Joint stakeholder decision-making on the management of the Silao-Romita aquifer using AHP

Over-exploitation and pollution have been identified as the main problems facing the Silao-Romita aquifer in Guanajuato, Mexico. The objective of this paper is to analyze the current situation, characterized by a clear lack of legislative enforcement, dispersion of competences, and scarcity of economic resources, in order to establish a new prioritization of action plans, and choose from among three specific management options. One of the main challenges when addressing these problems in a holistic manner is the conflicting viewpoints of the sectors involved. As each stakeholder has a different perception, there is a clear need for appropriate mechanisms to reach a consensus in decision-making. To achieve the objective, we use the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), because of its flexibility and the availability of mathematical axiomatic principles and techniques to obtain group preferences and priorities. In addition, we use several tools developed by the authors to obtain consistency, streamline the trade-off between stakeholder know-how and synthetic consistency, and consistently complete partial judgments given by some of the stakeholders. The problem of obtaining a consensus among the actors involved regarding criteria and alternatives is also considered. The obtained results are intended to serve as guidelines for conducting priority actions to help solve the general problem of the study area, and to identify the management model that best meets the needs of the aquifer, according to the actors involved. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This work has been supported by project IDAWAS, DPI2009-11591 of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation; with supplementary support from ACOMP/2011/188 of the education department of the Generalitat Valenciana. The first author wishes to thank CONACYT for the 10007-2011-01 scholarship program. The use of English in this paper was revised by John Rawlins.Delgado Galván, XV.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Benítez López, J.; Pérez García, R. (2014). Joint stakeholder decision-making on the management of the Silao-Romita aquifer using AHP. Environmental Modelling & Software. 51:310-322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.10.008S3103225

USING THE DECISION MATRIX METHOD FOR TRANSPORTATION OF OIL PRODUCTS BY INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT

Vnútrozemskou vodnou nákladnou dopravou sa z ropných produktov prepravujú hlavne nafta a benzín. Na území Slovenska je ako dopravná cesta využívaná rieka Dunaj s prístaviskom v Bratislave, pomocou ktorej riečne člny prepravujú tovar do zahraničných prístavov.Prednosťou využívania tohto druhu dopravy je nízke environmentálne zaťaženie a taktiež cena za prepravu. Medzi nevýhody patrí závislosť na prírodných podmienkach (hladina vody) a čas prepravy.Inland waterway freight transport mainly uses oil and petrol from petroleum products. In the territory of Slovakia, the Danube river is used as a transport route with a dock in Bratislava, by means of which barges transport goods to foreign ports. The advantage of using this mode of transport is low environmental burden and also the price for transport. The disadvantages include dependence on natural conditions (water level) and transport time

Multi-criteria optimization of supply schedules in intermittent water supply systems

[EN] One of the problems for water supply systems with intermittent supply is the peak flow produced at some hours of the day, which is usually much larger than that in a system with continuous supply. The main consequence is the reduction of pressure and flow at the ends or highest points of the system network. This, in turn, generates inequity in water supply and complaints from users. To reduce the peak flow, some sectors of the system must be assigned a different supply schedule. As a result, the supply curve is modified, and the peak flow is reduced. This reorganization seeks some optimal allocation schedule and must be based on various quantitative and qualitative technical criteria. This paper hybridizes integer linear programming and multi-criteria analysis to contribute with a solution proposal to the technical management of intermittent water supply systems, which provides short-term results and requires little investment for implementation. This solution does not seek perpetuating intermittent water supply. On the contrary, this methodology can be a useful tool in gradual transition processes from intermittent to continuous supply. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Ilaya-Ayza, AE.; Benítez López, J.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Pérez García, R. (2017). Multi-criteria optimization of supply schedules in intermittent water supply systems. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics. 309:695-703. doi:10.1016/j.cam.2016.05.009S69570330

Using an Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach to Prioritize Public Policies Addressing Family Farming in Brazil

In Brazil, some see intensive, large-scale production of sugarcane-based ethanol, based on a model of capital and land concentration, as a threat to the survival of family farming. Family farmers are increasingly under pressure to sell or rent land to mills where sugarcane monoculture is expanding. In this context, the government is working to formulate or change public policies in order to support farmer livelihoods in sugarcane growing regions. The present study is based on research conducted in the municipality of Ipiranga de Goiás, Goiás State, Brazil. It employs the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, with participation of stakeholders at federal, state and municipal levels, to support public policy decision-making addressing family farming. The stakeholders prioritize environmental and economic benefits as the most important criteria requiring the attention of policy makers. Also, stakeholders agree that diversification of production is the most appropriate alternative for strengthening family farming. The AHP approach can be the starting point in the formulation of public policies. The approach helps ensure transparency, and it purposefully includes family farmer points of view. Policies derived from this process, therefore, may have a higher likelihood of being supported and accepted by farmers

I Decide, Therefore I Am (Relevant!): A Project-Based Learning Experience in Linear Algebra

We present a project-based learning experience in the context of linear algebra developed for the recently launched double major in business administration and management/engineering of technology and telecommunication services at the universitat politecnica de valencia 2014-15. Decision-making is used to motivate students towards applying, understanding, and appreciating linear algebra in a diversity of projects. this experience introduces students to the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a multi-attribute, decision-making technique that is rooted in linear algebra. Through a simulation scenario, each team of students develops a project about any real-world problem consisting of a decision-making process in the presence of multiple intangibles. At the same time, the algebraic fundamentals that make the process valid and consistent are clarified. The students showed great interest in the experience; and the results obtained confirmed that the activities helped them understand several complex concepts related to linear algebra, and fostered a significant interest in a subject traditionally considered frighteningly abstract. Finally, the students appreciated the stimulating insights provided by linear algebra that are crucial in decision-making. This multi-disciplinary experience enables the evaluation of several cross skills and competencies such as critical thinking and ethical leadership. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Benítez López, J.; Berenguer, A.; Lago-Alonso, C. (2016). I Decide, Therefore I Am (Relevant!): A Project-Based Learning Experience in Linear Algebra. Computer Applications in Engineering Education. 24(3):481-492. doi:10.1002/cae.21725S481492243Blumenfeld, P. C., Soloway, E., Marx, R. W., Krajcik, J. S., Guzdial, M., & Palincsar, A. (1991). Motivating Project-Based Learning: Sustaining the Doing, Supporting the Learning. Educational Psychologist, 26(3-4), 369-398. doi:10.1080/00461520.1991.9653139J. R. Savery 5 2015Loo, C. W., & Choy, J. L. F. (2013). Sources of Self-Efficacy Influencing Academic Performance of Engineering Students. American Journal of Educational Research, 1(3), 86-92. doi:10.12691/education-1-3-4L. C. ArchieH. Coffey http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/4753Citron, F. M. M., & Goldberg, A. E. (2014). Metaphorical Sentences Are More Emotionally Engaging than Their Literal Counterparts. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 26(11), 2585-2595. doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00654C. Telenko B. Camburn K. Hölttä-Otto K. Wood K. OttoLitzinger, T., Lattuca, L. R., Hadgraft, R., & Newstetter, W. (2011). Engineering Education and the Development of Expertise. Journal of Engineering Education, 100(1), 123-150. doi:10.1002/j.2168-9830.2011.tb00006.xM. Savin-Baden C. Howell 20042015 http://competencias.webs.upv.es/wp/Maltese, A. V., & Tai, R. H. (2011). Pipeline persistence: Examining the association of educational experiences with earned degrees in STEM among U.S. students. Science Education, 95(5), 877-907. doi:10.1002/sce.20441L. C. Wilcox M. S. WilcoxHOTALING, N., FASSE, B. B., BOST, L. F., HERMANN, C. D., & FOREST, C. R. (2012). A Quantitative Analysis of the Effects of a Multidisciplinary Engineering Capstone Design Course. Journal of Engineering Education, 101(4), 630-656. doi:10.1002/j.2168-9830.2012.tb01122.xSaaty, T. L. (1977). A scaling method for priorities in hierarchical structures. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 15(3), 234-281. doi:10.1016/0022-2496(77)90033-52015 http://bie.org/about/why_pblBenítez, J., Delgado-Galván, X., Izquierdo, J., & Pérez-García, R. (2011). Achieving matrix consistency in AHP through linearization. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 35(9), 4449-4457. doi:10.1016/j.apm.2011.03.013Benítez, J., Delgado-Galván, X., Gutiérrez, J. A., & Izquierdo, J. (2011). Balancing consistency and expert judgment in AHP. Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 54(7-8), 1785-1790. doi:10.1016/j.mcm.2010.12.023Benítez, J., Izquierdo, J., Pérez-García, R., & Ramos-Martínez, E. (2014). A simple formula to find the closest consistent matrix to a reciprocal matrix. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 38(15-16), 3968-3974. doi:10.1016/j.apm.2014.01.007Elmer, F., Seifert, I., Kreibich, H., & Thieken, A. H. (2010). A Delphi Method Expert Survey to Derive Standards for Flood Damage Data Collection. Risk Analysis, 30(1), 107-124. doi:10.1111/j.1539-6924.2009.01325.xIsasi, P., Quintana, D., Saez, Y., & Mochon, A. (2007). APPLIED COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE FOR FINANCE AND ECONOMICS. Computational Intelligence, 23(2), 111-116. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8640.2007.00297.xBenítez, J., Delgado-Galván, X., Izquierdo, J., & Pérez-García, R. (2012). An approach to AHP decision in a dynamic context. Decision Support Systems, 53(3), 499-506. doi:10.1016/j.dss.2012.04.015Benítez, J., Delgado-Galván, X., Izquierdo, J., & Pérez-García, R. (2015). Consistent completion of incomplete judgments in decision making using AHP. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics, 290, 412-422. doi:10.1016/j.cam.2015.05.023Delgado-Galván, X., Izquierdo, J., Benítez, J., & Pérez-García, R. (2014). Joint stakeholder decision-making on the management of the Silao–Romita aquifer using AHP. Environmental Modelling & Software, 51, 310-322. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.10.008Burguillo, J. C. (2010). Using game theory and Competition-based Learning to stimulate student motivation and performance. Computers & Education, 55(2), 566-575. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2010.02.018Halpern, D. F., & Hakel, M. D. (2003). Applying the Science of Learning to the University and Beyond: Teaching for Long-Term Retention and Transfer. Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 35(4), 36-41. doi:10.1080/00091380309604109Tauer, J. M., & Harackiewicz, J. M. (2004). The Effects of Cooperation and Competition on Intrinsic Motivation and Performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86(6), 849-861. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.86.6.849M. L. Martinez G. Romero J. J. Marquez J. M. PerezSrdjevic, B. (2007). Linking analytic hierarchy process and social choice methods to support group decision-making in water management. Decision Support Systems, 42(4), 2261-2273. doi:10.1016/j.dss.2006.08.001Saaty, T. L. (2003). Decision-making with the AHP: Why is the principal eigenvector necessary. European Journal of Operational Research, 145(1), 85-91. doi:10.1016/s0377-2217(02)00227-8G. W. Stewart 2001J. Benítez X. Delgado-Galván J. Izquierdo R. Pérez-Garcí

Total safety by design: Increased safety and operability of supply chain of inland terminals for containers with dangerous goods

[EN] In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the international transport of containers with dangerous goods, increasing the risk of seaports and surrounding cities together with the introduction of inherent environmental and security disaster risks. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in seaports that are more socially inclusive, addressing the storage of containers of hazardous goods to safe inland terminals. An appropriate design of inland terminals for containers with dangerous goods (ITDGs) may contribute to the achievement of a sustainable development and the minimization of risks, avoiding disasters such as Tianjin. The objective of this study was the analysis of the criteria used for the design of safe, secure, cost efficient and greener ITDGs by applying the multicriteria decision theory AHP (analytic hierarchy process). Criteria regarding safety and security, environmental care, productivity and information and communication technologies (ICT) have been considered simultaneously into a total performance management system. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Public funding entity: Generalitat Valenciana.Molero Prieto, GD.; Santarremigia Rosaleny, FE.; Aragonés-Beltrán, P.; Pastor-Ferrando, J. (2017). Total safety by design: Increased safety and operability of supply chain of inland terminals for containers with dangerous goods. Safety Science. 100(B):168-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2016.10.007S168182100

Consistent Clustering of Elements in Large Pairwise Comparison Matrices

[EN] In multi-attribute decision making the number of decision elements under consideration may be huge, especially for complex, real-world problems. Typically these elements are clustered and then the clusters organized hierarchically to reduce the number of elements to be simultaneously handled. These decomposition methodologies are intended to bring the problem within the cognitive ability of decision makers. However, such methodologies have disadvantages, and it may happen that such a priori clustering is not clear, and/or the problem has previously been addressed without any grouping action. This is the situation for the case study we address, in which a panel of experts gives opinions about the operation of 15 previously established district metered areas in a real water distribution system. Large pairwise comparison matrices may also be found when building comparisons of elements using large bodies of information. In this paper, we address a consistent compression of an AHP comparison matrix that collapses the judgments corresponding to a given number of compared elements. As a result, an a posteriori clustering of various elements becomes possible. In our case study, such a clustering offers several added benefits, including the identification of hidden or unknown criteria to cluster the considered elements of the problem. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Benítez López, J.; Carpitella, S.; Certa, A.; Ilaya-Ayza, AE.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J. (2018). Consistent Clustering of Elements in Large Pairwise Comparison Matrices. Journal of Computational and Applied Mathematics. 343:98-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cam.2018.04.041S9811234

Customer requirements based ERP customization using AHP technique

Purpose– Customization is a difficult task for many organizations implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. The purpose of this paper is to develop a new framework based on customers’ requirements to examine the ERP customization choices for the enterprise. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique has been applied complementarily with this framework to prioritize ERP customization choices. \ud \ud Design/methodology/approach– Based on empirical literature, the paper proposed an ERP customization framework anchored on the customer's requirements. A case study research method was used to evaluate the applicability of the framework in a real-life setting. In a case study with 15 practitioners working on the vendor's and the client's sides in an ERP implementation, the paper applied the framework jointly with the AHP technique to prioritize the feasible customization choices for ERP implementation. \ud \ud Findings– The paper demonstrates the applicability of the framework in identifying the various feasible choices for the client organization to consider when they decide to customize their selected ERP product. \ud \ud Research limitations/implications– Further case studies need to be carried out in various contexts to acquire knowledge about the generalizability of the observations. This will also contribute to refining the proposed ERP customization framework. \ud \ud Practical implications– Very few literature sources suggest methods for exploring and evaluating customization options in ERP projects from requirements engineering perspective. The proposed framework helps practitioners and consultants anchor the customization decisions on the customer's requirements and use a well-established prioritization technique, AHP, to identify the feasible customization choices for the implementing enterprise. \ud \ud Originality/value– No previously published research studies provide an approach to prioritize customization choices for ERP anchored on the customer's requirements

Characterization of consistent completion of reciprocal comparison matrices

Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a leading multi-attribute decision-aiding model that is designed to help make better choices when faced with complex decisions involving several dimensions. AHP, which enables qualitative analysis using a combination of subjective and objective information, is a multiple criteria decision analysis approach that uses hierarchical structured pairwise comparisons. One of the drawbacks of AHP is that a pairwise comparison cannot be completed by an actor or stakeholder not fully familiar with all the aspects of the problem.The authors have developed a completion based on a process of linearization that minimizes the matrix distance defined in terms of the Frobenius norm (a strictly convex minimization problem). In this paper, we characterize when an incomplete, positive, and reciprocal matrix can be completed to become a consistent matrix. We show that this characterization reduces the problem to the solution of a linear system of equations a straightforward procedure. Various properties of such a completion are also developed using graph theory, including explicit calculation formulas. In real decisionmaking processes, facilitators conducting the study could use these characterizations to accept an incomplete comparison body given by an actor or to encourage the actor to further develop the comparison for the sake of consistency.This work has been supported by project IDAWAS, DPI2009-11591, of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, with supplementary support from ACOMP/2011/188 of the Education Department of the Generalitat Valenciana. The first two authors wish to thank the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for the support through the project PAID-06-12. The English language in this paper was revised by John Rawlins.Benítez López, J.; Carrión, L.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Pérez García, R. (2014). Characterization of consistent completion of reciprocal comparison matrices. Abstract and Applied Analysis. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/3497292014Saaty, T. L. (1977). A scaling method for priorities in hierarchical structures. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 15(3), 234-281. doi:10.1016/0022-2496(77)90033-5Voinov, A., & Bousquet, F. (2010). Modelling with stakeholders☆. Environmental Modelling & Software, 25(11), 1268-1281. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2010.03.007Beierle, T. C. (2002). The Quality of Stakeholder‐Based Decisions. Risk Analysis, 22(4), 739-749. doi:10.1111/0272-4332.00065Reed, M. S. (2008). Stakeholder participation for environmental management: A literature review. Biological Conservation, 141(10), 2417-2431. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2008.07.014Stringer, L. C., Reed, M. S., Dougill, A. J., Seely, M. K., & Rokitzki, M. (2007). Implementing the UNCCD: Participatory challenges. Natural Resources Forum, 31(3), 198-211. doi:10.1111/j.1477-8947.2007.00154.xLetcher, R. A., & Giupponi, C. (2005). Policies and tools for sustainable water management in the European Union. Environmental Modelling & Software, 20(2), 93-98. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2004.01.003Delgado-Galván, X., Izquierdo, J., Benítez, J., & Pérez-García, R. (2014). Joint stakeholder decision-making on the management of the Silao–Romita aquifer using AHP. Environmental Modelling & Software, 51, 310-322. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2013.10.008Benítez, J., Delgado-Galván, X., Izquierdo, J., & Pérez-García, R. (2011). Achieving matrix consistency in AHP through linearization. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 35(9), 4449-4457. doi:10.1016/j.apm.2011.03.013Benítez, J., Delgado-Galván, X., Izquierdo, J., & Pérez-García, R. (2012). An approach to AHP decision in a dynamic context. Decision Support Systems, 53(3), 499-506. doi:10.1016/j.dss.2012.04.015Bolar, A., Tesfamariam, S., & Sadiq, R. (2013). Condition assessment for bridges: a hierarchical evidential reasoning (HER) framework. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 9(7), 648-666. doi:10.1080/15732479.2011.602979Saaty, T. L. (2008). Relative measurement and its generalization in decision making why pairwise comparisons are central in mathematics for the measurement of intangible factors the analytic hierarchy/network process. Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales. Serie A. Matematicas, 102(2), 251-318. doi:10.1007/bf03191825Bapat, R. B. (2010). Graphs and Matrices. doi:10.1007/978-1-84882-981-7Kabir, G., Sadiq, R., & Tesfamariam, S. (2013). A review of multi-criteria decision-making methods for infrastructure management. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 10(9), 1176-1210. doi:10.1080/15732479.2013.795978Kabir, G. (2012). Multiple Criteria Inventory Classification Under Fuzzy Environment. International Journal of Fuzzy System Applications, 2(4), 76-92. doi:10.4018/ijfsa.201210010