Fuzzy Interval-Valued Multi Criteria Based Decision Making for Ranking Features in Multi-Modal 3D Face Recognition

Soodamani Ramalingam, 'Fuzzy interval-valued multi criteria based decision making for ranking features in multi-modal 3D face recognition', Fuzzy Sets and Systems, In Press version available online 13 June 2017. This is an Open Access paper, made available under the Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This paper describes an application of multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) for multi-modal fusion of features in a 3D face recognition system. A decision making process is outlined that is based on the performance of multi-modal features in a face recognition task involving a set of 3D face databases. In particular, the fuzzy interval valued MCDM technique called TOPSIS is applied for ranking and deciding on the best choice of multi-modal features at the decision stage. It provides a formal mechanism of benchmarking their performances against a set of criteria. The technique demonstrates its ability in scaling up the multi-modal features.Peer reviewedProo

A Novel MCDM-Based Framework to Recommend Machine Learning Techniques for Diabetes Prediction

Early detection of diabetes is crucial because of its incurable nature. Several diabetes prediction models have been developed using machine learning techniques (MLTs). The performance of MLTs varies for different accuracy measures. Thus, selecting appropriate MLTs for diabetes prediction is challenging. This paper proposes a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) based framework for evaluating MLTs applied to diabetes prediction. Initially, three MCDM methods—WSM, TOPSIS, and VIKOR—are used to determine the individual ranks of MLTs for diabetes prediction performance by using various comparable performance measures (PMs). Next, a fusion approach is used to determine the final rank of the MLTs. The proposed method is validated by assessing the performance of 10 MLTs on the Pima Indian diabetes dataset using eight evaluation metrics for diabetes prediction. Based on the final MCDM rankings, logistic regression is recommended for diabetes prediction modeling

Economic and environmental strategies for process design

This paper first addresses the definition of various objectives involved in eco-efficient processes, taking simultaneously into account ecological and economic considerations. The environmental aspect at the preliminary design phase of chemical processes is quantified by using a set of metrics or indicators following the guidelines of sustainability concepts proposed by . The resulting multiobjective problem is solved by a genetic algorithm following an improved variant of the so-called NSGA II algorithm. A key point for evaluating environmental burdens is the use of the package ARIANE™, a decision support tool dedicated to the management of plants utilities (steam, electricity, hot water, etc.) and pollutants (CO2, SO2, NO, etc.), implemented here both to compute the primary energy requirements of the process and to quantify its pollutant emissions. The well-known benchmark process for hydrodealkylation (HDA) of toluene to produce benzene, revisited here in a multiobjective optimization way, is used to illustrate the approach for finding eco-friendly and cost-effective designs. Preliminary biobjective studies are carried out for eliminating redundant environmental objectives. The trade-off between economic and environmental objectives is illustrated through Pareto curves. In order to aid decision making among the various alternatives that can be generated after this step, a synthetic evaluation method, based on the so-called Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) (), has been first used. Another simple procedure named FUCA has also been implemented and shown its efficiency vs. TOPSIS. Two scenarios are studied; in the former, the goal is to find the best trade-off between economic and ecological aspects while the latter case aims at defining the best compromise between economic and more strict environmental impact

Dispersion of relative importance values contributes to the ranking uncertainty: sensitivity analysis of Multiple Criteria Decision-Making methods

Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods are widely used in research and industrial applications. These methods rely heavily on expert perceptions and are often sensitive to the assumptions made. The reliability and robustness of MCDM analysis can be further tested and verified by a computer simulation and sensitivity analysis. In order to address this, five different MCDM approaches, including Weighted Sum Model (WSM), Weighted Product Model (WPM), revised Analytic Hierarchy Process (rAHP), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) and COmplex PRoportional ASsessment (COPRAS) are explored in the paper. Real data of the case study for assessing housing affordability are used for testing the robustness of alternative ranking and finding the most sensitive criteria to the change of criterion weight. We identify the most critical criteria for any and best ranking alternatives. The paper highlights the significance of sensitivity analysis in assessing the robustness and reliability of MCDM outcomes. Furthermore, randomly generated and model-based data sets are used to establish relationship between the dispersion of relative importance values of alternatives and ranking uncertainty. Our findings demonstrate that the dispersion of relative importance values of alternatives correlate with the Euclidian distances of aggregated values. We conclude that the dispersion of relative importance values contributes directly to the ranking uncertainty and can be used as a measure for finding critical criteria

QoS based Web Service Selection and Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods

With the continuing proliferation of web services offering similar efficacies, around the globe, it has become a challenge for a user to select the best web service. In literature, this challenge is exhibited as a 0-1 knapsack problem of multiple dimensions and multiple choices, known as an NP-hard problem. Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method is one of the ways which suits this problem and helps the users to select the best service based on his/her preferences. In this regard, this paper assists the researchers in two conducts: Firstly, to witness the performance of different MCDM methods for large number of alternatives and attributes. Secondly, to perceive the possible deviation in the ranking obtained from these methods. For carrying out the experimental evaluation, in this paper, five different well-known MCDM methods have been implemented and compared over two different scenarios of 50 as well as 100 web services, where their ranking is defined on an account of several Quality of Service (QoS) parameters. Additionally, a Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient has been calculated for different pairs of MCDM methods in order to provide a clear depiction of MCDM methods showing the least deviation in their ranking. The experimental results comfort web service users in conquering an appropriate decision on the selection of suitable service

Benchmarking of deep learning algorithms for skin cancer detection based on a hybrid framework of entropy and VIKOR techniques

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide caused by excessive development of skin cells. Considering the rapid growth of the use of deep learning algorithms for skin cancer detection, selecting the optimal algorithm has become crucial to determining the efficiency of computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems developed for the healthcare sector. However, a sufficient number of criteria and parameters must be considered when selecting an ideal deep learning algorithm. A generally accepted method for benchmarking deep learning models for skin cancer classification is unavailable in the current literature. This paper presents a multi-criteria decision-making framework for evaluating and benchmarking deep learning models for skin cancer detection based on hybridisation of entropy and VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) methods. Twelve well-known convolution networks are evaluated and tested on eleven publicly available image datasets to achieve the target of the study. Several criteria related to deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) architectures, including optimisation technique, transfer learning, class balancing, transfer learning, data augmentation, and network complexity, have been considered in the multi-criteria evaluation. The decision matrix (DM) is designed based on a crossover of the five evaluation criteria and twelve (CNNs) classificationmodels on different datasets. Subsequently, in the benchmarking and ranking of deep learning classification models, multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques are used. The MCDM uses a scheme that involves the integration of entropy with VIKOR approaches. For the weight calculations of evaluation criteria, entropy is applied, while VIKOR is used to benchmark and rank the models. The obtained results reveal that the InceptionResNetV2 model gained the first rank and is selected as the optimal architecture for skin cancer detection considering the five criteria investigated in our study. The presented framework achieves a significant performance in selecting the best algorithm, which could provide substantial guidance to the researcher working in the field

Selecting the most suitable classification algorithm for supporting assistive technology adoption for people with dementia: A multicriteria framework

The number of people with dementia (PwD) is increasing dramatically. PwD exhibit impairments of reasoning, memory, and thought that require some form of self‐management intervention to support the completion of everyday activities while maintaining a level of independence. To address this need, efforts have been directed to the development of assistive technology solutions, which may provide an opportunity to alleviate the burden faced by the PwD and their carers. Nevertheless, uptake of such solutions has been limited. It is therefore necessary to use classifiers to discriminate between adopters and nonadopters of these technologies in order to avoid cost overruns and potential negative effects on quality of life. As multiple classification algorithms have been developed, choosing the most suitable classifier has become a critical step in technology adoption. To select the most appropriate classifier, a set of criteria from various domains need to be taken into account by decision makers. In addition, it is crucial to define the most appropriate multicriteria decision‐making approach for the modelling of technology adoption. Considering the above‐mentioned aspects, this paper presents the integration of a five‐phase methodology based on the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution to determine the most suitable classifier for supporting assistive technology adoption studies. Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process is used to determine the relative weights of criteria and subcriteria under uncertainty and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution is applied to rank the classifier alternatives. A case study considering a mobile‐based self‐management and reminding solution for PwD is described to validate the proposed approach. The results revealed that the best classifier was k‐nearest‐neighbour with a closeness coefficient of 0.804, and the most important criterion when selecting classifiers is scalability. The paper also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each algorithm that should be addressed in future research

Comparative analysis of stock selection using a hybrid MCDM approach and modern portfolio theory

The problem of selecting an optimal set of investment stocks is of a huge interest for both individual and institutional investors. This paper compares the hybrid multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) approach to selecting the best stock to invest in, with the stock selection using modern portfolio theory (MPT). When selecting stocks, it is very important to thoroughly analyse stocks, according to multiple criteria, including their equity market indicators, as well as financial indicators. The objective of the research is to compare the stock selection using a hybrid MCDM approach and MPT, which includes only the equity market indicators. The analysed sample includes 18 stocks, which are CROBEX components on the Croatian capital market from January 2017 to January 2019. The rankings of stocks were calculated using five MCDM methods. These were then used to obtain the final hybrid stock ranking, which was compared to the MPT stock selection. The results show that there is a significant difference in the stock rankings. However, the stocks which have not entered any portfolio in MPT selection were ranked as lowest according to the hybrid MCDM approach, which confirms that those stocks are the worst to invest in. The research can serve as a guidance for investors to use all available stock information in their decision making process of investment

Multi-criteria analysis applied to multi-objective optimal pump scheduling in water systems

[EN] This work presents a multi-criteria-based approach to automatically select specific non-dominated solutions from a Pareto front previously obtained using multi-objective optimization to find optimal solutions for pump control in a water supply system. Optimal operation of pumps in these utilities is paramount to enable water companies to achieve energy efficiency in their systems. The Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) is used to rank the Pareto solutions found by the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) employed to solve the multi-objective problem. Various scenarios are evaluated under leakage uncertainty conditions, resulting in fuzzy solutions for the Pareto front. This paper shows the suitability of the approach for quasi real-world problems. In our case-study, the obtained solutions for scenarios including leakage represent the best trade-off among the optimal solutions, under some considered criteria, namely, operational cost, operational lack of service, pressure uniformity and network resilience. Potential future developments could include the use of clustering alternatives to evaluate the goodness of each solution under the considered evaluation criteria.Carpitella, S.; Brentan, BM.; Montalvo Arango, I.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Certa, A. (2019). Multi-criteria analysis applied to multi-objective optimal pump scheduling in water systems. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply. 19(8):2338-2346. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2019.115S23382346198Ancău, M., & Caizar, C. (2010). The computation of Pareto-optimal set in multicriterial optimization of rapid prototyping processes. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 58(4), 696-708. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2010.01.015Aşchilean, I., Badea, G., Giurca, I., Naghiu, G. S., & Iloaie, F. G. (2017). Choosing the Optimal Technology to Rehabilitate the Pipes in Water Distribution Systems Using the AHP Method. Energy Procedia, 112, 19-26. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1109Brentan, B., Meirelles, G., Luvizotto, E., & Izquierdo, J. (2018). Joint Operation of Pressure-Reducing Valves and Pumps for Improving the Efficiency of Water Distribution Systems. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 144(9), 04018055. doi:10.1061/(asce)wr.1943-5452.0000974Certa, A., Enea, M., Galante, G. M., & La Fata, C. M. (2017). ELECTRE TRI-based approach to the failure modes classification on the basis of risk parameters: An alternative to the risk priority number. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 108, 100-110. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2017.04.018Chen, C.-T. (2000). Extensions of the TOPSIS for group decision-making under fuzzy environment. Fuzzy Sets and Systems, 114(1), 1-9. doi:10.1016/s0165-0114(97)00377-1Cruz-Reyes, L., Fernandez, E., Sanchez, P., Coello Coello, C. A., & Gomez, C. (2017). Incorporation of implicit decision-maker preferences in multi-objective evolutionary optimization using a multi-criteria classification method. Applied Soft Computing, 50, 48-57. doi:10.1016/j.asoc.2016.10.037Farmani, R., Ingeduld, P., Savic, D., Walters, G., Svitak, Z., & Berka, J. (2007). Real-time modelling of a major water supply system. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Water Management, 160(2), 103-108. doi:10.1680/wama.2007.160.2.103Hadas, Y., & Nahum, O. E. (2016). Urban bus network of priority lanes: A combined multi-objective, multi-criteria and group decision-making approach. Transport Policy, 52, 186-196. doi:10.1016/j.tranpol.2016.08.006Hamdan, S., & Cheaitou, A. (2017). Supplier selection and order allocation with green criteria: An MCDM and multi-objective optimization approach. Computers & Operations Research, 81, 282-304. doi:10.1016/j.cor.2016.11.005Ho, W. (2008). Integrated analytic hierarchy process and its applications – A literature review. European Journal of Operational Research, 186(1), 211-228. doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2007.01.004Jowitt, P. W., & Germanopoulos, G. (1992). Optimal Pump Scheduling in Water‐Supply Networks. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 118(4), 406-422. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9496(1992)118:4(406)Jowitt, P. W., & Xu, C. (1990). Optimal Valve Control in Water‐Distribution Networks. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 116(4), 455-472. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9496(1990)116:4(455)Kurek, W., & Ostfeld, A. (2013). Multi-objective optimization of water quality, pumps operation, and storage sizing of water distribution systems. Journal of Environmental Management, 115, 189-197. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.11.030Lima, G. M., Luvizotto, E., & Brentan, B. M. (2017). Selection and location of Pumps as Turbines substituting pressure reducing valves. Renewable Energy, 109, 392-405. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2017.03.056Mala-Jetmarova, H., Sultanova, N., & Savic, D. (2017). Lost in optimisation of water distribution systems? A literature review of system operation. Environmental Modelling & Software, 93, 209-254. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.02.009Montalvo, I., Izquierdo, J., Pérez-García, R., & Herrera, M. (2014). Water Distribution System Computer-Aided Design by Agent Swarm Optimization. Computer-Aided Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, 29(6), 433-448. doi:10.1111/mice.12062Odan, F. K., Ribeiro Reis, L. F., & Kapelan, Z. (2015). Real-Time Multiobjective Optimization of Operation of Water Supply Systems. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 141(9), 04015011. doi:10.1061/(asce)wr.1943-5452.0000515Ostfeld, A., Uber, J. G., Salomons, E., Berry, J. W., Hart, W. E., Phillips, C. A., … Walski, T. (2008). The Battle of the Water Sensor Networks (BWSN): A Design Challenge for Engineers and Algorithms. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 134(6), 556-568. doi:10.1061/(asce)0733-9496(2008)134:6(556)Todini, E. (2000). Looped water distribution networks design using a resilience index based heuristic approach. Urban Water, 2(2), 115-122. doi:10.1016/s1462-0758(00)00049-2Zaidan, A. A., Zaidan, B. B., Al-Haiqi, A., Kiah, M. L. M., Hussain, M., & Abdulnabi, M. (2015). Evaluation and selection of open-source EMR software packages based on integrated AHP and TOPSIS. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 53, 390-404. doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2014.11.012Żak, J., & Kruszyński, M. (2015). Application of AHP and ELECTRE III/IV Methods to Multiple Level, Multiple Criteria Evaluation of Urban Transportation Projects. Transportation Research Procedia, 10, 820-830. doi:10.1016/j.trpro.2015.09.03