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

Designing an institutional network for improving farm animal welfare in the EU

Improvements in the welfare of farmed animals in the EU have been achieved by legislation, increased welfare capacity in the food chain, greater public awareness, welfare measurement tools and dissemination of best practice. However, pressure for improvement grows. The EC recognises that delivering improved welfare would best be achieved by increasing welfare capacity, including establishing a Network of Welfare Reference Centres to provide support for welfare research, knowledge transfer and policy design. Designing a structure for this Network presents a challenge, as it would have multiple functions, interact with diverse stakeholders and operate in a complex environment. Here, we describe the use of a novel strategic planning approach to design an optimal structure for this Network. Our evaluation found that no existing structure was ideal, but that by taking functional units from several existing models, an optimal model could be identified

An Analysis of Preference Weights and Setting Priorities by Irrigation Advisory Services Users Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process

Objective: Stakeholders-farmers from four different European areas (Campania (IT), Kujawsko-Pomorskie (PL), Limburg (NL), Andalusia (ES))-are asked to share, from the OPERA project, their opinions on five criteria that all aim at improving the use of irrigation advisory services (IASs). Each criterion has different characteristics that affect the way farmers rank it. The present study has two objectives. The first is to individuate the priorities of the preferences expressed by the stakeholders. The second objective is to carry out a ranking of the weights of the criteria by case study, ranking the groups and their associated properties among farmers' profiles. Methods: The answers to 120 questionnaires dispensed to the future users of IASs in the four agricultural sites were analyzed in detail, and then the given priorities were evaluated through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP methodology was used to determine the relative weights of the five assessment criteria, and finally, to select the one with major value. Results and conclusions: The results show that A5 (assuring economic sustainability) was the most important criterion. The contributions provided by this study are twofold: Firstly, it presents an application of a methodology that involves the conversion of a linguistic judgement of farmers in a correspondence weight. Secondly, it tackles decision making regarding improving the use of IASs, evaluating the preferences expressed by the stakeholders. Irrigation advisory services can play a key role in assisting users to adopt new techniques and technologies for more efficient water use and increased production

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

Achieving matrix consistency in AHP through linearization

Matrices used in the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) compile expert knowledge as pair-wise comparisons among various criteria and alternatives in decision-making problems. Many items are usually considered in the same comparison process and so judgment is not completely consistent - and sometimes the level of consistency may be unacceptable. Different methods have been used in the literature to achieve consistency for an inconsistent matrix. In this paper we use a linearization technique that provides the closest consistent matrix to a given inconsistent matrix using orthogonal projection in a linear space. As a result, consistency can be achieved in a closed form. This is simpler and cheaper than for methods relying on optimisation, which are iterative by nature. We apply the process to a real-world decision-making problem in an important industrial context, namely, management of water supply systems regarding leakage policies - an aspect of water management to which great sums of money are devoted every year worldwide. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This work has been performed under the support of the project IDAWAS, DPI2009-11591 of the Direccion General de Investigacion del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spain), with the supplementary support of ACOMP/2010/146 of the Conselleria d'Educacio of the Generalitat Valenciana, and the support given to the first author by the Spanish project MTM2010-18539. The use of English in this paper was revised by John Rawlins; and the revision was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Benítez López, J.; Delgado Galván, XV.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Pérez García, R. (2011). Achieving matrix consistency in AHP through linearization. Applied Mathematical Modelling. 35(9):4449-4457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2011.03.013S4449445735

Pairwise comparison matrices and the error-free property of the decision maker

Pairwise comparison is a popular assessment method either for deriving criteria-weights or for evaluating alternatives according to a given criterion. In real-world applications consistency of the comparisons rarely happens: intransitivity can occur. The aim of the paper is to discuss the relationship between the consistency of the decision maker—described with the error-free property—and the consistency of the pairwise comparison matrix (PCM). The concept of error-free matrix is used to demonstrate that consistency of the PCM is not a sufficient condition of the error-free property of the decision maker. Informed and uninformed decision makers are defined. In the first stage of an assessment method a consistent or near-consistent matrix should be achieved: detecting, measuring and improving consistency are part of any procedure with both types of decision makers. In the second stage additional information are needed to reveal the decision maker’s real preferences. Interactive questioning procedures are recommended to reach that goal

Group profile creation in ubiquitous healthcare environment applying the analytic hierarchy process

Nowadays, the personalization in ubiquitous healthcare is of utmost importance for enabling the provision of services tailored to the patient’s needs and interests. The personalization of the ubiquitous healthcare services is based on the profiles of the entities participating in these services. Such an application is the dynamic creation of the group of the entities that is formed to deliver the healthcare service to the patient. In this paper, we propose an approach for achieving creation of group profiles in a ubiquitous healthcare environment applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process

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. 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Improving consistency in AHP decision-making processes

Decision making in engineering is becoming increasingly complex due to the large number of alternatives and multiple conflicting goals. Powerful decision-support expert systems powered by suitable software are increasingly necessary. In this paper, the multiple attribute decision method known as analytical hierarchy process (AHP), which uses pairwise comparisons with numerical judgments, is considered. Since judgments may lack a minimum level of consistency, mechanisms to improve consistency are necessary. A method to achieve consistency through optimisation is described in this paper. This method has the major advantage of depending on just n decision variables – the number of compared elements – and so is less computationally expensive than other optimisation methods, and can be easily implemented in virtually any existing computer environment. The proposed approach is exemplified by considering a simplified version of one of the most important problems faced by water supply managers, namely, the minimisation of water loss. 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.This work has been performed under the support of project IDAWAS, DPI2009-11591 of the Direccionn General de Investigacion del Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Spain) and ACOMP/2011/188 of the Conselleria de Educacion de la Generalitat Valenciana. The first author was supported by Spanish project MTM2010-18539. The third author is also indebted to the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for the sabbatical leave granted during the first semester of 2011. The use of English in this paper was revised by John Rawlins.Benítez López, J.; Delgado Galván, XV.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Pérez García, R. (2012). Improving consistency in AHP decision-making processes. Applied Mathematics and Computation. 219(5):2432-2441. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amc.2012.08.079S24322441219

An approach to AHP decision in a dynamic context

AHP (analytic hierarchy process) is used to construct coherent aggregate results from preference data provided by decision makers. Pairwise comparison, used by AHP, shares a common weakness with other input formats used to represent user preferences, namely, that the input mode is static. In other words, users must provide all the preference data at the same time, and the criteria must be completely defined from the start. To overcome this weakness, we propose a framework that allows users to provide partial and/or incomplete preference data at multiple times. Since this is a complicated issue, we specifically focus on a particular aspect as a first attempt within this framework. For that reason, we re-examine a mechanism to achieve consistency in AHP, i.e. a linearization process, which provides consistency when adding a new element to the decision process or when withdrawing an obsolete criterion under the dynamic input mode assumption. An algorithm is developed to determine the new priority vector from the users' new input. Finally, we apply the new process to a problem of interest in the water field, specifically, the adoption of a suitable leak control policy in urban water supply. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work has been performed under the support of the project IDAWAS, DPI2009-11591 of the Direccion General de Investigacion del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Spain), with the supplementary support of ACOMP/2011/188 of the Conselleria d'Educacio of the Generalitat Valenciana, and the support given to the first author by Spanish project MTM2010-18539. The third author is also indebted to the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for the sabbatical leave granted during the first semester of 2011. The use of English in this paper was revised by John Rawlins.Benítez López, J.; Delgado Galván, XV.; Izquierdo Sebastián, J.; Pérez García, R. (2012). An approach to AHP decision in a dynamic context. Decision Support Systems. 53(3):499-506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dss.2012.04.015S49950653