An intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator based methodology for environmental criteria integrated supplier evaluation process

Supplier evaluation problems deal with selecting appropriate suppliers considering multiple criteria, which may be related with qualitative and quantitative aspects. Traditional supplier selection criteria contain criteria such as cost, capacity, delivery reliability, flexibility, and responsiveness, etc. However, due to the increasing level of environmental problems, it is a necessity to take environmental criteria into account together with the traditional decision criteria in the supplier evaluation processes of companies. Considering this necessity, this paper proposes a decision making methodology for environmental criteria integrated supplier evaluation processes. A methodology based on intuitionistic fuzzy Choquet integral operator is utilized to take into account vagueness of the decision environment and the interactions among the criteria. This methodology also provides the consideration of the satisfaction and dissatisfaction degrees of alternatives for each criterion with the help of intuitionistic fuzzy values. In addition, the effects of the criteria weights to the final ranking of suppliers are analyzed via sensitivity analyses.     

Landfill site selection by decision-making tools based on fuzzy multi-attribute decision-making method

Landfill site selection is a complex and time-consuming process, which requires evaluation of several factors where many different attributes are taken into account. Decision makers always have some difficulties in making the right decision in the multiple attribute environments. After identifying candidate sites, these sites should be ranked using decision-making methods. This study applies Chang’s fuzzy AHP-based multiple attribute decision-making (MADM) method for selection of the best site of landfills based on a set of decision criteria. The Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) was designed to make pairwise comparisons of selected criteria by domain experts for assigning weights to the decision criteria. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to make pairwise comparisons and assign weights to the decision criteria. It is easier for a decision maker to describe a value for an alternative by using linguistic terms and fuzzy numbers. In the fuzzy-based AHP method, the rating of each alternative was described using the expression of triangular fuzzy membership functions. Once the global weights of the criteria is calculated by AHP, they are incorporated into the decision matrices composed by decision maker and passed to fuzzy-AHP method which is used to determine preference order of siting alternatives. In this study, a computer program based on the Chang’s fuzzy method was also developed in MATLAB environment for ranking and selecting the landfill site. As an example of the proposed methodology, four different hypothetical areas were chosen and implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program. By using this program, the precision was improved in comparison with traditional methods and computational time required for ranking and selecting the suitable landfill site was significantly reduced.     

Environmental performance evaluation of suppliers: A hybrid fuzzy multi-criteria decision approach

Increasing environmental problems enforce companies to be more environmental responsible. A company’s environmental performance is not only related to the company’s inner environmental efforts, but also it is affected by the suppliers’ environmental performance and image. As a stakeholder of the company, a supplier with bad environmental image affects badly the company’s environmental image. Also, raw materials and semi-finished products supplied from out of the company recourses- suppliers- affects the products environmental features such as life cycle, re-usability, re-manufacturability, hazardous substances, etc. Considering these direct and indirect effects, managers should also consider environmental performances of their suppliers in their supplier evaluation process. In this paper, a methodology for the evaluation of suppliers’ environmental performances is proposed. In this methodology, a hybrid Fuzzy-Analytic Network Process and Fuzzy-Preference Ranking Organization METHod for Enrichment Evaluations approach is utilized. Additionally, a numerical example is given to foster the better understanding of the methodology and the obtained results are analyzed with sensitivity analyses.     

浅析浅层折射地震资料解释中检波距选择的合理性

检波距是浅层折射地震勘探中的一个重要参数,检波距的合理选择是资料解释结果可靠性的重要保证。特别是在二元和多元地形条件下的折射地震勘探资料解释中,选择平距或斜距来计算检波距在不同行业和单位是不统一的。这里从理论上探讨了在二元地形条件下,浅层折射地震资料解释中用平距和斜距二种方法计算检波距对表层有效速度的影响和误差大小,明晰了实际工作中二元或多元地形条件下,不同检波距计算方法所引起折射地震勘探资料解释结果的差异和误差大小及其合理性。     

Environmental impact assessment of structural flood mitigation measures: a case study in Šiba,Slovakia

The proposed flood mitigation measures in the Slovak Republic are subject of environmental impact assessment (EIA) process before its approval. The paper elaborates and demonstrates the application of the risk analysis method for evaluating alternatives, which is core in EIA. Risk analysis is an appropriate tool to determine the level of the risk of the proposed flood mitigation measures and through which it is possible to choose the alternative with the lowest level of risk for the environment. The article presents the application of the developed methodology based on universal matrix of risk analysis in ?iba village that is in existing flood risk. It analyses and discusses the results of the impact assessment from EIA practice in the Slovakia. The aim of the work is to improve existing qualitative and quantitative methods for assessing the impacts of proposed activities on the environment. Developed methodology stimulates creative approaches in searching of the best alternative to proposed activities (constructions) that are environmentally friendly. Innovation in this paper is presented by an implementation of universal matrix of risk analysis for flood mitigation measures (developed by the authors) for the purposes of EIA process.     

Strategies for utilizing alternative fuels by Iranian passenger cars

The current paper is an attempt to find a sustainable fuel strategy for passenger cars in Iran. Currently, most of Iran’s passenger cars consume gasoline, a non-renewable fossil fuel. This fuel has well-known environmental impacts, including various kinds of pollutions, as well as the threat of quick running out. These general negative characteristics of gasoline are amplified by the high consumption rate of Iran’s transportation sector, (e.g. about three times more than that of UK). The objective of this paper is firstly selecting possible alternative fuels for Iran’s transportation sector, and then proposing the percent of cars consuming these alternative fuels (along with gasoline). The best strategies are proposed based on environmental and economic considerations, and hence are more sustainable decisions comparing with the other strategies. The best strategies are found using partial order theory and Hasse diagram technique, which is a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tool.     

基于决策树的蓬莱市土地覆盖信息提取

以蓬莱市为研究区,对TM影像经过预处理后,进行典型地物的光谱分析。在此基础上,运用决策树分类法,选取影像的光谱特征值、NDWI值、NDVI值、K—T变换信息和DEM值等数据作为测试变量,选择适当阈值设定判别规则,建立决策树模型进行土地利用覆盖信息提取并做出精度评价。将其提取精度与监督分类结果精度进行比较,结果表明其分类精度有很大提高,尤其在研究区是丘陵地形的情况下,DEM数据的使用使林地、果园的可分性大大加强。     

Work of Adhesion of Thin Spray-On Liners

The interface property known as work of adhesion incorporates both adhesion and effective bond width, which are two important design parameters in thin spray-on liner (TSL) support design. The value of this parameter is yet to be recognized by the mining industry and liner manufacturers. The importance of this parameter is introduced in this study. A new methodology using pull-out load–displacement data was developed to calculate the work of adhesion between a TSL and a substrate. Tests were performed using Tekflex as a liner material, which was applied to concrete, granite or sandstone substrate. It was found that a Tekflex liner, when sprayed onto substrates, will likely have work of adhesion values around 777–973?N/m depending on the type of substrate. In addition, for the first time in TSL literature, an effective bond width calculation is introduced in this study. It was found that Tekflex has average effective bond width of 0.7?mm on different substrates. Liner manufacturers should measure and document work of adhesion for their products on a standard substrate.     

Site selection in municipal solid waste management with extended VIKOR method under fuzzy environment

Nowadays, selection of the suitable disposal site in municipal solid waste (MSW) management has become a challenge task for the municipal authorities, especially in fast-growing areas. Site selection can be viewed as a complicated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem requiring consideration of multiple alternative solutions and conflicting quantitative and qualitative criteria. In this paper, linguistic variables, which can be expressed as trapezoidal fuzzy numbers, are used to assess the ratings and weights for the selection criteria. The ordered weighted averaging operator is utilized to transform the fuzzy decision matrix into crisp values considering the decision maker’s attitudinal character. For selecting the best site, the extended VIsekriterijumska optimizacija i KOmpromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method is applied to determine the priority ranking of alternatives. As a result, a hierarchy MCDM model based on fuzzy set theory and VIKOR method is proposed to deal with the site selection problems in the MSW management system. An empirical study in Shanghai, China, is provided and comparison with the existing approach is conducted to illustrate the applicability and benefits of the proposed method.     

Determining proper strategies for Iran’s dimensional stone mines: a SWOT–AHP analysis

Iran has very high potential for production and export of dimension stone (rock quarried to size and shape specifications); nevertheless, in spite of growing mine production during the past decade, in many instances this potential has been overlooked. Construction, decorative, and facing stones of Iran are among the highest-quality products in the world. In this paper, Iran’s dimensional stone mines are analyzed using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis in combination with analytic hierarchy process (AHP). SWOT analysis is a tool commonly used for analyzing both the internal and external environments in order to attain a systematic approach and support for a decision situation. Conventionally, SWOT analysis is qualitative and does not quantify the effect of the factors. Consequently, it is not effective in priority setting. To overcome this limitation, SWOT analysis has been used in combination with other quantitative multi-criteria decision making methods especially the AHP. In this study, first an environment analysis was performed by an expert team familiar with these mines. In this way, the SWOT factors were identified and the subfactors which had very significant effects on the success of these mines were determined. Using the SWOT subfactors, the SWOT matrix and alternative strategies based on these subfactors were developed. Subsequently, the strategies were prioritized and the best strategies for Iran’s dimensional stone mines were determined.     

Choosing a municipal landfill site by analytic network process

In this study, analytic network process (ANP), one of the multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tools has been used to choose one of the four alternative landfill sites for the city of Eskisehir, Turkey. For this purpose, Super Decision Software has been used and benefit opportunity cost and risk (BOCR) analysis has been done to apply ANP. In BOCR analysis, each alternative site has been evaluated in terms of its benefits, costs and risks; the opportunity cluster has been examined under the benefit cluster. In this context, technical, economical and social assessments have been done for the site selection of sanitary landfill. Also, results have been compared with analytic hierarchy process (AHP) which is another MCDM technique used in the study conducted before. Finally, the current site has been determined as the most appropriate site in both methods. These methods have not been commonly used in the discipline of environmental engineering but it is believed to be an important contribution for decision makers.     

多因素模糊综合评价预测油气田远景区的研究

在ＧＩＳ支持下，本文设计了“分层建模，逐层评价，综合预测”的新思路，新方法，研究和建立了物、化探数字异常模型、多因素直接加权模型，多因素模糊综合评价预测模型。这对全面揭示各种异常分布特征与隐伏油气田和地质构造的，对指导生产、辅决策、确定油气田远景提供了很有前景的手段。     

Landfill site selection and landfill liner design for Ankara, Turkey

Considering the high population growth rate of Ankara, it is inevitable that landfill(s) will be required in the area in the near future to sustain the sanitary waste disposal needs of the city. The main scope of this study is to select alternative landfill sites for Ankara based on the growing trends of Ankara toward the northwest, particularly toward the Sincan municipality, and to eventually select the best alternative through utilizing multi-criteria decision making. Landfill site selection was carried out utilizing Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. A number of criteria, namely, settlement, slope, proximity to roads, geology, availability and proximity of landfill containment material (i.e., clay for composite lining system), suitability for agriculture, erosion, vegetation cover and lineament system were gathered in a GIS environment. Each criterion was assigned a weight value by applying the Pairwise Comparison Method and the Analytical Hierarchy Method. In order to choose the best alternative, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution, which is regarded as an ideal point method, was applied and a landfill site was selected. The geotechnical properties of the so-called “Ankara clay” that shows widespread distribution in Ankara were reviewed and assessed for its suitability as a compacted clay liner.     

Storage dam’s locality placing by MCDM techniques (case study: three dams in Iran)

MCDM (multi-criteria decision making) techniques are used to choose the best alternative among the relevant ones and rank the others. In this research, MCDM techniques were used to choose and rank the best places for constructing storage dams in Iran. To achieve this goal, the relevant information and data about dam construction situations were collected. Then, the recommended places for constructing storage dams were ranked by using MCDM techniques and according to the most suitable criteria which have been chosen based on experts’ opinions. To rank dam constructing project, three MCDM techniques, i.e., TOPSIS, AHP, and DEMATEL, were used. The results showed that the application of MCDM models by putting emphasis on economic, social, political, and technical criteria enables government and watershed managers to choose the best alternative(s) for constructing a storage dam.     

The subloading isotropic plasticity as a variable modulus model

The subloading concept is an extension of mathematical plasticity which defines an internal surface to the conventional yield surface. It is indeed a versatile approach, especially for the modelling of soils under quasi-static cycles with smooth transitions from pure elastic to elastoplastic behaviour. For the case of isotropic hardening models, this paper demonstrates that the subloading isotropic plasticity is equivalent to a variable modulus approach and therefore a simpler and equivalent methodology can be adopted instead. In addition to demonstrating this equivalence, an alternative formulation that was presented elsewhere and that uses only one surface is briefly discussed. The alternative formulation can then be easily applied to popular models for soils such as the Cam clay model. Finally, some numerical predictions are presented in order to illustrate the capabilities of the subloading isotropic plasticity and the corresponding variable modulus approach.     

Selection of wastewater treatment process based on the analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methods

This paper presents an application of the analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methods for selecting the best wastewater treatment process. The analytical hierarchy process is one of the best ways for deciding among the complex criteria structure in different levels, and the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is a synthetic extension of the classical method when the fuzziness of the decision makers are considered. After reviewing aerobic treatment processes operated in Iran’s industrial estates and determining the main criteria used for treatment process evaluation, they are arranged in a hierarchy structure. Selection of the best wastewater treatment process is a multi-criteria decision making problem. Conventional methods are inadequate for dealing with the imprecise or vague nature of linguistic assessment. To overcome this difficulty, the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is proposed for dealing with the vagueness of decision makers’ judgments. The alternatives consist of extended aeration, absorption bio-oxidation, integrated fixed-film activated sludge, sequencing batch reactor, aerated lagoon. Based on the general condition of industrial estate’s wastewater treatment plants, technical/administrative, economic and environmental criteria and their sub-criteria are weighted and then criteria evaluated and priorities of alternatives have been done by analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methods by the use of triangular fuzzy numbers. Finally, selection of the best process and ranking of these five processes are carried out by these foregoing methods, and some sensitivity analyses are conducted to show the results’ sensitiveness to the changes of the weights of the evaluation criteria.     

A decision support system using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for the optimal environmental reclamation of an open-pit mine

The selection of an optimal reclamation method is one of the most important factors in open-pit design and production planning. It also affects economic considerations in open-pit design as a function of plan location and depth. Furthermore, the selection is a complex multi-person, multi-criteria decision problem. The group decision-making process can be improved by applying a systematic and logical approach to assess the priorities based on the inputs of several specialists from different functional areas within the mine company. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) can be very useful in involving several decision makers with different conflicting objectives to arrive at a consensus decision. In this paper, the selection of an optimal reclamation method using an AHP-based model was evaluated for coal production in an open-pit coal mine located at Seyitomer region in Turkey. The use of the proposed model indicates that it can be applied to improve the group decision making in selecting a reclamation method that satisfies optimal specifications. Also, it is found that the decision process is systematic and using the proposed model can reduce the time taken to select a optimal method.     

决策树方法在遥感地质填图中的应用

决策树理论在遥感分类中, 分类准确、高效.依据其理论方法, 对青海省民和地区的遥感数据———ETM + (enhanced thematic mapper plus) 进行了分类, 选用的ETM +数据为1999年10月份数据, 数字高程(DEM) 数据来自于1:2 5万民和幅地形图, 数据格式为MapInfo通用格式MIF, 数据进行了坐标转换(地理坐标), 对原始数据进行了处理, 从等高线中提取数字高程.对遥感数据进行地形及光照矫正, 计算植被因子及缨帽变换的3个分量, 同其他5个遥感波段结合形成原始分类图层, 同时确定目标分类结果.原始数据的采样基于目视, 首先采用不同的彩色合成方案突出不同的目标地物, 交互式进行采样, 使用IDL语言编制程序从原始数据中提取地物数字信息, 使用Clementine7.2对数据进行处理, 其中10 %的采样数据验证模型准确率, 其余数据用来推算模型, 对数据进行10次迭代, 同时给予75 %的剪枝, 得到区分不同地物(如红层、黄土等) 的最合适图层(band 1 & band 3)和具体数值, 形成决策树模型, 将决策树模型导入Envi4.0中, 对原始数据(9个图层) 进行计算形成初步分类结果图, 对初步分类结果图进行一定的碎片合并, 最终形成分类结果图.该图同1:2 5万地质图进行对比确认分类的效果, 同传统分类图比较确认决策树分类方法优于传统分类.另外来自于决策树所提取的信息, 有利于地学知识的归纳总结      

Interpreting sustainable yield of an aquifer using a fuzzy framework

Reliable estimates for how much water can be safely withdrawn from aquifers without harming the environment is crucial for identifying new water supply sources and fostering sustainable growth. Methodologies to estimate groundwater availability that are rooted in science and yet accomplishable with minimal data are particularly useful for effectual aquifer management. Also, as groundwater management is increasingly becoming a participatory process, these methodologies must be transparent and easily understood by a wide range of audiences. In addition, proposed approaches must also reconcile imprecision and uncertainties arising from lack of data, differences in stakeholders’ perceptions and limitations associated with incomplete aquifer characterization. In this study, the fundamental concept of water balance is coupled with fuzzy regression to develop a scheme for assessing regional-scale groundwater availability. Using the mass-balance approach, anthropogenic water demands (municipal, industrial and agricultural) and ecological demands (baseflows to rivers) can be incorporated into the availability estimation process. The use of fuzzy regression enables the specification of decision makers’ preferences to the adopted procedure and renders the parameter estimation to be more robust in the presence of extreme values. The methodology is illustrated by using it to estimate groundwater availability in the Gulf coast aquifer, underlying Refugio County, TX, USA.     

Conceptual and numerical models for sustainable groundwater management in the Thaphra area, Chi River Basin, Thailand

Sustainable management of groundwater resources is vital for development of areas at risk from water-resource over-exploitation. In northeast Thailand, the Phu Thok aquifer is an important water source, particularly in the Thaphra area, where increased groundwater withdrawals may result in water-level decline and saline-water upconing. Three-dimensional finite-difference flow models were developed with MODFLOW to predict the impacts of future pumping on hydraulic heads. Four scenarios of pumping and recharge were defined to evaluate the system response to future usage and climate conditions. Primary model simulations show that groundwater heads will continue to decrease by 4–12?m by the year 2040 at the center of the highly exploited area, under conditions of both increasing pumping and drought. To quantify predictive uncertainty in these estimates, in addition to the primary conceptual model, three alternative conceptual models were used in the simulation of sustainable yields. These alternative models show that, for this case study, a reasonable degree of uncertainty in hydrostratigraphic interpretation is more impactful than uncertainty in recharge distribution or boundary conditions. The uncertainty-analysis results strongly support addressing conceptual-model uncertainty in the practice of groundwater-management modeling. Doing so will better assist decision makers in selecting and implementing robust sustainable strategies.