Multiple Criteria Decision Support Methods Research Articles

Multiparameter-analysis of CO2/Steam-enhanced gasification and pyrolysis for syngas and biochar production from low-cost feedstock

• Low-cost feedstock valorization by pyrolysis and gasification. • Products optimization via multi-criteria decision method. • CO 2 /Steam gasification showed clear energetic and H 2 exergy efficiency improvements. • HHV enhancement up to 19.42 and 83.11% for SCG and BSG biochar. • Better ignitability and combustibility for pyrolysis at lower temperatures. The disposal of spent coffee grounds (SCG) and brewers' spent grains (BSG) has become an environmental issue. Thus, the waste-to-energy valorization of these two low-cost feedstocks was performed via gasification and pyrolysis to assess their potential as syngas and biochar fuels. The processes’ optimum conditions were investigated by a multiple-criteria decision support method. Firstly, both raw materials were gasified at 1000 °C with O 2 /N 2 , O 2 /CO 2 /N 2 and O 2 /H 2 O/N 2 atmospheres. The characteristics and energy performance of the producer gas were evaluated. In addition, the exergy analysis of green-H 2 production was assessed. The pyrolysis experiments were conducted at 300, 500 and 700 °C, followed by a comprehensive characterization of the biochar properties and its combustion behavior. The syngas production based on CO 2 /Steam-enhanced gasification has indicated clear energetic and exergetic improvements against O 2 /N 2 with a promising increase of 32.97% LHV syngas for BSG. Obtained biochar possesses favorable fuel characteristics promoting an HHV enhancement up to 19.42% (SCG) and 83.11% (BSG). Furthermore, the combustion index indicated a great potential of using SCG and BSG as solid biofuel for straightforward application to heat generation in small-scale systems. Therefore, syngas and biochar characteristics encourage feasible biofuels from low-cost feedstocks for energy generation.

Living Cost Gap in the European Union Member States

The living cost gap refers to the differential amongst income, expenditures, and poverty lines. It is important since it addresses a number of aspects that point towards historic and continued living standards. The purpose of this study is to identify, measure, and compare the living cost gap in the Europe Union member states. Twenty-nine indicators/criteria from Eurostat and World Bank, covering the period 2008–2017, are employed. In order to rank and compare living cost gap by countries, objective functions for each criterion are defined and applied. The importance of each criterion is assessed independently. The composite living cost gap indicator for each MS is calculated using multiple criteria decision support methods. The relationship between the compound annual growth rates of this indicator and each single criterion is estimated and evaluated. The findings of the study suggest that living cost gap is higher where unemployment rates and households’ expenditure on basic needs (housing, food etc.), are larger, while living cost gap is lower where households’ income and expenditure on optional needs are higher. The living cost gap in the majority of countries tends to narrow/decrease, along with the increase in the household income and expenditures. Our research highlights the need to mitigate unemployment and households’ low net income in order to alleviate living cost gap. The analysis and assessment of living cost gap might help identifying the most vulnerable social profiles and groups, and hence might contribute to the adequate formulation and implementation of targeted policy responses and interventions at European Union, national, and regional level.

A study on the competitive strategy of the universal postal service provider

ABSTRACTWe analysed how the universal postal service providers could employ their specificities to achieve an advantage over the growing competition. The basic input for the model is expert opinions. We interviewed 18 experts in five stages. As a multiple criteria decision support method, we used an analytic hierarchy process. Further, we proposed a geometric method for determining the business area where a company should focus its biggest attention to achieve the best result. By implementing the proposed model, a company should obtain two types of business directions, the first related to the proposed activities and the second to the business areas. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed methodology, we tested and verified it in the case of the Serbian universal postal service provider which is a state-owned company called the Post of Serbia.

Incorporating MCDS and voting into SWOT: Basic idea and experiences

The idea in using Multiple Criteria Decision Support (MCDS) and voting methods within a SWOT framework is to evaluate systematically the SWOT factors, and to assess them with respect to their priorities. The MCDS method applied initially, and most often, with SWOT has been the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and the hybrid AHP-SWOT approach has been called the A’WOT. Any MCDS method can, however, be applied; the choice of the method depending on the strategy process in question. In this article, experiences of using the A’WOT method with AHP, SMART and SMAA-O techniques is summarized. In addition, an illustrative example of making use of social choice theory within SWOT framework is presented. The hybrid MCDS-SWOT approach has gained growing popularity, and it has been applied in different fields world-widely. It may provide not only a solid decision support but also an effective framework for learning in strategic decision support, as well as for communication in strategy processes with multiple stakeholders. The Voting-SWOT approach (VotSWOT) fits especially well with participatory strategy processes, as it reflects decision makers’ and stakeholders’ natural ways of communication.

DECISION MODEL FOR SELECTION OF MODERNIZATION MEASURES: PUBLIC BUILDING CASE

The aim of our study is to present the decision model for selection of optimal combinations of modernization measures. the presented algorithm of decision synthesis method comprises method for integrated significance determination of efficiency indicators and multiple criteria decision methods. the paper also presents the case study illustrating the application of proposed model. as the alternative modernization measures can generate many alternative combinations the decision tree model was proposed as an efficient tool facilitating the analysis of big data and included in algorithm. three multiple criteria decision support methods based on quantitative measurements included in algorithm used to increase the reliability of the decision. the proposed algorithm is very suitable for evaluation of modernization decisions of the building and enables decision-maker to select the best performing alternative in terms of energy consumption, cost of instalment and other relevant criteria.

A group decision support system for selecting complex objects in a web environment

This paper considers the problem of selecting objects with a modular structure (e.g. equipment, CAD/CAM/CAE systems, training programmes, and so on) as a problem of group decision-making. Each object configuration is described by many quantitative and/or qualitative attributes and may exist in several copies, which could be estimated by several persons under multiple criteria. A new selection approach combines multiple-criteria decision support methods based on the verbal decision analysis and the theory of multiset metric spaces. We present the main steps of an algorithm and discuss a general framework for a Web-based Group Decision Support System (Web-GDSS) for the selection of complex objects with a modular structure. Examples of possible Web-GDSS applications are considered.

Multiple criteria decision support in forest management—the approach, methods applied, and experiences gained

We discuss the benefits of using multiple criteria decision support (MCDS) methods in forest management, briefly present some MCDS methods recently applied in forestry, and summarize experiences gained from MCDS applications in forestry. Applications of MCDS methods of varying characteristics can be found in the management planning of multiple-purpose forestry. However, the tool to be used should be chosen to fit the planning process at hand. When choosing a method, compromises must often be made. For instance, simple and easily understandable methods may mean loss of attainable information and, correspondingly, deficient analyses. More versatile methods enable deeper analyses and more complete exploitation of available data, but typically they are hard to use and understand. Simple and straightforward MCDS methods are needed in participatory approaches and in planning via information networks. Some recent studies indicate that, especially for behavioural reasons, it would be useful to use more than just one MCDS method, or hybrid approaches, in many planning situations. A further conclusion has been that interactive use of the methods greatly improves the efficiency of the planning process.

Evaluating the management strategies of a forestland estate—the S-O-S approach

Connecting Multiple Criteria Decision Support (MCDS) methods with SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis yields analytical priorities for the factors included in SWOT analysis and makes them commensurable. In addition, decision alternatives can be evaluated with respect to each SWOT factor. In this way, SWOT analysis provides the basic frame within which to perform analyses of decision situations. MCDS methods, in turn, assist in carrying out SWOT more analytically and in elaborating the results of the analyses so that alternative strategic decisions can be prioritized also with respect to the entire SWOT. The A'WOT analysis is an example of such hybrid methods. It makes combined use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SWOT. In this study, a hybrid method of the Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis with Ordinal criteria (SMAA-O) and SWOT is developed as an elaboration of the basic ideas of A'WOT. The method is called S-O-S (SMAA-O in SWOT). SMAA-O enables the handling of ordinal preference information as well as mixed data consisting of both ordinal and cardinal information. Using SMAA-O is enough to just rank decision elements instead of giving them cardinal preference or priority ratios as required by the most commonly used MCDS methods. Using SMAA-O, in addition to analyzing what the recommended action is under certain priorities of the criteria, enables one to analyze what kind of preferences would support each action. The S-O-S approach is illustrated by a case study, where the shareholders of a forest holding owned by a private partnership prepared the SWOT analysis. Six alternative strategies for the management of their forest holding and of old cottage located on the holding were formed. After S-O-S analyses were carried out, one alternative was found to be the most recommendable. However, different importance orders of the SWOT groups would lead to different recommendations, since three of the six alternatives were efficient according to S-O-S analyses.