Conflicts and resolutions in managing water allocation at the watershed scale

Multiple runs of a river basin model produced information about water allocation under different users’ priorities, creating a set of allocation scenarios as possible decision alternatives. To identify the most desired scenario that will, expectedly, be more readily accepted and implemented, involvement of stakeholders and reaching the consensus among them in evaluating scenarios are essential. This article describes methodology for integrating multi-criteria optimization as an efficient tool for the evaluation of scenarios in a group context, with river basin simulation-optimization models. Methodology was developed within the scope of the bilateral project Serbia–Portugal, and it consisted of five phases: defining the preference schemes of allocation, running the ACQUANET model, evaluating the criteria and strategies with analytic hierarchy process, aggregation and initial search for consensus in subgroups, and obtaining the final consensus converged result (best management strategy). The approach was tested on the water allocation problem in the Nadela watershed in Vojvodina Province in Serbia, with participation of 23 stakeholders. Promising results recommended the approach for the testing in different conditions in the area near Bragança in northeast Portugal (Sabor watershed).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Preliminary identification on key indicators for air quality risk assessment from landfill

Landfilling is still the most widely used form of waste disposal although it is associated with a number of environmental issues primarily related to unregulated and partially controlled landfills that are numerous in Serbia. Landfill gas, mostly composed of methane, represents a high risk for human health and environment. This paper gives preliminary identification of criteria for quantification of methane risk impact on air in the immediate vicinity of landfills in Serbia. Four types of criteria were defined. Those criteria consist of sub-criteria that must be considered when considering the potential risks to the environment and human health

First-Level Transitivity Rule Method for Filling in Incomplete Pair-Wise Comparison Matrices in the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Abstract: The paper discusses the problem of performing the prioritization of decision elements within the multicriteria optimization method, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), with incomplete information. An approach is proposed on how to fill in the gap in the pair-wise comparison matrix generated within an AHP standard procedure; that is, to reproduce one missing judgment of the decision maker while assuring the reproduced judgment belongs to the same ratio scale used while other judgments are elicited. The first-level transitivity rule (FLTR) approach is proposed based on screening matrix entries in the neighborhood of a missing one. Scaling (where necessary) and geometric averaging of screened entries allows filling of the gap in the matrix and later prioritization of involved decision elements by the eigenvector, or any other known method. Illustrative examples are provided to compare the proposed method with the other two known methods also aimed to fill-in gaps in AHP matrices. The results indicate some similarities in attaining consistency. However, unlike other methods, the FLTR assures coherency of the generating process in a sense that all numeric values in a matrix (original entries, plus one generated) come from the same ratio scale and have correct element-wise semantic equivalents

Fuzzy AHP Assessment of Urban Parks Quality and Importance in Novi Sad City, Serbia

This paper proposes an AHP approach that utilizes the fuzzy extent model to prioritize five city parks based on their present quality and projected importance for Novi Sad City, the capital of Vojvodina Province, in Serbia. The study involved an expert evaluation of a set of eight criteria to identify the most relevant subset of criteria for a detailed park assessment. The park evaluation took into account uncertainties (fuzziness), the expert’s risk tolerance, and different levels of optimism and pessimism. The obtained results could serve when defining upcoming city plans and management agendas related to green areas in the city. The proposed fuzzy-based methodology can be extended to group decision-making scenarios by involving more experts and stakeholder representatives. The park weights obtained through the fuzzy AHP methodology described in this paper can aid city planners and politicians in the strategic allocation of financial, organizational, and human resources for parks

First-Level Transitivity Rule Method for Filling in Incomplete Pair-Wise Comparison Matrices in the Analytic Hierarchy Process

The paper discusses the problem of performing the prioritization of decision elements within the multicriteria optimization method, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), with incomplete information. An approach is proposed on how to fill in the gap in the pair-wise comparison matrix generated within an AHP standard procedure; that is, to reproduce one missing judgment of the decision maker while assuring the reproduced judgment belongs to the same ratio scale used while other judgments are elicited. The first-level transitivity rule (FLTR) approach is proposed based on screening matrix entries in the neighborhood of a missing one. Scaling (where necessary) and geometric averaging of screened entries allows filling of the gap in the matrix and later prioritization of involved decision elements by the eigenvector, or any other known method. Illustrative examples are provided to compare the proposed method with the other two known methods also aimed to fill-in gaps in AHP matrices. The results indicate some similarities in attaining consistency. However, unlike other methods, the FLTR assures coherency of the generating process in a sense that all numeric values in a matrix (original entries, plus one generated) come from the same ratio scale and have correct element-wise semantic equivalents

Water allocation for agricultural users based on multi criteria analysis and use of decision-making tools

Recent research has signaled promising options to create a unique framework to integrate multi-criteria optimization tools with river basin simulation-optimization models. From the multi-criteria decision-making area Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is selected to evaluate selected parts of output generated by the river basin simulation-optimization model (ACQUANET) which is applied to allocate water to agricultural users within a given river basin. Multiple runs of a river basin model can produce information about water allocation under different prioritization of users, namely a set of allocation scenarios as possible decision alternatives. The analytic hierarchy process can then be used to efficiently perform the evaluation of scenarios in both individual and group contexts, the latter being especially important because stakeholders’ involvement and participation in making decisions is ‘a must’ in modern decisions. A pilot test of the proposed approach was performed for one hydro-system in Serbia. Another pilot test is under preparation in Portugal and will serve as a verification of the methodology briefly described in this paper.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using Analytic Hierarchy Process and Best–Worst Method in Group Evaluation of Urban Park Quality

The paper compares two multi-criteria methods, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the best–worst method (BWM), in assessing criteria related to the quality of urban parks. The criteria assessed were accessibility, location, biodiversity preservation, park equipment, water elements, terrain configuration, cultural and historical value, and the presence of small architectural objects. Five decision-makers participated in the research, having expertise in urban greenery, urban forestry, environmental protection, landscape design, and cultural and historical heritage. The results of decision-makers’ evaluations were compared at individual and group levels after the application of three aggregation procedures: CRITIC, ENTROPY, and WGGM (weighted geometric mean method). Similarities in results, i.e., priorities of analyzed criteria after applying the two different decision support methods, indicated high consistency between experts during the cognitive evaluation processes. All applied aggregation schemes performed well and may be considered trustworthy in identifying the group solution. One of the conclusions is that either the AHP or the BWM can be efficiently used in evaluations of criteria for assessing the quality of urban parks if the members of a group are consistent, regardless of whether the consensus process is properly carried out before the decision-making process

Decision making framework for decreasing the redundancy of air quality monitoring stations in Vojvodina Province (Serbia)

Stanice za praćenje kvalitete zraka se koriste za brzo i pouzdano vrednovanje kvalitete zraka. Bez obzira što su stanice skupe, vrlo često njihov broj na određenom teritoriju prelazi optimalni broj stanica što rezultira njihovim viškom, povećanim troškovima, preklapanjem podataka itd. Da bi omogućili analizu kvantitativnih i kvalitativnih kriterija, autori predlažu pristup temeljen na dobro poznatom alatu za donošenje odluka pod nazivom Analitički hijerarhijski proces (AHP). U prvom koraku definiranja okvira za donošenje odluka o smanjenju suvišnih stanica na lokalnoj i regionalnoj razini u pokrajini Vojvodini, tri eksperta su identificirala ključne indikatore za ocjenjivanje karakteristika stanica. Petnaest indikatora je izabrano i podijeljeno u tri grupe (ciljevi životne sredine, ciljevi lokacije/tehnički; socijalno/ekonomski ciljevi). Prema predloženoj metodologiji eksperti su vrednovali dvije stanice u općini Kikinda. Stanica KIMA je imala bolje ukupne karakteristike, zbog čega je odgovornima predloženo da premjeste mjernu opremu iz KISA stanice u KIMA stanicu te tako smanje troškove održavanja i operacijske troškove.Air quality monitoring stations are used for quick and reliable assessment of air quality. Although the stations are expensive, very often their number on certain territory exceeds optimal number of stations leading to their redundancy, increased costs, overlapping of data etc. To enable analysis of quantitative and qualitative criteria, authors propose an approach based on well-known decision support tool called analytic hierarchy process (AHP). As the first step in defining the decision framework for decreasing redundancy of stations locally and regionally in Vojvodina Province, three experts were asked to identify key performance indicators for assessing the performance of the stations. Fifteen indicators were selected and divided into three groups (Environmental objectives; Location/Technical objectives; and Social/Economic objectives). Experts evaluated performance of two stations in Municipality of Kikinda. Station KIMA showed better overall performance, so it is suggested to responsible authorities to relocate monitors from KISA station to KIMA station and thus decrease maintenance and operation costs