Renovation priority ranking by multi-criteria assessment of architectural heritage: the case of castles

Preservation of cultural heritage is related with high costs and required interventions generally exceed available funding. It is, therefore, necessary to prioritise renovation interventions. Multi-criteria assessment can lead to scientifically sound and informed decisions about interventions. The paper presents the results of research carried out with the purpose of establishing a multi-criteria method for the assessment of architectural heritage, specifically for castles in Slovenia. It explains the methodology used to develop the multi-criteria method. Its main elements are critical content analysis of relevant literature, comparative analysis between the Slovenian and international space, and identification of relevant criteria and sub-criteria of the decision method. The course and results of empirical research, based on interviews with selected experts, is presented together with the results of the criteria importance ranking based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The research presented in this paper is interdisciplinary and brings together tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage. The obtained results confirm that rational determination of relative importance of individual criteria for the assessment of architectural heritage can help decision-makers to identify buildings with higher refurbishment priority

Waqif Preference of Waqf-Based Qardhul Hassan Financing in Malaysia: An Analytic Hierarchy Process Perspective

Although Islamic banking products like tawarruq and bay al-inah personal financing products available in the Malaysian Islamic banking market, their ability to meet the need of those disadvantaged in the case of health crisis like COVID-19 or financial crisis are somehow marginal.  There is a need for Islamic social finance products to meet this challenge and one of them is the offered qardhul hassan financing funded through crowdfunding on the basis of waqf. This is called waqf-based qardhul hassan financing. For this purpose, this study introduces QAFSCALE, referred to qardhul hassan financing scale to gauge waqif preference on the facility should it is made available in the market. A total of 324 waqif or donors were participated in this study to identify their preference in donating their money in the facility should it is introduced. This study used Attia’s (2010) maqasid al-Shariah theory to generate the QAFSCALE, beginning from the conceptualisations, dimensions and importantly the batter items that represent the QAFSCALE. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used. The results obtained indicate that humanity factor is ranked first in importance, followed by family factor, consumer factor and ummah factor. This study limitation is the sample size. A broader sample would have made the result better. Adding to that, the newly designed scale is first of its kind in the context of waqf-based qardhul hassan financing and more studies needed to prove its applicability and generalization, at least. The results obtained might be of interest to managers of Islamic banks and the like to understand their potential waqif preference in the context of waqf-based qardhul hassan financing. Four factors drawn from QAFSCALE were evaluated to identify important factors leading to the waqif contribution on waqf

A knowledge-based decision support system for sustainable city livability evaluation

The real estate industry is an important indicator of national economies and is influenced by the environment in which it operates. Several countries were seriously affected by the most recent international financial crisis, including Portugal. Nevertheless, it is still an interesting area to invest in, in spite of the challenges cities may face nowadays that influence their sustainable livability. For this reason, it seems logical to develop and apply methodologies aimed at evaluating sustainable city livability. It is worth noting, however, that there are methodological limitations typically associated with the majority of the current applications (e.g. how to select and weight criteria in the evaluation), which have been hampering the progress. Hence, this dissertation aims to develop a knowledge-based decision support system to evaluate sustainable city livability, in a transparent and informed way. To achieve this goal, it combines cognitive mapping techniques and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The advantages and limitations of this integrative evaluation model are also analyzed and discussed.O mercado imobiliário é um indicador importante das economias mundiais e é influenciado pelo ambiente em que opera. Muitos foram os países seriamente afetados pela mais recente crise financeira internacional, incluindo Portugal. Não obstante, este continua a ser uma área de investimento interessante, ainda que, hoje em dia, as cidades possam enfrentar desafios que influenciam a sua habitabilidade sustentável. Por essa razão, parece lógico o desenvolvimento e a aplicação de metodologias que permitam avaliar a sustentabilidade habitacional de uma área urbana. No entanto, limitações metodológicas comuns à maioria das aplicações (e.g. processo de seleção e ponderação dos critérios de avaliação) têm dificultado os progressos alcançados. Assim, a presente dissertação pretende desenvolver um “termómetro” de habitabilidade sustentável que, de forma informada e transparente, permita apoiar a tomada de decisão no mercado imobiliário urbano, através da combinação do uso integrado de técnicas de mapeamento cognitivo e da metodologia Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). As vantagens e as limitações do uso deste sistema integrativo de avaliação serão também analisadas e discutidas

Dry Port Terminal Location Selection by Applying the Hybrid Grey MCDM Model

Globalization and decentralization of production generate the intensive growth of goods and transport flows, mostly performed by the maritime transport. Ports, as the main nodes in the global logistics networks, are becoming congested, space for their expansion limited, and traffic in their hinterland congested. As a solution to these and many other hinterland-transport-related problems stands out the development of dry port (DP) terminals. Selection of their location is one of the most important strategic decisions on which depends their competitiveness in the market and the functionality of the logistics network. Accordingly, the evaluation and selection of locations for the development of the DP in accordance with the requirements of various stakeholders is performed in this paper, as a prerequisite for the establishment of an ecological, economic, and socially sustainable logistics network in the observed area. To solve this problem, a new hybrid model of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) that combines Delphi, AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process), and CODAS (Combinative Distance-based Assessment) methods in a grey environment is developed. The main contributions of this paper are the defined model, the problem-solving approach based on finding a compromise solution, simultaneous consideration of the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of the DP concept and its implementation in the regional international markets. The applicability of the approach and the defined MCDM model is demonstrated by solving a real-life case study of ranking the potential DP locations in the Western Balkans region. Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that in the current market conditions, it would be most realistic to open three DP terminals, in Zagreb, Ljubljana, and Belgrad

A Novel Hybrid MCDM Approach for Complicated Supply Chain Management Problems in Construction

The paper tackles a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model related to supply chain management, problems, and the supplier selection problem. Modern management of materials and products requires continuous evaluation of numerous complex social, ecological, and economic factors. A group decision process using Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) approach presented to find the criteria weights. Measurement of conflict among criteria and decision makers presented with illustration and numerical example. Firstly, eight evaluation criteria, including cost, quality, distance, and delivery, reliability, reputation, and technology level, compatibility, and development ability identified. Later, the ARAS and the Multiplicative Utility function adopted for ranking and selecting suppliers. Criteria values normalized according to Hovanov method. The ARAS method with this normalisation method named as a hybrid original model INMUARAS.12th international conference “Modern Building Materials, Structures and Techniques” (MBMST 2016

Multi-level Analytic Network Process Model to Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions in Disaster Recovery Planning

Over the past few decades, environmental changes have led to more frequent occurrences and greater intensities of natural disasters worldwide. In terms of globally connected supply chains, this has resulted in an enormous economical loss for corporations. Therefore, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) planning and management has become essential for businesses in order to protect their critical business flow. Yet there is a lack of systematic and transparent methodologies for companies to handle this problem. Hence, this thesis introduces a novel approach to combine consecutive steps of the Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP) process within one application. The multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool called the Analytic Network Process (ANP) is employed to identify critical products of a business and match them with optimal disruption mitigation strategies based on an evaluation of benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks (BOCR). To validate the method developed in this thesis, a case study using historical data of a U.S. company (Company XYZ) is introduced. The results of the ANP mathematical modeling demonstrate that the developed methodology provides a valuable approach to analyze and confirm BC/DR planning decisions. Moreover, an expert of Company XYZ confirmed that the suggested solution established through this case study is in agreement with the preferable choice based on his expertise and professional decision-making. Further research could extend the proposed methodology to other fields of BC/DR planning, such as IT Disaster Recovery Planning or Human Disaster Relief

Intelligent decision support systems for collaboration in industrial plants

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Sistemas de Informação Industriais, Engenharia Electrotécnica, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaThe objective of this thesis is to contribute for a structured and systematic decision-making process for industrial companies, particularly involving several actors, helping them make the best use of their resources. The paradigms of how industrial companies operate have been progressively changing over the last two decades. The flexible and dynamic flow of information and persons over companies has created new challenges and opportunities for industry. It is not possible to dissociate an enterprise from its human resources and the knowledge they create and use. Companies face decisions constantly, involving several actors and situations. With the market pressure and rapid changing environments, decisions are becoming more complex, and involving more people with complementary expertise. The knowledge processes are only efficient if the actors can anchor and relate the information handled to the extended enterprise. Therefore, an enterprise model is a fundamental aspect to support decision-making in industry. This work includes an overview of existing modelling methodologies and standards. Afterwards, it proposes an enterprise model to represent an extended or virtual enterprise, suitable not only for decision-making applications but also for others. This thesis considers methods and systems to support decision and analyses decision types and processes. Afterwards, the thesis presents some considerations on decision-making in industry and a generic decision-making process, including, a review of decision criteria commonly used in industry. Two of the methods widely used in some of the mentioned areas, case-based reasoning and the analytic hierarchy process, have been used in the scope of problem solving and decision-making, respectively. This thesis presents an approach based on a combination of case-based reasoning and analytic hierarchy process to support innovation, particularly product design in industry. The combination overcomes shortcomings of both methods to provide the most adequate decision support for multi-disciplinary teams in innovation processes. Moreover, the work presented proposes an algorithm for automatic adjustment of the weight of the actors in the decision process. This thesis includes case studies, developed in the scope of several research projects, used as practical applications of the work developed. These practical applications include seven test cases (with two manufacturing companies, two assembling companies, two engineering services companies and one software company) where the proposed enterprise model and methods have been applied with the purpose of supporting decisions. This highlights the wide application of the proposed model, describing its possible interpretations and the successful use of the decision support approach in industrial companies.Projects PICK (IST-1999-10442), AIM (IST-2001-52222), FOKSai (COOP-CT-2003-508637), InLife (FP6-2005-NMP2-CT-517018), InAmI (FP6-2004-IST-NMP-2-16788) and K-NET (FP7-ICT-1-215584), all of which were partially funded by the Research Framework Programs of the European Unio

Determining the items that structure bridge management components and their relative weights

2012 Spring.Includes bibliographical references.Ensuring the optimal allocation of available resources between competing bridges is difficult, especially when considering a combination of factors such as continual age related deterioration, ever-increasing traffic demands, and limited resources to address preservation and improvement needs. Optimally allocating funding is crucial since bridges are an essential and expensive component of transportation networks. Bridge Management Systems (BMSs) are commonly used tools that aid managers and decision makers in establishing methods for optimizing available resources and determining how to distribute funds between competing bridges. Recently, NCHRP Synthesis 397 Bridge Management Systems for Transportation Agency Decision Making investigated how transportation agencies are using BMSs and the current state of bridge management practices. The report identified concerns of inadequacy and ineffectiveness with bridge management practices that base decisions solely on single value assessments such as Pontis' Bridge Health Index or the Sufficiency Rating, as found in the federally mandated National Bridge Inspection Standards. Given the critiques in the NCHRP report and other literature related to bridge management, it is evident there exists a need to pursue and develop alternative bridge management practices and systems. The overall purpose of this research is to investigate the concept of isolating the items used to make up a single rating or index in an effort to categorize them under distinct bridge management components such as structural condition, impact on public, and hazard resistance. Each bridge management component has a defined objective as follows: • Structural Condition - accurately access the structural adequacy of a bridge. • Impact on Public - evaluate how bridge attributes affect the traveling public. • Hazard Resistance - evaluate how bridge attributes and external factors affect the vulnerability of a bridge concerning the probability of an extreme event as well as the probability of failure during that event. The specific objectives of this research are (i) to identify the appropriate items that make up each of the aforementioned components and (ii) to determine the relative importance of those items as represented by weighting factors. To achieve these objectives, the researcher conducted a two-part survey seeking input from key bridge management personnel from State DOTs, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and other industry professionals and experts. The first part of the survey identified the appropriate items and the second part determined the relative importance of those items using a mathematical method called the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The primary contribution of this research is to provide bridge management engineers and decision-makers with effective bridge management components, with well-defined objectives and related items, which clearly identify and distinguish differences in bridge attributes that may go unnoticed when using a single rating or index. This will especially be useful for State DOTs and local agencies, like the Wyoming Department of Transportation, from which the motivation for this research was adapted, who are developing BMSs and methods customized to their particular needs. Upon establishing the bridge management components, by determining the items that make up the components and their relative weights, transportation agencies may utilize them in a variety of ways to conduct multi-criteria decision analyses that complement their current bridge management practices, which in turn may better illustrate the operation of bridges in their system. The total number of respondents was 47, of which 32 were from 29 different State transportation agencies. Of the 47 participants, only 27 contributed to the second part of the survey. A major finding of this research was a result of several participant remarks about with quantifying preservation and maintenance demands through the addition of a fourth bridge management component. The preservation and maintenance component encompasses items that are bridge elements, but may not contribute to the structural capacity of a bridge. Given the degree of influence of adding a fourth component, further research is recommend to confirm these findings and conclusions with a refined two-part survey similar to this research study and possibly interviews or focus groups