Multi-criteria analysis for dredger dispatching under uncertainty

Dredger dispatching is a complex decision making process in which multiple requirements and uncertain site conditions have to be taken into consideration simultaneously, for a specific dredging task. In evaluating the suitability of dredgers, besides quantitative assessments, qualitative assessments are often required to deal with uncertainty, subjectiveness and imprecision, which are best represented with fuzzy data. This paper formulates dredger dispatching as a fuzzy multi-criteria analysis model, and presents an effective algorithm for handling both crisp and fuzzy data in a straightforward manner. As a result, effective decisions can be made based on consistent evaluation results. An empirical study of a real case in China is conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the model. With its simplicity in both concept and computation, the model can be implemented as an effective decision aid in selecting dredgers for specific dredging tasks.

[1]  G. Bortolan,et al.  A review of some methods for ranking fuzzy subsets , 1985 .

[2]  Love Ekenberg,et al.  A framework for analysing decisions under risk , 1998 .

[3]  Lisa Simpson,et al.  Do Decision Makers Know What They Prefer?: MAVT and ELECTRE II , 1996 .

[4]  D. Teodorovic.  Fuzzy sets theory applications in traffic and transportation , 1994 .

[5]  Risto Lahdelma,et al.  Comparing multicriteria methods in the context of environmental problems , 1998 .

[6]  Mao-Jiun J. Wang,et al.  Personnel selection using fuzzy MCDM algorithm , 1994 .

[7]  Simon French,et al.  Uncertainty and Imprecision: Modelling and Analysis , 1995 .

[8]  A. de Korvin,et al.  A Dempster-Shafer-based approach to compromise decision making with multiattributes applied to product selection , 1993 .

[9]  Lotfi A. Zadeh,et al.  Fuzzy Sets , 1996, Inf. Control..

[10]  Antreas D. Athanassopoulos,et al.  Dominance and potential optimality in multiple criteria decision analysis with imprecise information , 1997 .

[11]  Shyi-Ming Chen,et al.  A new method for tool steel materials selection under fuzzy environment , 1997, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[12]  Margaret F. Shipley,et al.  A decision making model for multi-attribute problems incorporating uncertainty and bias measures , 1991, Comput. Oper. Res..

[13]  Narasimha Bolloju,et al.  Formulation of qualitative models using fuzzy logic , 1996, Decis. Support Syst..

[14]  H. Zimmermann,et al.  Fuzzy Set Theory and Its Applications , 1993 .

[15]  Ching-Lai Hwang,et al.  Multiple attribute decision making : an introduction , 1995 .

[16]  Pekka Salminen,et al.  Choosing a solid waste management system using multicriteria decision analysis , 1997 .

[17]  Rita Almeida Ribeiro.  Fuzzy multiple attribute decision making: A review and new preference elicitation techniques , 1996, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[18]  Lotfi A. Zadeh,et al.  The Concepts of a Linguistic Variable and its Application to Approximate Reasoning , 1975 .

[19]  Ching-Lai Hwang,et al.  Fuzzy Multiple Attribute Decision Making - Methods and Applications , 1992, Lecture Notes in Economics and Mathematical Systems.

[20]  S. Gottwald,et al.  Fuzzy sets, fuzzy logic, fuzzy methods with applications , 1995 .

[21]  Hans Hellendoorn,et al.  After the fuzzy wave reached Europe , 1997 .

[22]  Richard Bellman,et al.  Decision-making in fuzzy environment , 2012 .

[23]  A. Kaufmann,et al.  Introduction to fuzzy arithmetic : theory and applications , 1986 .

[24]  C. Yeh,et al.  An algorithm for fuzzy multi-criteria decision making , 1997, 1997 IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Processing Systems (Cat. No.97TH8335).

[25]  D. Dubois,et al.  Recent models of uncertainty and imprecision as a basis for decision theory:towards less normative frameworks , 1986 .

[26]  Dušan Teodorović,et al.  A fuzzy approach to the vessel dispatching problem , 1994 .

[27]  Francisco Herrera,et al.  Fuzzy sets and operations research: Perspectives , 1997, Fuzzy Sets Syst..

[28]  Mao-Jiun J. Wang,et al.  A MULTIPLE CRITERIA LINGUISTIC DECISION-MODEL (MCLDM) FOR HUMAN DECISION-MAKING , 1994 .

[29]  Lotfi A. Zadeh,et al.  Outline of a New Approach to the Analysis of Complex Systems and Decision Processes , 1973, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern..

[30]  David L. Olson,et al.  Decision Aids for Selection Problems , 1995 .

[31]  C. Carlsson.  Tackling an MCDM-problem with the help of some results from fuzzy set theory , 1982 .

[32]  George Mavrotas,et al.  A multicriteria approach for evaluating the performance of industrial firms , 1992 .

[33]  Theodor J. Stewart,et al.  Multicriteria decision analysis: Some thoughts based on the tutorial and discussion sessions of the ESIGMA meetings , 1997 .