Multi-attribute Value Theory Research Articles

Are Hazard Assessment Methods in the Assessment of Chemical Alternatives Suitable for REACH?

The assessment of chemical alternatives for hazardous substances is an important prerequisite for avoiding regrettable substitution, and several methods have been developed in the past to perform such a hazard assessment for chemical alternatives. We investigate here whether GreenScreen, Cradle to Cradle, multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), the Pollution Prevention Options Analysis System, the U.S. EPA Safer Choice Standard and Criteria, and the GHS column model 2020 from IFA use similar criteria for the evaluation of substances as Article 57 of the European chemicals regulation, REACH, and how suitable these methods are for assessing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. MCDA and GreenScreen were analyzed in detail using two different data sets. The results of the assessments show that none of the investigated hazard assessment methods use the same criteria as described in Article 57 of REACH. It was also not possible to parametrize multi-attribute value theory (MAVT), a commonly used MCDA method, to align with Article 57 of REACH by using the relatively simple objective hierarchy that has been proposed in previous publications. There is therefore an urgent need for a modified/new method that can be used in the future to assess organic substances that are used within the European Economic Area.

Paradigm of symbiosis as a mechanism of artificial intelligence and customers’ patronage decision in the hospitality sector: the moderating role of customer engagement

ABSTRACT Study aims to explore the effect of artificial intelligence (AI) performance on customer values and patronage decisions; determine the relationship between AI service enhancement and various levels of perceived value; and adopt customer engagement as a moderator that affects customer value and patronage decision. Study adopts the Means-End Chain theory, synthesised by the Multi-Attribute Value theory to integrate AI performance and perceived values. Adopted quantitative approach and structured equation modelling and study are based on a total of 418 valid samples. Shedding light on how AI resources can be effectively managed within the service paradigm during customer interactions and AI services, this study is expected to offer theoretical and practical insights. Results contribute to the theoretical framework surrounding the relationship between AI and customer patronage decision making, thereby enriching the AI academic field. The study advocates for a symbiotic understanding of AI and customer engagement for improved service performance.

A multi-criteria framework for the ecodesign of bio-based materials at early development stages

Ex-ante life cycle assessment (LCA) allows for a holistic environmental evaluation of novel products at research and development (R&D) stages when the potential for environmental improvement is higher. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) incorporates techno-economic attributes and considers decision-makers’ (DMs) perspectives. Thus, integrating ex-ante LCA and MCDA is key for R&D ecodesign. This article proposes a framework combining ex-ante LCA with multi-attribute value theory and stochastic multi-acceptability analysis (SMAA) for novel bio-based materials in four steps: i) Problem structuring, ii) LCA scope, inventory, and scale-up, iii) Performance table, elicitation, and MCDA calculations, and iv) Interpretation and recommendations. The LCA-MCDA framework provides a structured way to model upscaled environmental impacts and encompass technical and economic performances in a global value while considering novel materials' potential application and functionality. The framework is applied to lab-scale starch films for food packaging, comparing them with commercial polymers for cost, environmental, and technical criteria according to three DMs' perspectives (biopolymer/sustainability researchers). Materials, formulations, and scenarios are assessed on a 1-kg basis with properties as technical criteria. The commercial films outperform the novel films, primarily due to technical performance. Scale-up and plasticizer scenarios show potential for reducing environmental impacts but do not alter the ranking of alternatives. SMAA shows that the ranking highly depends on the criterion weights; conversely, individual DM's perspectives lead to similar results. Materials are also compared for equivalent properties (stiffness, strength, and moisture barrier) by applying material substitution factors. The most favorable results for the starch films are achieved for equivalent stiffness, thus suggesting further investigation for rigid applications. Furthermore, suggestions for applying the framework to other cases are provided. The LCA-MCDA framework facilitates the communication of LCA results with cost and technical performance, supporting R&D in dealing with trade-offs and identifying pathways toward more sustainable and competitive production of bio-based materials.

A structured methodology for essential medicines lists and health emergency stockpiles: Experience with the Emergency Medicines Buffer Stock in the United Kingdom

IntroductionFormularies of essential medicines, such as Essential Medicines Lists (EMLs) and health emergency stockpiles, are intended to be always available, including in emergency situations, acting as important tools for access to medicines. The Emergency Medicines Buffer Stock (EMBS) in the United Kingdom (UK) was a stockpile of critical medicines managed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We propose a new methodology for selecting and including medicines in EMLs and health emergency stockpiles and empirically apply it for selecting medicines in the case of the UK EMBS. MethodsWe used Multi-Attribute Value Theory and Portfolio Decision Analysis to develop a three-phase methodological framework for medicines selection, involving: (i) the decision context definition and selection of evaluation criteria, (ii) the therapeutic area prioritisation, and (iii) the medicines value-for-money evaluation and product selection. The EMBS application took place in 2018–2019 and focused on therapeutic area prioritisation, involving primary data collection through expert interviews (n = 4), a workshop with DHSC decision-makers (n = 13), and an online survey with National Clinical Directors and relevant experts (n = 24). A Monte Carlo simulation supported therapeutic area prioritisation using the British National Formulary (BNF) classification. FindingsTwo criteria sets were selected for i) therapeutic area prioritisation, reflecting the value concerns of population need and shortage severity, and ii) medicines evaluation, reflecting magnitude of clinical benefit and supply vulnerability, among others.Primary evidence was collected for “national need” and “shortage severity”, based on which a “population health loss” index was developed. A total of 51 therapeutic areas were ranked using their index value while assessing the robustness of the ranking. The top ranked therapeutic area was antisecretory drugs and mucosal protectants, closely followed by diabetes drugs. ConclusionsThe methodological application generated a ranking of therapeutic areas based on expected “population health loss” index, while addressing evidence uncertainty. The methodology can be adapted for other EMLs and emergency stockpile contexts to inform medicines selection.

A multiple criteria approach for building a pandemic impact assessment composite indicator: The case of COVID-19 in Portugal

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major damage and disruption to social, economic, and health systems (among others). In addition, it has posed unprecedented challenges to public health and policy/decision-makers who have been responsible for designing and implementing measures to mitigate its strong negative impact. The Portuguese health authorities have used decision analysis techniques to assess the impact of the pandemic and implemented measures for counties, regions, or across the entire country. These decision tools have been subject to some criticism and many stakeholders requested novel approaches. In particular, those which considered the dynamic changes in the pandemic’s behaviour due to new virus variants and vaccines. A multidisciplinary team formed by researchers from the COVID-19 Committee of Instituto Superior Técnico at the University of Lisbon (CCIST analyst team) and physicians from the Crisis Office of the Portuguese Medical Association (GCOM expert team) collaborated to create a new tool to help politicians and decision-makers to fight the pandemic. This paper presents the main steps that led to the building of a pandemic impact assessment composite indicator applied to the specific case of COVID-19 in Portugal. A multiple criteria approach based on an additive multi-attribute value theory aggregation model was used to build the pandemic assessment composite indicator. The parameters of the additive model were devised based on an interactive socio-technical and co-constructive process between the CCIST and GCOM team members. The deck of cards method was the adopted technical tool to assist in the assessment the value functions as well as in the assessment of the criteria weights. The final tool was presented at a press conference and had a powerful impact on the Portuguese media and on the main health decision-making stakeholders in the country. In this paper, a completed mathematical and graphical description of this tool is presented.

A SUMMARY ON FITRADEOFF METHOD WITH METHODOLOGICAL AND PRACTICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

This paper presents a broad overview of main contributions related to the FITradeoff (Flexible and Interactive Tradeoff) method. FITradeoff is a multicriteria method developed within the scope of the Multiattribute Value Theory (MAVT), considering partial information from the decision maker (DM) in the preference modelling process. Over the last few years, several methodological developments on this method have been published in the literature, as well as practical applications to a wide range of multicriteria decision problems. The most recent methodological advances are related to preference modelling process, which now integrate the two paradigms of elicitation by decomposition and holistic evaluation. Furthermore, contributions from behavioral studies, some of them including decision neuroscience, have enhanced the DSS free available for FITradeoff. In this paper, all previously developed works related to the FITradeoff method are approached, considering both methodological developments and practical applications. A summary on the different modeling approaches for solving different decision problematics (choice, ranking, sorting and portfolio) with FITradeoff is presented. The recently proposed combination of preference modeling paradigms - elicitation by decomposition and holistic evaluation - within the FITradeoff decision process is explained, as well its potential advantages for the elicitation process. Moreover, a brief review on the practical applications of the method in different contexts is presented. In addition, this work also brings a summary on the results of behavioral experiments conducted using neuroscience tools with the FITradeoff method, as well the methodological insights resulted from them, and future perspectives of potential research topics related to the FITradeoff method.

Consumer preference disaggregation based on online reviews to support new energy automobile purchase decision

In recent years, new energy automobiles have developed rapidly and become the choice of more and more consumers. At the same time, a vast number of online reviews of automobiles with inferred consumer preferences emerge on platforms. There is an urgent need to mine useful information from online reviews to support consumer purchase decisions. In this study, we propose a multi-criteria product recommendation method that considers consumer’ preferences and risk psychology estimated from online reviews. Firstly, a sentiment analysis method is developed to mine product performance under different attributes from text reviews. Secondly, a preference model with unknown preference parameters is predefined based on the multi-attribute value theory to represent consumers’ value systems for purchase decision. On this basis, we propose a preference disaggregation analysis method that combines the prospect theory. Consumers’ specific preference models are estimated from online reviews, which are then utilized to measure product performance and generate product recommendations. Finally, the validity of the proposed method is demonstrated by a case study of new energy automobile ranking from Autohome.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small and medium-sized enterprises performance.

This study has several purposes. First, identify indicators contributing to the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that could be affected by the COVID-19. Second, formulate the framework to measure the level of vulnerability of SMEs. Third, assign the SMEs into several clusters. Data used in this research were collected through web-based closed questionnaires and short telephone interviews. This study used Content Validity Analysis, Analytical Hierarchy Process, Multi-Attribute Value Theory approach, K-means Clustering Analysis, and Discriminant Analysis for data processing. The data processing results indicated that the 44 valid indicators belonging to ten dimensions could be used to measure the level of vulnerability of SMEs whose performance was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The surveyed SMEs can be segmented into four clusters, namely resilient cluster, low vulnerability cluster, moderate vulnerability cluster, and high vulnerability cluster. Most of the surveyed SMEs belong to the moderate and high vulnerability clusters. The differences between the clusters were based on 16 indicators. These indicators include levels of supplier disruption and the SMEs’ market in which the SMEs operate or expect to operate. The results of this study help quantify how the pandemic could generate different levels of impact on each indicator that could depend on the business and what policymakers should consider as they contemplate the scale of the required intervention. Overall, this study contributes to the literature on the effects of the pandemic on SMEs by synthesizing the findings of studies on the impact of COVID-19 on SMEs. The study also determined the framework and the equation for measuring the level of SME vulnerability caused by the pandemic.

Warehouse Location for Product Distribution by E-Commerce in Brazil: Comparing Symmetrical MCDM Applications

The crisis that affected Brazil as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic impacted several businesses. However, the distribution of products sold by e-commerce is one business that had increased its demand on a large scale. The Southeastern Region of Brazil has a wide territorial extension, a high number of inhabitants, and difficulties with transport logistics. Thus, this work presents a solution for choosing a location for the installation of an e-commerce warehouse, considering three possible locations, in two different Brazilian states: Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Our main objective is to identify policies that allow a balance in the trade-off between risks and service levels. Specifically, we seek to decrease logistics costs and ensure improvements in services. The choice of a location for a warehouse is a decision problem that can be solved with multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM). Three methods of MCDM have been applied: Fuzzy Decision Approach (FDA), Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT), and Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT). The reasons for the application of the MAUT and MAVT methods originate from their easy understanding and use, while the concepts of FDA address the consideration of uncertainty. To maintain the simplicity of MCDM application, the FDA model is symmetric, even with symmetrical and asymmetrical fuzzy sets. Important criteria were the distance from capital cities, distance to ports, distance to airports, distance to highways, and the costs of land. Three different locations were considered for the installation of the warehouse. All three methods, FDA, MAUT, and MAVT, resulted in Location 1 as the best location for the installation of the warehouse for the distribution of e-commerce products. A discussion on conceptual qualitative divergences and the small quantitative divergence of results is also included in the conclusions.

Innovative online survey about sustainable wastewater management: What young Swiss citizens know and value

Investigating wastewater management matters: in many OECD countries, the conventional centralized system is reaching its limits. Alternative decentralized options exist. Some directly affect citizens with in-house wastewater treatment. Involving citizens in decision processes would legitimate the outcome and facilitate implementation. However, citizen participation is challenging because they are numerous, and need to learn about the topic and construct their opinion. To include citizens, we propose an innovative online survey based on Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT). Citizens receive value-focused information, and can communicate their preferences, captured as weights assigned to objectives. We collected quantitative and qualitative data, and elicited preferences from 184 young Swiss citizens, who will have to live with the decision outcome. In addition to reporting on insights for wastewater management, we assessed our survey, i.e. whether respondents learnt about the topic, constructed preferences, and understood the requirement to think in terms of objectives. Water quality and health protection mattered the most. The objectives directly concerning the respondents (time demand, attractiveness) were the least important. The best-ranked option in the subsequent Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis was a decentralized source separating system with dry toilets. Respondents were unaware that such decentralized options exist, indicating that learning about the topic occurred. Preferences were mostly newly constructed from no opinion, or pre-existing ones were reinforced. Our value-focused online survey helped citizens to understand the complex decision and construct their preferences. Swiss decision-makers, and beyond, should not be scared of a paradigm shift in wastewater management: the young generation seems ready to decentralize.

A multi-criteria approach to designing and managing a renewable energy community

The energy communities based on the integration of microgrids make it possible to gain economic, environmental, technical, and social benefits. The paper aims to propose a unified multi-criteria approach covering both the planning stage and the stage of managing the energy community, in the context of various interests of its participants. Planning stage should take into account the long-term goals of the community and possible changes in external conditions. Therefore, we suggest an approach relying on the multi-attribute value theory considering the uncertainty of decision makers' preferences. Interval estimators used to express preferences enable a choice of community configuration with robust performance under changing conditions within some limits. In the operation stage, the new multi-criteria model of an intelligent "energy community operator" is proposed. It is based on bi-level programming and reinforcement learning, implementing the structure of a fair local market for sustainable development of the community. To optimize the operation of individual microgrids within the community, the multi-objective Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) algorithm is used, which helps to improve the convergence in the Stackelberg game. The multi-criteria version of the MCTS algorithm allows implementing an adaptive local automation model to solve a multi-objective lower-level problem: minimize operating costs, risk of power shortage, and CO2 emissions; smooth load peaks, and optimize power exchange between microgrids. At the top level, a management strategy that will be beneficial to all members of the community is chosen to guarantee their long-term aggregation. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by the example of an energy community created for three remote villages located on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The natural and climatic conditions of the area allow the efficient use of wind, solar, and biomass resources. Building the community involves the consideration of three scenarios, in which priority is given to economic efficiency, environmental efficiency, or balanced development.

Parallel and comparative use of three multicriteria decision support methods in an environmental portfolio problem

Environmental management problems are often portfolio problems where the task is to find a set of actions that meets different objectives (e.g., the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions) and constraints (e.g., costs). We report experiences from deploying multiple operations research (OR) methods in a real decision-making setting and discuss the insights gained from this process. The applied methods were Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT), the project portfolio selection tool Your Own Decision Aid (YODA) and Robust Portfolio Modelling (RPM). The methods were applied in a portfolio case evaluating three peatland rewetting options (“No action”, “Restoration”, “Damming”) for 79 drained peatland stands in an important recreational and nature conservation area in southern Finland. The pros and cons of the methods were evaluated, as well as their key methodological challenges, in a participatory environmental portfolio case. The applied methods yielded similar results in terms of the superiority of rewetting options. The strength of MAVT was its ability to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of all three rewetting options for a single peatland stand. YODA's strength was its simplicity and the possibility to apply it independently via the Internet. RPM made it possible to determine the priority of peatland stands within constraints, even without precise preference information. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic evaluation of three methods representing different ‘method categories’ (MAVT, multi-criteria elimination, portfolio decision analysis) applied to a real environmental problem.

Best-worst Tradeoff method

This study aims to develop a Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) method, the Best-Worst Tradeoff method, which draws on the underlying principles of two popular MADM methods (the Best-Worst Method (BWM) and the Tradeoff). The traditional Tradeoff procedure, which is based on the axiomatic foundation of multi-attribute value theory, considers the ranges of the attributes, but decision-makers/analysts find it hard to check the consistency of the paired comparisons when using this method. The traditional BWM, on the other hand, uses two opposite references (best and worst) in a single optimization, which not only frames the elicitation process in a more structured way, but helps decision-makers/analysts check the consistency. However, the BWM does not explicitly considers the attributes ranges in the pairwise comparisons. The method proposed in this study uses the “consider-the-opposite-strategy” and accounts for the range effect simultaneously. Specifically, the decision-maker considers the ranges of the attributes and provide two pairwise comparison vectors, then an optimization model is designed to determine the optimal weights of the attributes based on these two vectors. After that, consistency thresholds are constructed to check the consistency of the judgements. Finally, a case study is used to examine the feasibility of the proposed method.

Re-Thinking Detroit: A Multicriteria-Based Approach for Adaptive Reuse for the Corktown District

The paper addresses the paradigm of adaptive reuse with a specific focus on issues related to the evaluation and the decision-making processes in this context. In more detail, this paper aims at recognising the main gaps that concern the evaluation process associated with adaptive reuse and providing some points of reflection and a preliminary methodological proposal to evaluate transformation scenarios related to adaptive reuse, through a multidimensional and multi-objective perspective. According to these purposes, this paper describes the implementation of the pillars of adaptive reuse to re-think the Corktown District of the city of Detroit, underlying through a real case study the complexity, the multidimensionality, and the multi-objective challenges of this concept, when implemented in urban planning and the revitalization of historic buildings. According to this scenario, the present paper focuses on issues related to managing the complexity and the multidimensionality of the decision process, under the analysis and evaluation of alternative adaptive-reuse strategies. This research, thus, proposes the application of the Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) technique, based on the Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT), to evaluate and compare different strategic scenarios to re-think the Corktown District of the city of Detroit, according to the principles of adaptive reuse. The final result is a multidimensional evaluation that provides a final ranking of the different proposed alternatives, in order to support the decision-making to select the most suitable transformative scenario, according to the initial purposes of the project.

Measuring halal logistics implementation

PurposeThis study aims to identify the suitable indicators and their scale for measuring the level of logistic halal implementation and then develops the measurement system based on those indicators and scales. Moreover, this research also applies the measurement system in food, beverage, and ingredient companies.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected data through web-based closed questionnaires and short telephone interviews. This study succeeded in obtaining seven valid data sets from filling out validation and analytical hierarchy process questionnaires by a panel of experts. This study also obtained 97 valid data sets from filling out the questionnaire about the current condition of each indicator related to halal logistics (HL) implementation. Then, the framework for measuring HL implementation was designed based on the multi-attribute value theory approach.FindingsThe aggregate value of HL implementation in ingredient companies belongs to the excellent implementation category. In contrast, the aggregate value of HL implementation in food and beverage companies only belongs to the good implementation category. Then, according to the size of the company, the large-sized companies have the higher means of the aggregate value of HL implementation for preferred indicators than small- and medium-sized companies. However, all size companies belong to the good implementation category.Research limitations/implicationsThis research has several limitations. The preferred indicators are only measured by the Likert scales. Future research may benefit from inducing the qualitative approaches to measure the condition of each indicator better. Secondly, this research only consisted of 97 food, beverages and ingredients companies. Thirdly, this research only measured the HL implementations to a particular sector or industry. Future research could benefit from replicating the work in similar and dissimilar contexts, adding the sample size and comparing the level of HL implementation between Muslim and non-Muslim companies, and moreover, enhance the measurement of HL implementation by including consumers and other actors involved, such as the government.Practical implicationsThis research provided a basis for helping the government and policymakers understand and evaluate non-performing indicators in HL implementation before formulating several actions.Social implicationsUnderstanding the current HL implementation conditions could facilitate a more effective response in designing some appropriate alternative actions.Originality/valueThis research contributed to measuring HL implementation with a new indicator, a new scale and a new object in an empirical case of food, beverages and ingredient companies in Indonesia.

Climate Adaptation Heuristic Planning Support System (HPSS): Green-Blue Strategies to Support the Ecological Transition of Historic Centres

The issue of climate has posed major and urgent challenges for the global community. The European Green Deal sets out a new growth strategy aimed at turning the European Union into a just and prosperous society, with a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy, which will no longer generate net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Cities in this context are committed on several fronts to rapid adaptation to improve their resilience capacity. The historic centre is the most vulnerable part of a city, with a reduced capacity for adaptation, but also the densest of values, which increase the complexity of the challenge. This study proposes an integrated tool, Heuristic Planning Support System (HPSS), aimed at exploring green-blue strategies for the historic centre. The tool is integrated with classic Planning Support System (PSS), a decision process conducted from the perspective of heuristic approach and Geographic Information System (GIS). It comprises modules for technical assessment, environmental assessment Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), economic assessment Life Cycle Cost (LCC), Life Cycle Revenues (LCR), and Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCFA) extended to the life cycle of specific interventions, the Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT) for the assessment of energy, environmental, identity, landscape, and economic values. The development of a tool to support the ecological transition of historic centres stems from the initiative of researchers at the University of Catania, who developed it based on the preferences expressed by a group of decision makers, that is, a group of local administrators, scholars, and professionals. The proposed tool supports the exploration of green-blue strategies identified by decision makers and the development of the plan for the historic district of Borgata di Santa Lucia in Syracuse.

Ranking of Independent and Dependent Fuzzy Numbers and Intransitivity in Fuzzy MCDA

Ranking of fuzzy numbers (FNs) is a key stage within fuzzy multicriteria decision analysis (FMCDA). However, the influence of FNs dependence on their ranking, including ranking alternatives within FMCDA, has not been studied yet. In this article, for studying such an influence, the widely used defuzzification-based fuzzy ranking methods, centroid index, and integral of means, along with their modifications, which are pairwise comparison defuzzification ranking methods, are explored. The authors argue that classical defuzzification ranking methods are intended to deal with independent FNs, whereas their modifications may be used for ranking of dependent FNs. It is provided a proof in which, pairwise comparison Yuan’s and defuzzification integral of means ranking methods, are equivalent when ordering independent and can differ when ordering dependent FNs; at the same time, Yuan’s and modified integral of means ranking methods are equivalent when ordering both independent and dependent FNs. Intransitivity of the two modified ranking methods when ordering dependent FNs as well as intransitivity of alternatives in FMCDA for fuzzy multiattribute value theory (FMAVT) as an example is proved. The distinctions in ranking of dependent FNs by all ranking methods under consideration are explored through ordering alternatives within FMAVT. For this, a real-life case study is considered, and the distinctions in ordering alternatives by classical and modified ranking methods are demonstrated. Statistical analysis of distinctions in ordering alternatives by FMAVT with different ranking methods is implemented with the use of Monte–Carlo simulation. The significance of distinctions for the choice and ranking multicriteria problems, as well as for justification of utilizing ranking methods under consideration in FMCDA, is discussed.

Compatibility and correlation of multi-attribute decision making: a case of industrial relocation.

Industrial relocation (IR) is a business strategy consisting of moving operations locations. The purpose of this paper is to present how to assess, with multi-attribute decision-making (MADM), alternatives for IR. With MADM, IR strategies can be assessed not only based on a single attribute, as costs, or profits. This paper presents the application of MADM in a real case of IR. Four leading methods of MADM were applied: analytic hierarchy process (AHP), multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT), multi-attribute value theory (MAVT), and technique of order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). Results of AHP, MAUT, MAVT, and TOPSIS were quite similar, indicating the decision for the company not to relocate. A joint comparison of results with compatibility indices and correlation coefficients is the major novelty presented by this paper to the field of Operations Research, known as MADM.

ValueDecisions, a web app to support decisions with conflicting objectives, multiple stakeholders, and uncertainty

Complex environmental and public policy decisions profit from structured procedures such as multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). To support such decisions, the new open source application ValueDecisions provides advanced analysis and visualization with no programming expected from users. Based on multi-attribute value theory (MAVT), it offers analysis for decisions with conflicting and interacting objectives, multiple stakeholders, and uncertain consequences of options. Programmed in R, the shiny web framework makes it accessible via a graphical user interface in the browser. We exemplify using ValueDecisions for a wastewater infrastructure planning case in the Paris region. We surveyed preferences of 655 citizens and conducted sensitivity analysis of preference parameters. The best management options were robust across a range of preference profiles and assumptions. To evaluate the app, we developed a novel usability test based on the ISO standard for software quality and surveyed students using ValueDecisions for case studies.

Value and Quality in the Dialectics between Human and Urban Capital of the City Networks on the Land District Scale

This contribution proposes an inter-scalar and multi-polar analysis evaluation model of the territory of the Enna district, aimed at providing a robust axiological representation of the salient aspects of the general issue of internal areas, and therefore of the set of criticalities affecting them from the perspective of the human and urban capital they express. In the prospect of investigating the relations between urban and life quality—corresponding to the “city effect”—in the territorial context of each of the 20 municipalities of the Enna district, a hierarchical descriptive-valuation model was created, which coordinates a relevant amount of information units (data) and the corresponding attributes, indicators and indices that have been turned in aggregate value judgments attributed to each administrative land unit, from the perspectives of the criteria referred to as the main forms of the territorial capital. This is a multi-dimensional valuation model based on the Multi-Attribute Value Theory. Each survey and processing is mapped with different levels of detail at the scale of municipalities, census sections and cadastral land units. The outcome of this complex process of analysis and assessment provides multiple comparisons, revealing unexpected and sometimes counter-intuitive aspects in several municipalities, some of which are characterised by innovative prospects and opportunities for redevelopment of their historic centers. Correlations between information units at the different levels of the dendrogram have also indicated interesting trends and attitudes, whose comparisons can address territorial policies on both a local and provincial scale. Furthermore, the focus on the “cities network” is here assumed and proposed as the privileged point of observation of territory and the related aspects of the quality of life.