A Methodology for the Selection of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Methods in Real Estate and Land Management Processes

Real estate and land management are characterised by a complex, elaborate combination of technical, regulatory and governmental factors. In Europe, Public Administrators must address the complex decision-making problems that need to be resolved, while also acting in consideration of the expectations of the different stakeholders involved in settlement transformation. In complex situations (e.g., with different aspects to be considered and multilevel actors involved), decision-making processes are often used to solve multidisciplinary and multidimensional analyses, which support the choices of those who are making the decision. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methods are included among the examination and evaluation techniques considered useful by the European Community. Such analyses and techniques are performed using methods, which aim to reach a synthesis of the various forms of input data needed to define decision-making problems of a similar complexity. Thus, one or more of the conclusions reached allow for informed, well thought-out, strategic decisions. According to the technical literature on MCDA, numerous methods are applicable in different decision-making situations, however, advice for selecting the most appropriate for the specific field of application and problem have not been thoroughly investigated. In land and real estate management, numerous queries regarding evaluations often arise. In brief, the objective of this paper is to outline a procedure with which to select the method best suited to the specific queries of evaluation, which commonly arise while addressing decision-making problems. In particular issues of land and real estate management, representing the so-called “settlement sector”. The procedure will follow a theoretical-methodological approach by formulating a taxonomy of the endogenous and exogenous variables of the multi-criteria analysis method

Public initiatives of settlement transformation. A theoretical-methodological approach to selecting tools of multi-criteria decision analysis

In Europe, the operating context in which initiatives of settlement transformation are currently initiated is characterized by a complex, elaborate combination of technical, regulatory and governance-related factors. A similar set of considerations makes it necessary to address the complex decision-making problems to be resolved through multidisciplinary, comparative approaches designed to rationalize the process and treat the elements to be considered in systematic fashion with respect to the range of alternatives available as solutions. Within a context defined in this manner, decision-making processes must often be used to obtain multidisciplinary and multidimensional analyses to support the choices made by the decision-makers. Such analyses are carried out using multi-criteria tools designed to arrive at syntheses of the numerous forms of input data needed to describe decision-making problems of similar complexity, so that one or more outcomes of the synthesis make possible informed, well thought-out, strategic decisions. The technical literature on the topic proposes numerous tools of multi-criteria analysis for application in different decision-making contexts. Still, no specific contributions have been drawn up to date on the approach to take in selecting the tool best suited to providing adequate responses to the queries of evaluation that arise most frequently in the various fields of application, and especially in the settlement sector. The objective of this paper is to propose, by formulating a taxonomy of the endogenous and exogenous variables of tools of multi-criteria analysis, a methodology capable of selecting the tool best suited to the queries of evaluation which arise regarding the chief categories of decision-making problems, and particularly in the settlement sector

Research Article Software Component Selection Based on Quality Criteria Using the Analytic Network Process

Component based software development (CBSD) endeavors to deliver cost-effective and quality software systems through the selection and integration of commercially available software components. CBSD emphasizes the design and development of software systems using preexisting components. Software component reusability is an indispensable part of component based software development life cycle (CBSDLC),which consumes a significant amount of organization’s resources, that is, time and effort. It is convenient in component based software system (CBSS) to select the most suitable and appropriate software components that provide all the required functionalities. Selecting the most appropriate components is crucial for the success of the entire system. However, decisions regarding software component reusability are often made in an ad hoc manner, which ultimately results in schedule delay and lowers the entire quality system. In this paper, we have discussed the analytic network process (ANP) method for software component selection. The methodology is explained and assessed using a real life case study

Using DEMATEL and ISM to design green public policies based on the system of system approach

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to the development of green public policies. We emphasize the significance of the System of Systems (SoSs) methodology, which concentrates on understanding and managing complex systems by contemplating their interdependencies and interactions as a single integrated system. Based on this perspective, we view green public policy as a system interacting with the energy, health, pollutants, and economic systems of the SoSs. We employ both Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) techniques as a method of systematic structural analysis to comprehend the relationships between the aforementioned systems. We provide a comprehensive literature review on the application of these soft operation research (SOR) techniques. We note that SOR methods are suitable for the formulation of effective and long-lasting public policies. Using an example, we demonstrate the primary advantage of DEMATEL and ISM, which is the establishment of easily comprehendible causal relationships between the systems in the SoSs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Multi crteria decision making and its applications : a literature review

This paper presents current techniques used in Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and their applications. Two basic approaches for MCDM, namely Artificial Intelligence MCDM (AIMCDM) and Classical MCDM (CMCDM) are discussed and investigated. Recent articles from international journals related to MCDM are collected and analyzed to find which approach is more common than the other in MCDM. Also, which area these techniques are applied to. Those articles are appearing in journals for the year 2008 only. This paper provides evidence that currently, both AIMCDM and CMCDM are equally common in MCDM

Exploring Critical Success Factors in Urban Housing Projects Using Fuzzy Analytic Network Process

Population growth and increasing trend towards urbanization have caused housing demand to exceed its supply, particularly in urban areas in developing countries. Furthermore, housing industry motivates many subsidiary industries and plays a leading socio-economic role in such countries. Therefore, successful completion of housing projects is of great significance quantitatively and qualitatively.This study aims to propose a framework to evaluate the critical success factors (CSFs) in housing projects considering the interrelationship among factors and criteria. The factors were initially identified through literature review and then refined and categorized using a two-round Delphi method and finally prioritized using fuzzy analytic network process (FANP). To demonstrate the implementation of the proposed model, a case study was carried out on an urban residential building project in Tehran. The framework proposed in this study can be applied as a decision support system for decision makers, project managers and practitioners involved in the housing sector

Prioritizing stakeholders to boost collaborative R&I projects benefits: an analytic network process approach

A methodology was developed to prioritize stakeholders of a collaborative research and innovation (R&I) project in the circular bioeconomy area, towards enhancing its benefits from a multi-perspective point of view. The concept of R&I project benefits was broken down into criteria, evaluating different attributes related to the project outputs and outcomes, to the project management processes, and to the social, environmental and economic dimensions. The devised methodology was based on a combination of the analytic network process multicriteria decision making method and the key benefit categories from the P5 standard for sustainability in project management. The P5 standard has been shown to adequately frame the benefits to stakeholders of R&I projects in the topic of circular bioeconomy. Key benefits identified by the experts relate to the categories “society and costumers” and “consumption”. The following stakeholders should have priority in the development of the project stakeholder management plan: research team members, leaders at the consortium organizations, project management team members and environmental NGOs. Future research will include a longitudinal study of the perceived stakeholder and benefit categories priority over time.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021) and CEMMPRE (UIDB/00285/2020). This article is a result of the project “BacchusTech - Integrated Approach for the Valorisation of Winemaking Residues” (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-069583), supported by the Competitiveness and Internationalization Operational Programme (COMPETE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using DEMATEL and ISM for designing green public policies based on the system of systems approach

In this paper, we propose a novel approach to the development of green public policies. We emphasize the significance of the system of systems (SoSs) methodology, which concentrates on understanding and managing complex systems by contemplating their interdependencies and interactions as a single integrated system. Based on this perspective, we consider green public policy as a system interacting with the energy, health, pollutants, and economic systems of the SoSs. As a method of systematic structural analysis, we use both decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) techniques to understand the relationships between the systems listed above. We provide a literature review on the application of these soft operation research (SOR) techniques. We note that SOR methods are suitable for the formulation of effective public policies. Using an example, we demonstrate the primary advantage of DEMATEL and ISM, which is the establishment of easily comprehendible causal relationships between the systems in the SoSs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A PROJECT-LEVEL INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE ROADWAYS

Over the past two decades, roadway infrastructure in the United States has experienced severe deterioration, costing road users billions of dollars in wasted fuels, lost time, and higher numbers of accidents. Transportation infrastructure asset management initiatives, which aim at providing and maintaining physical infrastructure assets at an acceptable level, need to address various economic, social, and environmental issues. Therefore, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has encouraged public agencies to incorporate sustainable development principles into their decision-making and organizational operations at a program level. Meanwhile, at a project level, maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation (MRR) projects for roadway infrastructure are still mostly undertaken by traditional techniques, resulting in higher overall life cycle impacts. The use of non-traditional techniques including accelerated methods is expected to reduce the overall impacts; however there is a lack of infrastructure management frameworks that support public agencies’ decision-making procedures in justifying the use of non-traditional techniques. Therefore, the goal of this research is to develop a project-level infrastructure management framework to consider multiple factors in decision-making and to analyze the life cycle economic, social, and environmental impacts of traditional and non-traditional (including accelerated methods) roadway MRR techniques. The proposed framework utilizes decision flowcharts and multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods to shortlist alternatives that meet project requirements to facilitate preliminary decision-making. And then, this framework applies life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) to quantify the life cycle impacts of candidate project alternatives following the triple bottom line of sustainability. MRR techniques analyzed by the framework include hot mix asphalt (HMA) and warm mix asphalt (WMA) overlay, hot-in-place recycling (HIPR), cold-in-place recycling (CIR), full depth reclamation (FDR), intelligent compaction (IC), and use of precast concrete pavement systems (PCPS). The decision flowcharts and MCDM model in the proposed framework are developed based on existing literature and the results of a survey of state departments of transportation in the United States. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and analytical network process (ANP) are used to determine the weights of criteria for the MCDM model, and a customizable decision support tool is created in a spreadsheet program to facilitate application of the model. For the LCA-LCCA model, the overall life cycle impacts include: i) agency costs and environmental impacts, ii) user costs and environmental impacts due to lost time and wasted fuel, and iii) user costs due to increased crash events. Software programs and databases including Athena Pavement LCA, GREET®, MOVES, and other miscellaneous data sources are used for LCA; while survey results, RSMeans 2016, and other miscellaneous cost sources are used for LCCA. The LCA-LCCA model is also capable of performing what-if analysis by adjusting variables. Thus, the model allows public agencies to apply their own data and priorities based on their sustainability goals, objectives, and performance measures to obtain relevant results. The proposed framework is illustrated through case studies and validated by expert opinion and literature contrasts. Future studies may expand this framework to include more factors in the MCDM model and additional impact items in the LCA-LCCA model