Application of integrated fuzzy VIKOR & AHP methodology to contractor ranking

Contractor selection is a critical activity, which plays an important role in the overall success of any construction project. The implementation of fuzzy multiple criteria decision attribute (MCDA) in selecting contractors has the advantage of rendering subjective and implicit decision making more objective and transparent. An additional merit of fuzzy MCDA is the ability to accommodate quantitative and qualitative information. In this paper, an integrated VIKOR–AHP methodology is proposed to make a selection among the alternative contractors in one of Iranian construction industry projects. In the proposed methodology, the weights of the selection criteria are determined by fuzzy pairwise comparison matrices of AHP

Selection of the Best Proposal using FAHP: Case of Procurement of IT Master Plan’s Realization

IT master plan, which allows planning and managing the development of the computer systems, derives its importance in the central role of the computer systems in the functioning of organizations. This article focuses on the use of FAHP method for analysis and evaluation of tenders during the awarding of contracts of IT master plan’s realization. For those purposes, a painstaking work was realized for making an inventory of criteria and sub-criteria involved in the evaluation of tenders and for specifying the degrees of preference for each pair of criteria and sub-criteria. To find a provider for the IT master plan’s realization, organizations are increasingly using tendering as the mode of awarding contracts. This paper is an improvement of a previous published paper in which AHP method was used. The goals of this work are to make available to members of tenders committee a decision support tool for evaluating tenders of IT master plan’s realization and endow the organizations with effective IT master plans in order to increase their information systems’ performance

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

Deterministic and Probabilistic Risk Management Approaches in Construction Projects: A Systematic Literature Review and Comparative Analysis

Risks and uncertainties are inevitable in construction projects and can drastically change the expected outcome, negatively impacting the project’s success. However, risk management (RM) is still conducted in a manual, largely ineffective, and experience-based fashion, hindering automation and knowledge transfer in projects. The construction industry is benefitting from the recent Industry 4.0 revolution and the advancements in data science branches, such as artificial intelligence (AI), for the digitalization and optimization of processes. Data-driven methods, e.g., AI and machine learning algorithms, Bayesian inference, and fuzzy logic, are being widely explored as possible solutions to RM domain shortcomings. These methods use deterministic or probabilistic risk reasoning approaches, the first of which proposes a fixed predicted value, and the latter embraces the notion of uncertainty, causal dependencies, and inferences between variables affecting projects’ risk in the predicted value. This research used a systematic literature review method with the objective of investigating and comparatively analyzing the main deterministic and probabilistic methods applied to construction RM in respect of scope, primary applications, advantages, disadvantages, limitations, and proven accuracy. The findings established recommendations for optimum AI-based frameworks for different management levels—enterprise, project, and operational—for large or small data sets

Creative trans-border cooperation in the field of operations research and sustainable development in civil engineering

The paper presents an overview of the history and achievements of trans-border cooperation in the Lithuania-Germany-Poland triangle in planning instruments in Construction Management, decision-making theory, application of Operational Research, and Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods in Civil Engineering and sustainable development. The cooperation and results of the Colloquiums with 35 years of tradition, their multidimensional nature is underlined. The research instruments, methods, studied phenomena are reviewed and characteristic applications in engineering and economics are presented. The knowledge and combined efforts of three academic centers have created a synergy which set in motion many original methods and spectacular implementations. The Colloquium calendar and the evolution of organizational forms are presented along with the inclusion of the informal EURO Working Group on Operations Research in Sustainable Development and Civil Engineering

Time risk assessment framework for highway projects in Nigeria

Time overrun on construction projects continue to linger and is substantial in both developed and developing countries. Numerous risk management standards and risk assessment models have been developed to identify and minimise risks in improving time performance of construction projects. However, such attempts do not seem parallel with the improvements required. Hence, this study aims to develop a two dimensional risk assessment framework for highway rehabilitation projects by integrating probability and severity measures of significant risk factors with organisational risk management capability measures to derive risk magnitude index for highway rehabilitation projects. To accomplish this aim, quantitative survey research design was employed. Two sets of questionnaires were developed and administered to construction professionals and organisations that are directly involved in the execution of the sampled design, bid and build highway rehabilitation projects in Nigeria. List and classification of risk factors were validated by Delphi survey and data collected from the questionnaire survey were analysed by the application of Fuzzy set theory, analysis of variance and spearman rank correlation. Results of the data analysis reveal that the overall risk indices on rehabilitation projects executed by different construction organisations are significantly different but have strong inverse relationship with the risk management maturity indices of the construction organisations. Based on this relationship, a decision matrix was developed as a tool to combine overall risk indices with risk management maturity indices to derive risk magnitude indices for all risk factors and project level risk. The inputs, concepts, techniques and tools leading to this result formed the basis for the development of the proposed risk assessment framework. The framework was validated through structured interview with a team of experts. The validation team strongly agreed with the logical soundness and completeness of the proposed two dimensional risk assessment framework, affirming the framework to be practicable and acceptable for assessing time risks on highway rehabilitation projects in Nigeria. The framework can thus be adopted to ensure a complete and comprehensive assessment of risk on highway rehabilitation projects