Saaty Scale Research Articles

Multi-criteria evaluation of carbon capture technologies in steel, cement, petrochemical, and fertilizer industries: Insights for emerging and developed countries

This research addresses the global imperative to tackle climate change by evaluating different carbon capture technologies based on various criteria in hard-to-electrify sectors such as steel, cement, petrochemicals, and fertilizers, providing practical insights for policymakers engaged in the shift toward low-carbon industrial processes. The study employs a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach, specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), using a systematic and objective evaluation process, integrating rigorous pairwise comparisons using the Saaty scale through logical reasoning, along with eigenvalue calculations, resulting in a criteria and strategy ranking. In evaluating carbon capture technologies for heavy industry, external support (regulatory adherence, global collaboration, and financial incentives) is crucial for technology evaluation, which carries the highest weight (21.3 %). Technology maturity and reliability follow closely (17.4 %), emphasizing the importance of proven track records. Carbon capture efficiency and environmental and health impacts share a relatively high weight (13.7 %). Scalability and integration with existing infrastructure carry moderate weights (7.8 %). Energy requirements are less critical (6.7 %), while the cost-effectiveness criterion has a relatively low weight (3.9 %). Duration of operation and public acceptance and social impact also carry low weights (3.9 %), creating a balanced evaluation considering both technical and socio-economic factors. Post-combustion capture excels with a high score, making it suitable for emission reduction in hard-to-abate industries. Pre-combustion capture and oxy-fuel combustion have moderate scores, indicating balanced performance. Direct Air Capture faces challenges, resulting in a lower score, while carbon mineralization and biomass co-firing with carbon capture receive the lowest scores, suggesting potential limitations. We discuss the impact of climate change on carbon capture technologies, the influence of critical materials, the practical implications for Moroccan industries such as Lafarge Holcim (cement), OCP (phosphate mining and petrochemical processing), and Sonasid (steel), as well as for emerging and industrialized economies, including hydrogen, ammonia, and kerosene production from fossil fuels.

Geotourism Potentiality of Fossil Park Using Swot Matrix and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park, Birbhum District, West Bengal, India

Geoparks are a new tourism form integrating geography and local development, focusing on geological conservation, marketing, and local culture. Geotourism Ecosystem aims to build a stronger network of geoparks. Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park in Birbhum, India, houses 20 million-year-old angiosperm wood fossils. It has been designated a Biodiversity Heritage Site, which aims to protect natural heritage, educate tourists, preserve fossils, and create jobs. Wood fossils from West Bengal, India's, Amkhoi Fossil Park are well known for offering insights into the natural history of the area. The transformation of wood into stone through the process of petrification brings to light natural occurrences such as tree falls and mineral infiltration. The most well-known fossils in the park are from the Glossopteris genus, which represents the Permian period's prehistoric vegetation. Miocene angiosperm wood fossils shed light on the ecological dynamics and evolutionary history of the area. The fossil record of the Anacardiaceae family indicates the warm, humid environment of the area. Using the Saaty scale, the study analyzed the SWOT components and used Eigenvalues to determine each factor's significance. At 54.4%, opportunities have the most weight, followed by vulnerabilities, threats, and strengths. The development of geotourism in the research area is least affected by risk factors. Each SWOT group's high local priority SWOT variables were selected. The greatest potential existed for government officials to give tourism planning more attention. Some of the weaknesses were unusual geological features, insufficient infrastructure, and low awareness. Particularly rare fossils and a geological fossil park are two of the study area's advantages.

Multi-criteria approach for weights definition of sustainability indicators in the swine supply chain

Goal: This study presents a four-steps methodology for the definition of the weights of sustainable indicators in the Swine Supply Chain (SSC) considering the Triple Bottom-Line (TBL) perspective. Design/Methodology/Approach: The methodology proposed was based on the Bellagio principles that guide the definition of importance levels for TBL criteria. It was applied to the swine supply chain using Saaty’s scale and information obtained from managers of two agribusiness companies, adjusted by the AHP method. Results: The results showed the relevance of an appropriate definition of the preferences of decision-makers to decide on the best actions towards environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Limitations: The limitations of the proposed model are mainly its subjective nature. Despite being necessary in multi-criteria methods, it could be a limitation if more quantitative indicators are relevant or demanded. Nevertheless, the proposed methodology also provides a quantitative perspective, as a result of using the Saaty scale. Practical implications: The definition and application of importance levels within a TBL-based model can help managers to prioritize environmental, social, and/or economic dimensions under a large diversity of alternatives toward more sustainable scenarios. The AHP method used in this work is a hierarchy method, particularly appropriate for defining weights that are essentially compensatory by nature. Originality/value: The correct definition and weight of the different dimensions, sub-dimensions, and respective indicators is currently one relevant gap in the literature, limiting the design and prioritization of corrective actions in each stage of the SSC and in the different dimensions of the TBL.

Comprehensive groundwater potential mapping in Nagaland, India using integrated geo-spatial techniques

Groundwater is essential for a sustainable future, yet identifying potential groundwater zones remains challenging in regions with varied hydro-geological conditions. Nagaland is a state in north-eastern India characterized by diverse terrain, complex geological formations, and seasonal variations in rainfall. The objective of the present study is to evaluate groundwater potential zones in Nagaland using an integrated Geographic Information System (GIS) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology, resulting in the first comprehensive map addressing the region's diverse hydro-geological conditions. Several attributes like geomorphology, geology, slope, soil, rainfall, drainage density, and Land use/Land cover (LU/LC) were generated from available data resources like Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 satellite imageries, the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Climatic Research Unit (CRU). These datasets are extracted using the Arc-GIS (Arc-GIS Desktop 10.8.1), with weights assigned according to Saaty's scale, and subsequently normalized through the AHP. The findings reveal that 14% (2240km2) of the state has very good groundwater potential, 42% (6720 km2) is classified as good, 9% (1440 km2) as moderate, 27% (4320 km2) as poor, and 8% (1280 km2) as very poor. These insights are significant for regions like Mokokchung, Longleng, and Wokha, which require urgent intervention. Conversely, the study identifies Dimapur and Chumoukedima as areas with significant groundwater potential, capable of meeting rising water demands. The validation of these results using well discharge data from 12 monitoring wells supports these findings.

Automatic and Semi-automatic Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is the most commonly used method for solving multi-criteria decision-making problems worldwide. Although AHP offers many advantages for problems with several alternatives and criteria, the pairwise comparisons require considerable effort. State-of-the-art methodologies have demonstrated that AHP is suitable for automating decisions on tabular data. Considering it, this paper proposes a new approach to decision-making in both automated and semi-automated ways. For the automated approach, formulas are proposed for the normalization and computation of criteria weights. For the semi-automated approach, functions are proposed to convert normalized tabular data into values on the Saaty scale. These values are then used to automatically construct pairwise comparison matrices. This approach allows decision-makers to generate such matrices when necessary, thereby minimizing or even eliminating the effort required for pairwise comparisons. Simulations demonstrate the differences obtained depending on the use of the conversion function. Comparisons with state-of-the-art methods reveal that the proposed approach is compatible with existing methodologies. The viability of the proposed methodology is also explored through problems of selecting genotypes/varieties of agricultural crops, showing its viability in real problems. The obtained results show that the proposed approach produces results similar to other decision-making methods.

Combination of remote sensing, GIS, AHP techniques and geophysical data to delineate groundwater potential zones in the Shiriya River Basin, South India

Shiriya River Basin (SRB) of Kasaragod district, Kerala, is one of the minor river basins that faces acute water shortage soon after the rainy season. Increasing the aquifer productivity of the SRB is the need of the hour. The present study is performed to determine the groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) of the SRB through Weighted Overlay Analysis. Different thematic layers (Geomorphology, Geology, Lineament density, Slope, Drainage density, LULC, and Soil) were prepared. Based on Saaty's scale, the rank and weightage assigned to each thematic layer and their respective features were standardized through the AHP techniques. Subsequently, GIS-based Weighted Overlay Analysis generated the ultimate GWPZ map, dividing SRB into 3 potential zones (poor, moderate, and good). To validate the GWPZ and understand the geoelectric characteristics of the SRB, 50 Schlumberger VES were performed and analyzed. Depth to water level data is also used to validate the GWPZ. The VES data indicated three distinct geoelectric layers, the topsoil, laterite, and weathered/fractured basement, overlying the resistive basement. In the SRB second layer (laterite) and, in some regions, the third layer (fractured charnockite) functions as an aquifer. The presence of groundwater potential region is indicated by resistivity values ranging from 50 to 200 ohm-m. The combination of surface and subsurface indicators of GWPZ will be much more reliable in locating the site for sustainable groundwater exploration and management of SRB groundwater resources.

Evaluating pedestrian facilities for enhancing pedestrian safety in Addis Ababa city

Transport demand has been increasing in most third-world countries. However, poorly maintained facilities and poor planning exposed pedestrians to high-traffic accidents. This paper aims to evaluate pedestrian facilities using the pedestrian level of service to enhance pedestrian safety in Addis Ababa. Relevant data was collected through field measurement and direct observation from 13 purposively identified pedestrian sites across the Piyasa to Bole bridge and Megenagna to Torihayloch road corridors. Pedestrian level of service derivation considered capacity, traffic, comfort, safety, and security conditions and their sub-components. The weight of each criterion and sub-factor was decided according to the Saaty scale using the judgment of experts under the analytical hierarchical process. The result of the study strongly stipulates the presence of the problem of pedestrian facilities in Megenagna, Mexico, Urael Church, and Golagol which can affect the level of pedestrian safety. However, Denibel City, Legahare, Torhayloch, and National Theater sites have scored better Pedestrian level of service for the walking population. Finally, the study recommended the requirement of prior attention for the sites with very poor and poor pedestrian levels of service by the concerned sectors.

'Remediability Score' as a tool for selecting the most suitable remediation technology for contaminated sites.

Land gets contaminated due to different human activities like illegal industrial discharges, mining activities, and spillage of chemicals. The pollutants released through these activities can have prolonged effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, there is a need for immediate remediation of the contaminated site. Different remediation technologies are available for remediating a land contaminated with a particular contaminant. Selection of the most appropriate remediation technology among all those available would help in quick and efficient remediation of the land. There are multiple factors deciding the appropriateness of a technology for a given case. 'Remediability' is a term introduced in the scientific literature recently to describe the ease with which a contaminated land can be remediated and 'Remediability Score (RS)' quantifies remediability in a 0-100 scale. The higher the value of RS, the greater is the difficulty for remediation. The factors influencing remediability were presented before a group of experts in a Delphi process for assigning comparative importance. From the importance score obtained in a Saaty scale of 1 to 9, the weights of factors were calculated using Fuzzy AHP. The overall RS was calculated by taking the weighted impact of the factors after their magnitudes were normalized. RS for the various remediation technologies feasible for a contaminated site, Kuzhikandam, near Kochi, Kerala was calculated. The site was revealed to be contaminated with heavy metals and organic compounds in a field investigation. The most suitable technology for remediating the selected site was found to be vitrification with an RS of 22. The next best technology, stabilization/solidification, had an RS of 25. The study showed that RS can be a reliable matric for selecting the most suitable remediation technology for a contaminated site.

Statisticam approaches for consistency index in analytical hierarchy process

This study presents a method for estimating a new Random Index (RI) value to determine the acceptance or rejection of matrices in the Analytic Hierarchy Process, using the Saaty scale. The proposed RI values are compared to the matrix consistency levels of other researchers who conducted experiments with similar numbers and matrix orders. In the case of 1000 experiments, our values showed a slight improvement compared to those of Golden and Wang. For the 2500-experiment case, our values were similar to those reported by Lane and Verdine. Lastly, in the 100,000-experiment case, our values exhibited a slight improvement compared to those obtained by Alonso and Lamata. We welcome further suggestions and encourage future research in this area.

Landslide susceptibility assessment by implementing the analytical hierarchy process in GIS weight overlay tool: A case study of the Krupanj area in Western Serbia

The aim of this paper is to show the susceptibility to sliding in the Krupanj area. Intense rainfall in May 2014 triggered many landslides in western Serbia. The Krupanj area was particularly affected by this event. The material damage occurred affected the awareness of the importance of knowing the locations that are prone to sliding. Therefore, from 2014 to 2021, field research was carried out in the Krupanj area. During this period a large amount of landslide data were collected by engineering geological mapping. These data were used for susceptibility analysis. For present study the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and weight overlay (WO) tool were used. Nine factors were used for susceptibility analysis: slope, aspect, curvature, elevation, lithology, distance from rivers, faults, boundary?s and land cover. In order to be able to make a comparison, all factors were evaluated using the Saaty scale, so that the weights of the individual factors were obtained. The weight values obtained by AHP were used in GIS tool. Final map was validated by ROC analysis. The validation results show accuracy of 77,1% (good) for model.

МЕТОДИКА ВИЯВЛЕННЯ КІБЕРІНЦИДЕНТІВ SIEM-СИСТЕМОЮ В БАЗАХ ДАНИХ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-КОМУНІКАЦІЙНИХ СИСТЕМ ВІЙСЬКОВОГО ПРИЗНАЧЕННЯ

With the integration of information and communication systems into military operations, the issue of their cyber defense is becoming increasingly important. The main target for cyberattacks are databases that mostly contain confidential information. One of the most effective approaches to ensuring cybersecurity of databases of military information and communication systems is to use the intelligent capabilities of a SIEM system. SIEM allows real-time monitoring, analysis and response to potential cyber incidents. The article proposes a methodology for detecting cyber incidents by a SIEM system in databases of military information and communication systems. The main emphasis is placed on the multi-level protection of databases, which includes protection at the operating system level, the database level and the database management system, as well as the network level of protection. In order to improve the efficiency of cyber incident detection at the level of SIEM data analysis, an improved methodology based on fuzzy logic is used. Improvement of the methodology is achieved by introducing weights of antecedents in fuzzy rules, which allows, in some cases, to identify cyber incidents more accurately compared to existing models and methods. The weights of the antecedents of fuzzy rules are determined using the method of pairwise comparisons based on the rankings made on the 9-point Saaty scale. A decision-making algorithm for identifying cyber incidents based on the analysis of fuzzy rules and the weights of their antecedents is presented. An example of calculating the weights of antecedents of fuzzy rules using the method of pairwise comparisons based on rank estimates is given.

Development of Composite Pedestrian Level of Service Model in Urban Milieu at Midblock Sections

The pedestrian mode is gaining recognition as a basic building block in urban system design. Increasing attention is being given to developing vehicle-free zones to reduce urban pollution and return the inner city to its former role as a place for personal interaction. Attempts are being made to improve the walking experience, to make it more safe, convenient, and attractive especially in urban milieu to promote sustainable development. To provide the best pedestrian environment, it is necessary to understand pedestrian level of service. Conventional techniques of LOS determination consider the basic mobility characteristics of the pedestrian. The objective of this study is to develop a more accurate method of estimating level of service of pedestrians by developing composite indicators that integrate both qualitative and quantitative factors affecting both pedestrian and roadway conditions in the pedestrian movement. The relative importance of these multifaceted factors is assessed using Saaty scale and an Analytic Hierarchy Process is applied to determine the level of service. Field investigations include road network characterization and inventory studies, vehicular / pedestrian traffic characterization studies, pedestrian opinion surveys, expert opinion surveys. The approach has been applied to a major arterial road in Hyderabad city, Telangana, India in Mehdipatnam zone where pedestrian interactions are relatively high due to the commercial activity along the corridors. The stretches considered in the study exhibited Level of service "B" and "C" which implied necessary improvements to promote a good level of service.

Assessment and Mapping of Riverine Flood Susceptibility (RFS) in India through Coupled Multicriteria Decision Making Models and Geospatial Techniques

Progressive environmental and climatic changes have significantly increased hydrometeorological threats all over the globe. Floods have gained global significance owing to their devastating impact and their capacity to cause economic and human loss. Accurate flood forecasting and the identification of high-risk areas are essential for preventing flood impacts and implementing strategic measures to mitigate flood-related damages. In this study, an assessment of the susceptibility to riverine flooding in India was conducted utilizing Multicriteria Decision making (MCDM) and an extensive geospatial database was created through the integration of fourteen geomorphological, meteorological, hydroclimatic, and anthropogenic factors. The coupled methodology incorporates a Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) model, which utilizes Triangular Fuzzy Numbers (TFN) to determine the Importance Weights (IWs) of various parameters and their subclasses based on the Saaty scale. Based on the determined IWs, this study identifies proximity to rivers, drainage density, and mean annual rainfall as the key factors that contribute significantly to the occurrence of riverine floods. Furthermore, as the Geographic Information System (GIS) was employed to create the Riverine Flood Susceptibility (RFS) map of India by overlaying the weighted factors, it was found that high, moderate, and low susceptibility zones across the country span of 15.33%, 26.30%, and 31.35% of the total area of the country, respectively. The regions with the highest susceptibility to flooding are primarily concentrated in the Brahmaputra, Ganga, and Indus River basins, which happen to encompass a significant portion of the country’s agricultural land (334,492 km2) potentially posing a risk to India’s food security. Approximately 28.13% of built-up area in India falls in the highly susceptible zones, including cities such as Bardhaman, Silchar, Kharagpur, Howrah, Kolkata, Patna, Munger, Bareilly, Allahabad, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Muzaffarpur, which are particularly susceptible to flooding. RFS is moderate in the Kutch-Saurashtra-Luni, Western Ghats, and Krishna basins. On the other hand, areas on the outskirts of the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra basins, as well as the middle and outer portions of the peninsular basins, show a relatively low likelihood of riverine flooding. The RFS map created in this research, with an 80.2% validation accuracy assessed through AUROC analysis, will function as a valuable resource for Indian policymakers, urban planners, and emergency management agencies. It will aid them in prioritizing and executing efficient strategies to reduce flood risks effectively.

Lexical method for solving a multicriteria problem of selecting a SIEM for building a situational center for cybersecurity

The author considers the creation of a Cybersecurity Situation Center (CSC), its tasks and composition, and also provides the main technological tools that should be included in an effective CSC. Particular attention is paid to the information security incident management system (SIEM), which is key to the CSC, and its purpose and main tasks that it should solve are considered. The authors analyzes the peculiarities of solving the problem of rational selection of a SIEM. The groups of indicators characterizing the degree of fulfillment of the requirements for a SIEM are allocated and their examples are given. The use of fuzzy set theory for processing expert information on qualitative indicators characterizing a SIEM is proposed. The features related to making a rational decision on the choice of a SIEM are analyzed. Groups of indicators that can help in assessing the degree of compliance of a SIEM with the requirements are allocated, and examples of these indicators are given. In order to process expert information on the qualitative indicators of a SIEM, the use of fuzzy set theory is proposed. A formal statement of the problem of selecting a SIEM is presented and the main stages of its solution are proposed, including the preparation of initial data, the choice of a method for solving the multi-criteria problem of rational selection of a SIEM and the development of an algorithm. It is proposed to use the method of normalization of quantitative indicators of a SIEM and the method of pairwise comparisons based on rank estimates to process its qualitative indicators. The use of the Saaty scale with 9 point values to obtain membership functions for the qualitative characteristics of a SIEM based on expert evaluation is considered. An algorithm for constructing membership functions of SIEM characteristics for each fuzzy term is developed. Methods for solving multi-criteria problems are described and the use of the lexical method is proposed to solve the problem of rational selection of a SIEM in the course of building a Cybersecurity Situation Center. An algorithm for its implementation has been created and implemented, and to demonstrate its effectiveness, an example of its use for the rational selection of a SIEM is given. In addition, recommendations for the practical use of the obtained results are given.

Prioritizing major factors affecting groundwater stress using multi-criteria decision methods

Groundwater stress is a major global issue; multiple factors affecting groundwater stress can cause confusion among policymakers to choose the most significant factor in coping with this issue. Thus, this study aimed to prioritize the factors affecting groundwater stress by using five different Multiple-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods and seven scales. It was found that the uncertainty due to the MCDM method and scale selection was minimum when using Weighted Sum Method (WSM) and Saaty scale for prioritization as compared to the other four MCDM methods and six scales respectively. Based on WSM and Saaty scale it was noticed that groundwater withdrawal and groundwater availability are the two topmost factors affecting groundwater stress. The policymakers of water management could be recommended to target the reduction in groundwater withdrawal on a priority basis to cope with the groundwater stress issue, better management of groundwater resources, and achieve sustainable development goal 6.4. It is also recommended that researchers could use the WSM method and Saaty scale to minimize the uncertainty due to the MCDM method and scale selection.

Groundwater potential zonation in the Siwalik of the Kankai River Basin, Eastern Nepal

Abstract For the globally degrading groundwater resources in terms of quantity and quality, proper assessment and management become crucial for their sustainable use. This study aims to delineate the groundwater potential zones using an integrated approach of geographic information system (GIS) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in the Siwalik of the Kankai River Basin, Eastern Nepal. Different thematic layers like hydrogeomorphology, land use/land cover, lithology, slope, topographic wetness index, drainage density, normalized difference vegetation index, lineament density, and aspect were prepared and processed with suitable weights on Saaty's scale. The delineated groundwater potential zones in the study area were categorized as low, moderate, and high. The results showed that approximately 49.38% (130.85 km2) of the total study area has a low potential for groundwater. The moderate zone includes approximately 35.5% (94.07 km2) and the high potential zone includes only 15.05% (39.88 km2) of the area. The potential map was validated with a 70.6% prediction rate using the spatial distribution of the springs in the area. The analysis shows that hydrogeomorphology, LULC, and lithology have a significant control on the occurrences of groundwater. The study signifies the scarcity of groundwater resources, which needs a better management plan and strategies for sustainable use.

Assessment of groundwater potential zones for urban development site suitability analysis in Srivaikundam region, Thoothukudi district, South India

To demarcate groundwater potential zones (GWPZ) for the Srivaikundam region in Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, India, an effort was made in this study to locate the subsurface basin for groundwater storage and to identify the suitable destination for the urban development, agricultural, and drinking needs. This study using remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS) with analytical hierarchy process (AHP). According to their respective importance for groundwater occurrence, Saaty's scale was appropriately weighted to give the thematic layers and their attributes. The selected thematic maps were then merged using the weighted linear combination method to produce the final groundwater potential zone map after the layers' assigned weights and their features had been standardized using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and eigenvector approach. Based on Saaty's 9-point scale, each criterion or factor was given the proper weight, and the weights were then normalized using the analytic hierarchy approach (AHP). To create the groundwater potential prediction map for the research area, the method was incorporated into the GIS environment. For the purpose of identifying potential urban residential development sites, the generated GWPZ is combined with eight different thematic layers. Groundwater conditions have been used to define GIS analysis criteria, and each information layer has been assigned an appropriate rank and weightage. Finally, groundwater recharge zones have been selected and classified into low, medium, and high based on cumulative weighted value. The moderate groundwater potential zone covers the majority of the land, with areas of very low 0.5 km2 (0.1%), low 112.3 km2 (17.7%), medium 428.7 km2 (67.6%), high 87.8 km2 (13.8%), and very high 5.1 km2 (0.8%) accordingly. Furthermore, higher groundwater yields are estimated in medium to good zones, indicating greater potentiality of groundwater sources.

Utilization of the National Building to Increase Regional Original Income of Sungai Penuh City

Sungai Penuh City is a city resulting from the division that has many regional assets that have not been identified and managed properly. One of them is Gedung Nasional, which is a regional asset as a result of the handover from Kerinci Regency in 2021. The purpose of the research is to formulate a model for the utilization of Gedung Nasional as a multi-purpose building and determine the strategy for optimizing the utilization of Gedung Nasional to increase the Regional Original Income of Sungai Penuh City. This study uses a mixed method approach through observation, documentation and interviews with the government, community leaders and filling out a purposive sampling questionnaire. The data analysis tool uses the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with a Saaty scale approach starting from a weighted value of 1 to 9. The results of the study obtained that the optimization strategy for the utilization of Gedung Nasional to increase the Regional Original Income of Sungai Penuh City is (1) improving/adding facilities and services, (2) providing incentives to levy collectors/managers, (3) requiring the use of Gedung Nasional facility as a standard for Sungai Penuh City physical activity, (4) improving the legal/regulatory system, (5) establishing criteria and evaluating the object of retribution for cooperation with other parties. third parties.

A characteristic-oriented strategy for ranking and near-optimal selection of phase change materials for thermal energy storage in building applications

This paper presents a methodological approach for characteristic-based selection of phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage in building applications. Unlike previous studies that were mainly focused on applying Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to rank PCMs without using a rational ranking strategy, this study presents a weighted product method (WPM) based ranking strategy by incorporating qualitative and quantitative attributes of PCMs to rank and determine near-optimal PCMs for given applications. Qualitative attributes were converted into quantitative factors by using the standard Saaty scale. A weight assignment process was introduced to handle multiple characteristics of PCMs by using priority-based clusters in the pair-wise matrix of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The effectiveness of this strategy was tested and evaluated by performing two case studies. In the first case study, a sample dataset of PCMs was used to rank PCMs for different building applications based on the four major thermodynamic properties of the PCMs, whereas in the second case study, several qualitative and quantitative characteristics of PCMs including cost were used to select a near-optimal PCM from a list of eight PCMs for a thermal energy storage system integrated with a ground source heat pump system. The ranking results of the first case study were also quantitatively analyzed by using data analytic techniques. Two PCMs from the ranking list were selected to verify the effectiveness of the strategy by implementing the PCMs into a thermal energy storage system via simulations. The capacity of each PCM to provide energy flexibility to a Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) system was calculated. The cost-based flexibility potential by using the better-ranked PCM thermal energy storage system was 37.1 %, while that for the lower-ranked PCM thermal energy storage system was 27.5 %, and both PCMs provided around 73 % flexibility in terms of the peak load reduction of the HVAC system. The simulation results were consistent with the ranking results. The second case study also proved the effectiveness of this method to select near-optimal PCMs for thermal energy storage systems.

Poverty Alleviation Strategies Through Sharia Microfinance Institutions Politico-Economics Study With Tawhidi Approach

This research aims to formulate a poverty alleviation strategy in Indonesia by empowering Islamic Microfinance Institutions (IMFI) based on political-economic studies. The Indonesian political-economic system is stipulated in Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution and its Explanatory Paragraph, making the people the center of attention for national economic development. The research uses the Analytic Network Process (ANP) method developed by Saaty. The ANP construction uses a model consisting of 3 main clusters, namely Problems, Solutions, and Strategies. The qualitative-quantitative assessment data is determined based on the Saaty Scale obtained through an in-depth interview of 9 expert respondents and practitioners in Islamic economics and finance. The results show that poverty alleviation strategies need to be carried out through cultural and structural approaches. The cultural approach includes revitalizing the concept of the people's economy as stated in the 1945 Constitution, campaigning for using the domestic product, socialization to increase literacy about waqf and zakat, improving the practices of bureaucratic ethics, and strengthening the values of togetherness and anti-monopoly. The strategy at structural approach is carried out by implementing policies to enhance the role of cooperatives in the national economy; increasing the education budget for the poor and needy; increased coordination between authorities; bureaucratic reform; and honest and fair law enforcement against corruption. For the micro-level at the LKMS institution, the cultural approach is carried out by strengthening literacy on Islamic financial instruments, increasing financial inclusion programs, social inclusion programs, and strengthening methods for obtaining funding sources from Islamic financial instruments. On the structural side, it is necessary to improve the professionalism and capability of supporting LKMS, institutional strengthening, internal control and supervision system, improvement of supporting infrastructure, and enhancing service convenience.