan Island Demonstration Microgrid Project caused by equipment failure, low economic benefits, low residents' satisfaction, and poor power supply stability, this paper compares two power supply methods, microgrid and submarine cable. A systematic multiple criteria analysis method is established to compare these two methods, including economic analysis, risk assessment, energy spilled and energy shortage. Net present value and the life-cycle cost method are used to establish the economic cost model. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is used to establish the risk assessment model. Additionally, the simulation using PVsyst software is used to calculate the energy spilled and energy shortage. Furthermore, future trends are predicted with data to provide suggestions for decision-makers. Multiple criteria analysis results showed that energy spilled and shortages are inevitable for the use of microgrid on seasonally tourist islands like Dongfushan Island, with energy spilled and shortages rate as high as 50.11% and 37.57% in the worst case. The microgrid risk level is relatively low risk, higher than the lowest risk level for submarine cables. At full capacity, the cost of microgrid (34.03 million yuan) is comparable to submarine cables (30.31 million yuan), making the latter more suitable for power supply due to its better reliability.

Assessment of Different Metal Screw Joint Parameters by Using Multiple Criteria Analysis Methods

This study compares screw joints made of different materials, including screws of different diameters. For that purpose, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 mm diameter steel screws and various parts made of aluminum (Al), steel (Stl), bronze (Brz), cast iron (CI), copper (Cu) and brass (Br) are considered. Multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) methods such as evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS), simple additive weighting (SAW), technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) are utilized to assess reliability of screw joints also considering cost issues. The entropy, criterion impact loss (CILOS) and integrated determination of objective criteria weights (IDOCRIW) methods are utilized to assess weights of decision criteria and find the best design alternative. Numerical results confirm the validity of the proposed approach.

Application of Various Multiple Criteria Analysis Methods for the Evaluation of Rural Road Projects

Introduction:Ex-ante evaluation of rural road projects is important for proper utilisation of scarce financial resources. In recent years, several multiple criteria analysis methods have been applied for the evaluation of transportation projects.Methods:Here we compare three multi-criteria methods (i.e. TOPSIS, MOORA, and PROMETHEE) in ranking rural roads. The criteria and weightage were identified with an expert questionnaire survey and the decision matrix was obtained from a field survey of four rural roads of Nepal. These data demonstrate the successful application of various multi-criteria analysis methods for the evaluation of rural road projects with sustainable indicators.Results:The results of multi-criteria methods depend upon the value of performance measures, weightage, normalization, and aggregation procedures.Conclusion:We also concluded that the multi-criteria methods used (i.e. TOPSIS, MOORA, and PROMETHEE), in which weightage is derived using robust methods (e.g. AHP) and precise measurement of criteria of rural roads, in general return similar rankings.

EVALUATION OF THE OPTIMAL ENGINEERING SOLUTION FOR SWIMMING POOL CONSTRUCTION

The article describes the evaluation of the optimal engineering solution for monolithic reinforced concrete swimming pool (one of the most durable swimming pools). There are three alternatives for constructing an indoor swimming pool. The three swimming pool construction alternatives differ by flashing and finishing technologies. Three alternative options are analysed in order to find the optimal building technology alternative for the construction of indoor swimming pool: pairwise comparison method (only subjective significance is determined), the cross-entropy method, and expert method. The most rational (optimal) technological solution for the construction of the swimming pool was selected by means of multiple-criteria decision analysis. The closeness to the ideal point method and efficiency value method were applied. The optimal alternative was found by means of weighted sums. The swimming pool construction price in EUR/m2 was the most important evaluation criterion in the selection of the optimal swimming pool building technology alternative. The results obtained by means of two multiple-criteria analysis methods were different; therefore the weighted sum model was applied. The best alternative for the construction of indoor swimming pool was as follows: concrete reinforced with 300 mm bars, waterproofing tape BT2025S and 1.5 mm thick reinforced waterproofing finishing film.

Use of a participatory approach to develop a regional assessment tool for bioenergy production

Recent years have witnessed an upsurge in certification schemes and sustainability assessment tools for bioenergy, however these mechanisms are often too generic, numerous and too broad for regional or local level implementation. Furthermore, these assessments are often weighted toward economic and environmental sustainability with less focus on social, cultural and institutional factors. This study was intended to overcome these limitations. We developed a community-driven regional assessment tool for forest-based bioenergy production in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (USA). Stakeholders representing local landowners, farmers, township supervisors, timberland management companies, venture capitalists, government organizations and local interest groups generated a preliminary list of criteria and indicators (C&I) in a series of focus groups and interviews, and narrowed the list using multiple criteria analysis (MCA) in a workshop. Participants ranked environmental protection as the most important and relevant sustainability criteria, although policy and governance, and institutional capacity were also weighted highly. The final set of C&I consisted of 17 criteria and 31 indicators (in parentheses): Economic (6), Environmental (7), Social (8), Policy and regulations (4) and Institutional capacity (6). This set reflected the general balance across sustainability principles valued by the stakeholders. While expert-developed sustainability assessments are routinely biased toward easily quantifiable indicators, the indicators that were considered important and relevant by our participants included both quantitative as well as qualitative indicators, in almost equal proportions. This participatory MCA method identified criteria and indicators that reflect the regional context and the concerns of local stakeholders, and data for many of these indicators are readily available.

A non-additive multiple criteria analysis method for evaluation of airline service quality

Subjective preferences with interactive property are often involved in the evaluation of airline service quality. It may not be possible, however, to correctly evaluate service quality using conventional additive measures. The fuzzy measure, which is a non-additive measure, is more suitable for this situation. Given the presence of arduousness in current fuzzy measure identification and in the calculation of the comprehensive performance values of alternatives in terms of the Choquet integral, this paper proposes the λk fuzzy measure and introduces Marichal entropy of the λk fuzzy measure to reach a solution. This paper also presents the aggregator Choquet integral with respect to the λk fuzzy measure. To verify the method's effectiveness, an application study of the comprehensive performance of 15 US airlines was conducted, using data collected over a 10-year period. Our results show that the proposed method is a suitable multi-criteria analysis method, which can be used to evaluate the performance of airline service quality when man–made interaction phenomena are not existent.

Multiple-criteria Analysis of Plasterboard Systems

Multiple-criteria analysis methods are a useful tool for decision making support in everyday engineering practice. They turn out to be especially helpful when one considers numerous variants described by many parameters, such as commercially available drywall systems - plasterboard partition walls, claddings and suspended ceilings. In this study four methods of multiple-criteria analysis are investigated (weighted sum, weighted product, ideal point and PROMETHEE II) and 7 normalization algorithms (vector, Manhattan, maximum, Weitendorf linear, Jüttler-Korth linear, Peldschus nonlinear, Zavadskas and Turskis logarithmic) and their influence on the rankings obtained for 5 groups of products: plasterboard partition walls without fire resistance, EI30 partition walls, hard partition walls, suspended ceilings and ceiling claddings. The study shows high sensitivity of the commonly used methods to input data normalization algorithms and indicates the need for a cautious approach to the results obtained by them.

Forecasting the discomfort levels within the greater Athens area, Greece using artificial neural networks and multiple criteria analysis

In this work, artificial neural networks (ANNs) were developed and applied in order to forecast the discomfort levels due to the combination of high temperature and air humidity, during the hot season of the year, in eight different regions within the Greater Athens area (GAA), Greece. For the selection of the best type and architecture of ANNs-forecasting models, the multiple criteria analysis (MCA) technique was applied. Three different types of ANNs were developed and tested with the MCA method. Concretely, the multilayer per- ceptron, the generalized feed forward networks (GFFN), and the time-lag recurrent networks were developed and tested. Results showed that the best ANNs type performance was achieved by using the GFFN model for the prediction of discomfort levels due to high temperature and air humidity within GAA. For the evaluation of the constructed ANNs, appropriate statistical indices were used. The analysis proved that the forecasting ability of the developed ANNs models is very satisfactory at a significant statistical level of p<0.01.

Recommended Biometric Stress Management System

The experiences of undergoing economic crises attest that the loss of employment prompts an outbreak of mental illnesses and suicides, increases the numbers of heart attacks and strokes and negatively affects other illnesses suffered by individuals under stress. Negative stress can devastate a person, cause depression, lower productivity on the job and the competitiveness of businesses and damage the quality of life. The Recommended Biometric Stress Management System, which the aforementioned authors of this article have developed, can assist in determining the level of negative stress and resolve the problem for lessening it. The system can help to manage current stressful situation and to minimise future stress by making the level of future need satisfaction more rational. In the first case, the system facilitates individuals to make a real-time assessment of their stress level and, after they fill in a stress management questionnaire, to get rational tips for the reduction of current stress based on the best global practice accumulated in the system. The multi-variant design and multiple criteria analysis methods are used for that purpose. The generation of recommendations and the selection of the most rational are based on criteria systems and on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Since this is an interdisciplinary area of research, psychologists, philosophers and experts in information management and decision-making theories and intelligent and biometric technologies participated in the development of this system. Over the course of this system’s development, the biometric technologies of information, intelligence and voice were integrated. The case study submitted in this article demonstrates this developed system.

Identification of hazardous waste landfill site: a case study from Zanjan province, Iran

The study of landfill sites is one of the most important studies in landfill engineering, and the landfill site selection involves combination of engineering, science, and politics. This paper describes a comprehensive hazardous waste landfill site selection methodology with the combined utilization of geographic information system and multiple criteria analysis methods, as applied to the Zanjan province in Iran. The six main data categories that were used are geological/engineering geological, geomorphological, hydrological/hydrogeological, climatological, pedological, and social/economical criteria, which included 31 input layers in total. A suitability map for hazardous waste landfilling was prepared for study area with five classes from most suitable to completely unsuitable. Finally, out of the three sites, one site was selected which was chosen by the local authorities. Our work offers a comprehensive methodology and provides essential support for decision-makers in the assessment of hazardous waste management problems in Zanjan province in I.R. Iran and other developing cities in other countries.

Multiple objective optimization of the fleet sizing problem for road freight transportation

SUMMARYA fleet sizing problem (FSP) in a road freight transportation company with heterogeneous fleet and its own technical back‐up facilities is considered in the paper. The mathematical model of the decision problem is formulated in terms of multiple objective mathematical programming based on queuing theory. Technical and economical criteria as well as interests of different stakeholders are taken into account in the problem formulation. The solution procedure is composed of two steps. In the first one, a sample of Pareto‐optimal solutions is generated by an original program called MEGROS. In the second step, this set is reviewed and evaluated, according to the Decision Maker's (DM's) model of preferences. The evaluation of solutions is carried out with an application of an interactive multiple criteria analysis method, called Light Beam Search (LBS). Finally, the DM selects the most desirable, compromise solution. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Research on learning objects quality and reusability

The paper is aimed to analyse the learning objects quality evaluation model taking into account learning objects reusability principles. Multiple criteria analysis methods and quality evaluation criteria identification principles are used to create the learning objects quality evaluation model. The portrait of the sets of the learning objects reusability principles and the learning objects quality evaluation criteria is presented in the paper. This portrait shows the bilateral cohesion of theseprinciples and criteria. The presented learning objects quality evaluation model is usable in education institutions while selecting learning objects in the market or free-of-charge repositories.

Model for a Complex Analysis of Intelligent Built Environment

The purpose of intelligent built environment is to improve inhabitant's quality of life and to satisfy inhabitants by replacing routine work with smart devices and robots. Smart devices and robots can interpret changes in the built environment and respond appropriately. The problem is how to define a rational intelligent built environment when many various stakeholders are involved, projects have thousands of alternative versions and the quality of life and economical efficiency changes with alterations in micro and macro environmental conditions and the constituent parts of the process in question. Moreover, the realization of some objectives seems more rational from the economic perspective though their significance is varied from other perspectives. The formalized Model for Complex Analysis of Intelligent Built Environment and the Multiple Criteria Decision Support System of Intelligent Built Environment developed by the authors of this paper show how changes in project alternatives and the extent to which the goals of various stakeholders are satisfied cause respective changes in the value and utility degree of a project. To achieve the above-mentioned aims new multiple criteria analysis methods were developed.

Multiple criteria optimization method for the vehicle assignment problem in a bus transportation company

AbstractA vehicle assignment problem (VAP) in a road, long‐haul, passenger transportation company with heterogeneous fleet of buses is considered in the paper. The mathematical model of the VAP is formulated in terms of multiobjective, combinatorial optimization. It has a strategic, long‐term character and takes into account four criteria that represent interests of both passengers and the company's management. The decision consists in the definition of weekly operating frequency (number of rides per week) of buses on international routes between Polish and Western European cities. The VAP is solved in a step‐wise procedure. In the first step a sample of efficient (Pareto‐optimal) solutions is generated using an original metaheuristic method called Pareto Memetic Algorithm (PMA). In the second step this sample is reviewed and evaluated by the Decision Maker (DM). In this phase an interactive, multiple criteria analysis method with graphical facilities, called Light Beam Search (LBS), is applied. The method helps the DM to define his/her preferences, direct the search process and select the most satisfactory solution.

Multiple objective optimization of the fleet sizing problem for road freight transportation

AbstractA fleet sizing problem (FSP) in a road freight transportation company with heterogeneous fleet and its own technical back‐up facilities is considered in the paper. The mathematical model of the decision problem is formulated in terms of multiple objective mathematical programming based on queuing theory. Technical and economical criteria as well as interests of different stakeholders are taken into account in the problem formulation. The solution procedure is composed of two steps. In the first one a sample of Pareto‐optimal solutions is generated by an original program called MEGROS. In the second step this set is reviewed and evaluated, according to the Decision Maker's (DM's) model of preferences. The evaluation of solutions is carried out with an application of an interactive multiple criteria analysis method, called Light Beam Search (LBS). Finally, the DM selects the most desirable, compromise solution.

A comparison of multiple criteria analysis techniques for water resource management

Multiple criteria analysis (MCA) is a framework for evaluating decision options against multiple criteria. Numerous techniques for solving an MCA problem are available. This paper applies MCA to six water management decision problems. The MCA methods tested include weighted summation, range of value, PROMTHEE II, Evamix and compromise programming. We show that different MCA methods were in strong agreement with high correlations amongst rankings. In the few cases where strong disagreement between MCA methods did occur it was due to presence of mixed ordinal-cardinal data in the evaluation matrix. The results suggest that whilst selection of the MCA technique is important more emphasis is needed on the initial structuring of the decision problem, which involves choosing criteria and decision options.

Supporting multi-stakeholder environmental decisions

This paper examines how multiple criteria analysis (MCA) can be used to support multi-stakeholder environmental management decisions. It presents a study through which 48 stakeholders from environmental, primary production and community interest groups used MCA to prioritise 30 environmental management problems in the Mackay–Whitsunday region of Queensland, Australia. The MCA model, with procedures for aggregating multi-stakeholder output, was used to inform a final decision on the priority of the region's environmental management problems. The result was used in the region's environmental management plan as required under Australia's Natural Heritage Trust programme. The study shows how relatively simple MCA methods can help stakeholders make group decisions, even when they hold strongly conflicting preferences.

Decision support system for innovation with a special emphasis on pollution

Research and practical literature that is relevant to the area of the application of software and intelligent automation applications on pollution minimisation and mitigation processes is analysed in this paper. Especially highlighted and studied are calculators, software, expert and decision support systems, fuzzy logic, and neural networks, which emerge as the most regularly used automation approaches for pollution analysis. The results of this paper's study provide a useful insight into creating one's own Decision Support System for Innovation (DSSI). DSSI differs from other systems in the use of new multiple criteria analysis methods that were developed by the authors. Different criteria characterising various kinds of pollutions are included in databases of the DSSI.

A Review of Multiple Criteria Analysis for Water Resource Planning and Management

Multiple criteria analysis (MCA) is a framework for ranking or scoring the overall performance of decision options against multiple objectives. The approach has widespread and growing application in the field of water resource management. This paper reviews 113 published water management MCA studies from 34 countries. It finds that MCA is being heavily used for water policy evaluation, strategic planning and infrastructure selection. A wide range of MCA methods are being used with the fuzzy set analysis, paired comparison and outranking methods being most common. The paper also examines the motivations for adopting MCA in water management problems and considers future research directions.

DECISION SUPPORT FOR THE EVALUATION OF BUILDING LIFE CYCLE EFFECTIVENESS

This paper presents a multiple criteria decision model for the life cycle of single family houses analysis based on a decision support system. Methods of multiple criteria analysis are applied for a complex analysis of the single‐family houses life cycle as well as for the evaluation of decisions. The method of multivariant design is applied for making variants of the life cycle of single‐family houses. The multivariant design and multiple criteria evaluation of a building life cycle allow the interested parties (client, contractor, user, etc.) to make efficient decisions on the ground of a quantitative and qualitative variants analysis. The decision maker's attitude can be reflected in the analysis process by the weighting of criteria. The proposed methodology provides a useful tool for building life cycle evaluation. Having applied the information gathered in the database, using the models of a model base, various interested parties of a building life cycle are able to make effective decisions. The system provides a user with all the necessary support required for decision making: in information terms the receipt of quantitative and conceptual information describing a building life cycle, gathering and use thereof, in terms of evaluation the analysis of such information applying the methods of a multiple criteria analysis.