Updating, Upgrading, Refining, Calibration and Implementation of Trade-Off Analysis Methodology Developed for INDOT

As part of the ongoing evolution towards integrated highway asset management, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), through SPR studies in 2004 and 2010, sponsored research that developed an overall framework for asset management. This was intended to foster decision support for alternative investments across the program areas on the basis of a broad range of performance measures and against the background of the various alternative actions or spending amounts that could be applied to the several different asset types in the different program areas. The 2010 study also developed theoretical constructs for scaling and amalgamating the different performance measures, and for analyzing the different kinds of trade-offs. The research products from the present study include this technical report which shows how theoretical underpinnings of the methodology developed for INDOT in 2010 have been updated, upgraded, and refined. The report also includes a case study that shows how the trade-off analysis framework has been calibrated using available data. Supplemental to the report is Trade-IN Version 1.0, a set of flexible and easy-to-use spreadsheets that implement the tradeoff framework. With this framework and using data at the current time or in the future, INDOT’s asset managers are placed in a better position to quantify and comprehend the relationships between budget levels and system-wide performance, the relationships between different pairs of conflicting or non-conflicting performance measures under a given budget limit, and the consequences, in terms of system-wide performance, of funding shifts across the management systems or program areas

Application of a Multi-Objective Network Model to a Combat Simulation Game: The Drive on Metz Case Study

War games are routinely analyzed by the Department of Defense to study the players decision making process. This research develops a multicriteria model that enhances a war game players decision-making capability. The war game consists of a hexagonal-grid map of varying terrain that will be represent as a two-dimensional directed network. The network is obstructed by multiple enemy threats that expose a unit traversing the network to possible attack. The player is faced with the decision of choosing a route to a target node that balances the objectives of following the shortest path and maximizing the probability of success. A weighted arc cost matrix is supplied to Dijkstras shortest path algorithm to and an optimal route. Critical values of the ratio of the objective function weights determine where the optimal path changes. These values are determined on a test scenario for the war game The Drive On Metz

Decision support system based in AHP method to selection vendors of clinical laboratorys inputs

In a competitive marketing scenario, the purchasing area contributes significantly to the achievement of organizational goals. Its mission is to identify the competitive needs of products and services, becoming responsible for the timely delivery, costs optimization and quality. Within shopping, a correct selection of vendors is important for this to happen. From this perspective, the present study aims to develop a model that assists in the vendors’ selection process. This way, a case study was carried out in a clinical analysis laboratory located in the city of Rio Grande, where the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) was used as an intervention tool. The development process consisted in three stages. The first one aimed at structuring the model, in which the hierarchy of criteria was defined. In the second step, the judgments were carried out and the relative weights for each criterion and subcriterion were calculated. Finally, the third step aimed at applying the model developed in a purchasing process. The model was tested in a selection process that involved the evaluation of three vendors of a laboratorial input, in order to identify which one met the demands of the organization. The result obtained with its use was considered satisfactory, this way, the model was approved by the manager who participated in the structuring process of the AHP hierarchy

A methodology for the selection of new technologies in the aviation industry

The purpose of this report is to present a technology selection methodology to quantify both tangible and intangible benefits of certain technology alternatives within a fuzzy environment. Specifically, it describes an application of the theory of fuzzy sets to hierarchical structural analysis and economic evaluations for utilisation in the industry. The report proposes a complete methodology to accurately select new technologies. A computer based prototype model has been developed to handle the more complex fuzzy calculations. Decision-makers are only required to express their opinions on comparative importance of various factors in linguistic terms rather than exact numerical values. These linguistic variable scales, such as ‘very high’, ‘high’, ‘medium’, ‘low’ and ‘very low’, are then converted into fuzzy numbers, since it becomes more meaningful to quantify a subjective measurement into a range rather than in an exact value. By aggregating the hierarchy, the preferential weight of each alternative technology is found, which is called fuzzy appropriate index. The fuzzy appropriate indices of different technologies are then ranked and preferential ranking orders of technologies are found. From the economic evaluation perspective, a fuzzy cash flow analysis is employed. This deals quantitatively with imprecision or uncertainties, as the cash flows are modelled as triangular fuzzy numbers which represent ‘the most likely possible value’, ‘the most pessimistic value’ and ‘the most optimistic value’. By using this methodology, the ambiguities involved in the assessment data can be effectively represented and processed to assure a more convincing and effective decision- making process when selecting new technologies in which to invest. The prototype model was validated with a case study within the aviation industry that ensured it was properly configured to meet the