The efficiency analysis technique with output satisficing (EATWOS) is a successful tool for determining the most efficient design for energy systems. Since EATWOS is rationally based on the maximal ...output throughout the minimal inputs, the weights of input and output values considerably affect the analysis results. Therefore, the impact ratio of each input and output term should be sensitively determined. In this study, the artificial neural network (ANN) modeling was used to determine the weights of the input values due to the quantitative effects of these values, whereas the analytical hierarchic process (AHP) was used for the output values due to qualitative effects. A new hybrid method was formed, embedding the ANN and AHP results into EATWOS. The new hybrid model was then applied to a sample geothermal district heating system for optimization. In this aim, 148 designs were formed throughout the different inlet parameters and evaluated by exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental analysis to conduct the outputs. For the optimum case, the exergy efficiency was calculated as 20.25 %, whereas the SI was determined as 1.25, with the highest score. 1/r and 1/rb were determined as 0.002337 and 0.001677, respectively. The NPV value was determined as 4.44 million $.
•A new hybrid ANN-AHP-EATWOS multi-criteria decision-making tool was developed.•ANN model was conducted for GDHS.•AHP was conducted for GDHS.•GDHS with TES-driven HP system was optimized.
The main objective of this research was to create a robust hierarchical model to evaluate the power generation technologies in the energy mix of any country, with particular emphasis on its use in ...the case study of Spain. An exhaustive literature review allowed to identify a balanced number of the most relevant criteria that the model should consider to evaluate the seven alternatives that cover most of the Spanish energy demand. Through expert knowledge, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology allowed to obtain the local and global weights of the criteria used in the model. Using these weights and the assessments of alternatives for each criterion, their ranking was determined through both AHP and a novel fuzzy inference system (FIS), whose inference rules were automatically constructed based on the weights of the criteria and a distance minimization method. The design of this FIS constitutes the main contribution of the work, firstly, because it avoids a second round of experts consultations and, secondly, because it systematically conceptualises the knowledge base that allows to infer the individual evaluation of any alternative, without the risk of rank reversal that may occur if using only AHP. The results of the case study of Spain showed that environmental was the most important criterion. In terms of the comparative AHP merit order, Photovoltaic (PV) was ranked first and Coal last. In addition, the individual assessment of the technologies through FIS yielded results consistent with the previous AHP ranking. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed, which showed good stability in the results obtained.
•Identification of suitable areas for Castor fiber reintroduction in Piedmont region.•An integrated approach is proposed combining SWOT and Spatial Multicriteria Analysis.•Characteristics of beaver's ...habitat and related environmental impacts.•Suitable approach to support reintroductions and species management.
The Castor fiber or Eurasian beaver can change its habitat by building dams and creating ponds. For this reason, Castor fiber is known as an “ecosystem engineer” for aquatic and riparian environments. Despite its ecological importance, at the beginning of the 20th century the population was reduced to only 1200 beavers in Europe and Asia, due to uncontrolled hunting. Recently, some reintroductions and translocations have partly re-established the population. In Italy, however, the beaver disappeared in the 16th century and no action has been taken despite the recommendation of the Council of Europe to perform a feasibility study.
This research evaluates beaver reintroduction and identifies suitable areas in Italy and, in particular, in the Piedmont region. In order to achieve this, a SWOT analysis combined with a Spatial Multicriteria Analysis was performed. Firstly, the zoological and ethological aspects concerning this rodent were studied, as well as the historical reasons that led to its disappearance in Italy and near extinction in Eurasia. Secondly, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of the territory were identified for beaver reintroduction. The SWOT analysis was implemented, as the starting point for the spatial multicriteria analysis. Thirdly, the Multicriteria Spatial Decision Support System (MC-SDSS) was structured into two criteria, i.e. Potentials and Criticalities, representing the spatialization of strengths and weaknesses. The final result of the MC-SDSS is a map showing suitable areas for beaver reintroduction in Piedmont. This map is the weighted sum of the maps of criticalities and potentialities, performed through a set of GIS operations and weighted through a pairwise comparison of criteria by experts.
The analysis was conducted for the Piedmont region, but the integrated approach and the set of criteria can also be applied in other regions. Moreover, this mixed-method approach takes into account the characteristics necessary for the choice of suitable beaver habitats and also includes economic and social aspects. Therefore, it is an improvement on the Habitat Suitability Index (HIS), generally used in reintroductions. The aspects considered in the analysis are fundamental for the future development of a shared action plan, which considers both technical and social motivations and acts for the long-term on a wide area.
•MC-SDSS is suitable for site selection and complex decision-making processes.•AHP and FAHP comparison shows their differences in supporting site selection.•Sensitivity analysis is performed to test ...the robustness of the evaluation.•The development of suitability maps supports the concertation among stakeholders.
Integrated evaluation methods have started to gain more and more importance for supporting the decision-making process in the field of urban and territorial planning, contributing to the consideration of the multidimensionality of the elements involved and the multiple feedback of stakeholders. In the context of infrastructure location in cities, spatial multicriteria analysis is becoming increasingly relevant, thanks to its ability to synthesize the full range of aspects, through Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), and for the consideration of the spatial dimension, thanks to its integration of GIS data. The case study selected to test this mixed method is the new healthcare project for the metropolitan city of Turin (Italy). The decision where to locate a new healthcare facility is highly complex since many aspects have to be considered, spanning from technical to social factors, and from locational to environmental elements. This choice case study aims at highlighting the role of spatial multicriteria analysis to support Decision Makers (DMs) in the identification of suitable locations for urban facilities and shows the potential of the approach for increasing the participation of different stakeholders thanks to a simple visual representation of data and results. In particular, the research makes use of Analytic Hierarchic Process (AHP) and Fuzzy AHP (FAHP). The comparison of the two approaches shows that they can both be used for identifying suitable locations for urban infrastructures. However, this research demonstrates that AHP should be preferred in the case of the high relevance of all the criteria considered, whereas FAHP introduces more uncertainty in criteria weights assignment and reduces the burden of many spatial analyses with GIS.
Household mobility dynamics are a complex phenomenon due to the multi-faceted human-environment interactions involved. These dynamics are affected by a variety of variables, spanning economic, ...structural, political and environmental. With respect to this latter aspect, much research has explored the relationship between the development of urban green areas, the increase of price and the formation of gentrification. Within this context, the present work explores housing mobility and gentrification dynamics proposing a mixed-method approach that combines a spatially explicit agent-based model (ABM), a Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and a Hedonic Price (HP). The case study of the transformation project of Victoria Park in Brisbane (Australia) is used to verify the applicability of this integrated approach. In the methodological framework proposed, the ABM simulates the housing mobility of the residents through an individual decision-making process, where the likelihood of mobility is based on various empirical endogenous factors (i.e., household socio-economic characteristics) and exogenous ones (i.e., market variation). The MCDA supports the identification of the relative importance of these factors using a panel of local experts and stakeholders. The Spatial HP explores the impact of urban parks on real estate prices. The current study found the abilities of MCDA and HP to reduce the assumptions of ABM by generating quali-quantitative information of citizens' behaviors and estimating price increase. Moreover, the model highlights the importance of considering both supply and demand sides when analyzing gentrification. The specific results of the case study show the influence of the park in the formation of green gentrification.
•A flexible and replicable scheme is proposed to analyze gentrification.•The mixed method combines agent-based model (ABM) and multicriteria analysis.•The MCDA provides quanti-qualitative data from the stakeholders as inputs in the ABM.•The bottom-up approach simulates the supply and demand of the real estate market.•The model can be used for hypothesis-testing and scenario-evaluation.
The exploitation potential of shallow geothermal energy is usually defined in terms of site-specific ground thermal characteristics. While true, this assumption limits the complexity of the analysis, ...since feasibility studies involve many other components that must be taken into account when calculating the effective market viability of a geothermal technology or the economic value of a shallow geothermal project. In addition, the results of a feasibility study are not simply the sum of the various factors since some components may be conflicting while others will be of a qualitative nature only. Different approaches are therefore needed to evaluate the suitability of an area for shallow geothermal installation. This paper introduces a new GIS platform-based multicriteria decision analysis method aimed at comparing as many different shallow geothermal relevant factors as possible. Using the Analytic Hierarchic Process Tool, a geolocalized Suitability Index was obtained for a specific technological case: the integrated technologies developed within the GEOTeCH Project. A suitability map for the technologies in question was drawn up for Europe.
Decision making can present a considerable amount of complexity in competitive environments; where methods that support possess great relevance. The article presents an extension of the Hierarchic ...Analytical Process; complemented with Personal Construct Theory, which purpose is to reduce ambiguity when defining and establishing values for the criteria in a determined problem. In recent years, the scope for decision making based on data has considerably raised, which is why Data Science as a scientific field is rising in popularity; where one of the main activities for data scientists is selecting an adequate methodology to guide a project with this traits. The steps defined in the proposed model guide this task, from establishing and prioritizing criteria based on degrees of compliance, grouping them by levels, completing the hierarchical structure of the problem, performing the correct comparisons through different levels in an ascendant manner, to finally obtaining the definitive priorities of each methodology for each validation case and sorting them by their adequacy percentages. Both disparate cases, one referred to an industrial/commercial field and the other to an academic field, were effective to corroborate the extent of usefulness of the proposed model; for which in both cases MoProPEI obtained the best results.
The objective of this work was to use the analytic hierarchic process (AHP) to select the best replacement brush cutter blades. The seven decision criteria of the AHP included three mechanical ...property criteria and four commercial data criteria. The mechanical property criteria were based on wear rate, impact toughness, and hardness, all of which were tested, while the four commercial data criteria were set on price, weight, packaging information, and product distribution, which were surveyed. Four replacement brush cutter steel blades of types 65C, 72C, 73C, and 81C were included. The best alternative was the 65C steel blade according to the AHP method.
The ability of managing a production system is an essential factor for maintaining the position in the market. Companies are constantly looking for optimizing their process in order to follow this ...dynamic competition. In this sense, different tools and methodologies are applied in order to support the decision-making, based on algorithm solutions and objective results. Regarding that, this paper presents an analysis of the best alternatives to eliminate productive process bottlenecks of martensitic stainless steel (AISI-420) of a metal-mechanics industry from South of Brazil by applying the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results indicate the best alternative to extinguish the production process bottleneck as the replacement of the material of the polishing rolls, from sisal to cotton, which represents 27.1 % of preference regarding all the alternatives. Following it is the increase of speed of the conveyors and the verification and substitution of industrial squirts, all of them with relative high impact on the solution of the problem. Based on the changes made, it is possible to notice great reduction in losses and reprocess, besides the improvements pointed out by the inspection and quality sector. Considering all the improvements, the results show 74 % of efficiency when compared to the previous situation.
Manufacturing companies are implementing quality management systems ISO 9001:2000 forced by market demands or competition but, after the implementation process the question arises whether or not a ...profit has been generated and which indicators where improved. A multicriteria model (based on Analytic Hierarchic process - AHP)) to measure the achievement of benefits associated with the system quality management is developed in this paper. This methodology is used in a group of manufacturing companies located in Valle del Cauca - Colombia to define the level of benefits achieved by them. The methodology is reproducible in any organization and it seeks to help directing efforts in making business decisions regarding the implementation of a system quality management.
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