Evaluation of e-learning web sites using fuzzy axiomatic design based approach

High quality web site has been generally recognized as a critical enabler to conduct online business. Numerous studies exist in the literature to measure the business performance in relation to web site quality. In this paper, an axiomatic design based approach for fuzzy group decision making is adopted to evaluate the quality of e-learning web sites. Another multi-criteria decision making technique, namely fuzzy TOPSIS, is applied in order to validate the outcome. The methodology proposed in this paper has the advantage of incorporating requirements and enabling reductions in the problem size, as compared to fuzzy TOPSIS. A case study focusing on Turkish e-learning websites is presented, and based on the empirical findings, managerial implications and recommendations for future research are offered

Defining Urban Complex Problems with Fuzzy Analysis: The Case of Söke Settlement in Turkey

This article aims to follow the application of fuzzy approach in the analysis of urban complex problems; classifying urban problems according to different criteria. It proposes a methodology to combine different dimensions of quality of life, with the economic (income, employment), social (education) physical (health and infrastructure) indicators into Quality of Life Index (QLI) by applying Totally Fuzzy Analysis (TFA). The objective of the present work is to identify, based on survey data of Söke settlement in Turkey, to define the sub zones according to life quality indicators. The sample for the survey is designed to provide representative samples of private households in Söke. A stratified random sample is selected such that every sampling unit in the population has an equal probability of being selected for the sample. From the population of 14582 housing units in Söke, a sample size of 366 was chosen. As a result, 366 households were interviewed without missing. The indicators that have been used for the fuzzy model consist of three main blocks. The first one in the indicators that describe development of socio-economic system is the economic indicators such as urban poverty (income and expenditures), property ownership, employment and attributes of the labor force. The second one is physical indicators that consist of availability of residential services, housing density and the quality of housing units. The third one is the social indicators which can be described as household profile, cultural expenditures and life patterns. The goal is achieved by applying a new and straightforward method of GIS and fuzzy logic. This methodology was applied in the study area and the results presented in the form of tables and maps. The results revealed that there are spatial, social and economic disparities in some parts of the area. The findings indicate that the fuzzy technics are powerful analytic tools for helping planners define urban complex problems and to see relations between social, economic and physical factors.

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

Do UK universities communicate their brands effectively through their websites?

This paper attempts to explore the effectiveness of UK universities’ websites. The area of branding in higher education has received increasing academic investigation, but little work has researched how universities demonstrate their brand promises through their websites. The quest to differentiate through branding can be challenging in the university context, however. It is argued that those institutions that have a strong distinctive image will be in a better position to face a changing future. Employing a multistage methodology, the web pages of twenty UK universities were investigated by using a combination of content and multivariable analysis. Results indicated ‘traditional values’ such as teaching and research were often well communicated in terms of online brand but ‘emotional values’ like social responsibility and the universities’ environments were less consistently communicated, despite their increased topicality. It is therefore suggested that emotional values may offer a basis for possible future online differentiation

A network mobility indicator using a fuzzy logic approach

This paper introduces a methodology to assess the mobility of a road transport network from the 3 network perspective. In this research, the mobility of the road transport network is defined as the 4 ability of the road transport network to connect all the origin-destination pairs within the network with 5 an acceptable level of service. Two mobility attributes are therefore introduced to assess the physical 6 connectivity and the road transport network level of service. Furthermore, a simple technique based 7 on a fuzzy logic approach is used to combine mobility attributes into a single mobility indicator in 8 order to measure the impact of disruptive events on road transport network functionality. 9 The application of the proposed methodology on a hypothetical Delft city network shows the ability of the technique to estimate variation in the level of mobility under different scenarios. The method allows the study of demand and supply side variations on overall network mobility, providing a new tool for decision makers in understanding the dynamic nature of mobility under various events. The method can also be used as an evaluation tool to gauge the highway network mobility level, and to highlight weaknesses in the network

On the measurement of sustainability of rural water supply in India: A Supervaluationist–Degree Theory approach

The paper proposes an empirical methodology for understanding the nature and behavior of Sustainable Development as a vague and multidimensional concept by a case study of participatory and demand determined Rural Drinking water Supply systems in India. It combines for the first time, two of the most influential models – ‘Supervaluationism’ and ‘Degree Theory’- on the measurement of ‘Vagueness’, for timely public intervention in reversing the process of Un-sustainability. Analysis clearly brings out the role of institutional, financial and environmental factors that should be part of Public Policy, for ensuring sustainability of potable water supplysustainability, supervaluationism, degree theory

A Composite Fuzzy Indicator for Assessing Farm Household Potential for Non-farm Income Diversification

European politicians encourage the income diversification of rural households through various measures. Although being aware of farm households’ potential for non-farm income diversification seems important for finely-targeting such policy measures, no attempt has thus far been made to summarise the various determinants of income diversification in a single figure. This contribution aims to close this gap. A composite fuzzy indicator that measures farm household potential for non-farm income diversification is developed and applied to 1,053 farm households in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovenia. The indicator summarises the incentives of and capacities for non-farm income diversification on the individual household member level, and on the household and regional levels to a single measure using fuzzy logic methodology. The composite fuzzy indicator performs well, and the results for the single farm households can easily be retraced. The indicator not only singles out the households that have the potential for non-farm income diversification, but also shows the reasons for this. Thus, the result for 1,053 farm households is not only that most of them have a high potential for non-farm income diversification, but also that the majority of these households are pushed in diversification due to the smallness of their farms. Only a few of the farm households act under pull conditions, i.e. diversification is not a necessity, but they could opt for profitable non-farm employment due to favourable age, education, and regional conditions. Decision-makers could utilise the composite fuzzy indicator to finely-target diversification measures to the multifaceted conditions of farm households.composite indicator, fuzzy logic, rural non-farm income diversification, transition countries, Consumer/Household Economics, C65, J24, Q12, R23,

Development of accident prediction model by using artificial neural network (ANN)

Statistical or crash prediction model have frequently been used in highway safety studies. They can be used in identify major contributing factors or establish relationship between crashes and explanatory accident variables. The measurements to prevent accident are from the speed reduction, widening the roads, speed enforcement, or construct the road divider, or other else. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop an accident prediction model at federal road FT 050 Batu Pahat to Kluang. The study process involves the identification of accident blackspot locations, establishment of general patterns of accident, analysis of the factors involved, site studies, and development of accident prediction model using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) applied software which named NeuroShell2. The significant of the variables that are selected from these accident factors are checked to ensure the developed model can give a good prediction results. The performance of neural network is evaluated by using the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The study result showed that the best neural network for accident prediction model at federal road FT 050 is 4-10-1 with 0.1 learning rate and 0.2 momentum rate. This network model contains the lowest value of MAPE and highest value of linear correlation, r which is 0.8986. This study has established the accident point weightage as the rank of the blackspot section by kilometer along the FT 050 road (km 1 – km 103). Several main accident factors also have been determined along this road, and after all the data gained, it has successfully analyzed by using artificial neural network