GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) Techniques to Derive Flood Risks Management on Rice Productivity in Gishari Marshland

Floods are phenomenon with significant socio-economic implications mainly for human loss, agriculture, livestock, soil loss and land degradation, for which many researchers try to identify the most appropriate methodologies by analyzing their temporal and spatial development. This study therefore attempts to employ the GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis and analytical hierarchy process techniques to derive the flood risks management on rice productivity in the Gishari Agricultural Marshland in Rwamagana district, Rwanda. Here, six influencing potential factors to flooding, including river slope, soil texture, Land Use Land Cover through Land Sat 8, rainfall, river distance and Digital Elevation Model are considered for the delineation of flood risk zones. Data acquisition like Landsat 8 images, DEM, land use land cover, slope, and soil class in the study area were considered. Results showed that if the DEM is outdated or inaccurate due to changes in the terrain, such as construction, excavation, or erosion, the predicted flood patterns might not reflect the actual water flow. This could result unexpected flood extents and depths, potentially inundating rice fields that were not previously at risk and this, expectedly explained that the increase 1 m in elevation would reduce the rice productivity by 0.17% due to unplanned flood risks in marshland. It was found that the change in rainfall distribution in Gishari agricultural marshland would also decrease the rice productivity by 0.0018%, which is a sign that rainfall is a major factor of flooding in rice scheme. Rainfall distribution plays a crucial role in flooding analysis and can directly impact rice productivity. Oppositely, another causal factor was Land Use Land Cover (LULC), where the Multivariate Logistic Regression Model Analysis findings showed that the increase of one unit in Land Use Land Cover would increase rice productivity by 0.17% of the total rice productivity from the Gishari Agricultural Marshland. Based on findings from these techniques, the Gishari Agricultural Marshlands having steeped land with grassland is classified into five classes of flooding namely very low, low, moderate, high, and very high which include 430%, 361%, 292%, 223%, and 154%. Government of Rwanda and other implementing agencies and major key actors have to contribute on soil and water conservation strategies to reduce the runoff and soil erosion as major contributors of flooding.

Potential landfill site selection for solid waste disposal using GIS and multi-criteria decision analysis(MCDA)

Proper solid waste disposal is an important socioeconomic concern for all developing countries.Municipalities have their own policies,individual approaches and methods to manage the solid wastes.They consider wastelands outside the urban area as the best suitable for the solid waste disposal.Such improper site selection will create morphological changes that lead to environmental hazards in the urban and its surrounding areas.In this research,the site selection for urban solid waste disposal in the Coimbatore district used geographical information system(GIS)and multi-criteria decision analysis(MCDA).Thematic layers of lineament density,landuse/landcover,population density,groundwater depth,drainage density,slope,soil texture,geology and geomorphology were considered as primary criteria and weights for criteria,and sub-criteria were assigned by MCDA analysis.The resultant weight score was validated by consistency ratio so that the efficiency of the selected criteria was justified.The overlay analysis in GIS environment provides 17 potential zones in Coimbatore district,among which,four suitable sites were screened and refined with the help of field investigation and visual interpretation of satellite image.The result of landfill suitability map shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Holistic approach of GIS based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis(MCDA) and WetSpass models to evaluate groundwater potential in Gelana watershed of Ethiopia

Appropriate quantification and identification of the groundwater distribution in a hydrological basin may provide necessary information for effective management,planning and development of groundwater resources.Groundwater potential assessment and delineation in a highly heterogeneous environment with limited Spatiotemporal data derived from Gelana watershed of Abaya Chamo lake basin is performed,using integrated multi-criteria decision analysis(MCDA),water and energy transfer between soil and plant and atmosphere under quasi-steady state(WetSpass)models.The outputs of the WetSpass model reveal a favorable structure of water balance in the basin studied,mainly using surface runoff.The simulated total flow and groundwater recharge are validated using river measurements and estimated baseflow at two gauging stations located in the study area,which yields a good agreement.The WetSpass model effectively integrates a water balance assessment in a geographical information system(GIS)environment.The WetSpass model is shown to be computationally reputable for such a remote complex setting as the African rift,with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and 0.99 for total flow and baseflow at a significant level of p-value<0.05,respectively.The simulated annual water budget reveals that 77.22%of annual precipitation loses through evapotranspiration,of which 16.54%is lost via surface runoff while 6.24%is recharged to the groundwater.The calibrated groundwater recharge from the WetSpass model is then considered when determining the controlling factors of groundwater occurrence and formation,together with other multi-thematic layers such as lithology,geomorphology,lineament density and drainage density.The selected five thematic layers through MCDA are incorporated by employing the analytical hierarchy process(AHP)method to identify the relative dominance in groundwater potential zoning.The weighted factors in the AHP are procedurally aggregated,based on weighted linear combinations to provide the groundwater potential index.Based on the potential indexes,the area then is demarcated into low,moderate,and high groundwater potential zones(GWPZ).The identified GWPZs are finally examined using the existing groundwater inventory data(static water level and springs)in the region.About 70.7%of groundwater inventory points are coinciding with the delineated GWPZs.The weighting comparison shows that lithology,geomorphology,and groundwater recharge appear to be the dominant factors influence on the resources potential.The assessment of groundwater potential index values identify 45.88%as high,39.38%moderate,and 14.73%as low groundwater potential zones.WetSpass model analysis is more preferable in the area like Gelana watershed when the topography is rugged,inaccessible and having limited gauging stations.

A Risk-Based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Approach to Evaluating Transboundary Water Development—The Case of Lower Mekong River Basin

The Lower Mekong River basin (LMB) covers the lower part of the Mekong river basin, including Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Due to numerous pressures from high population growth and intensive hydropower development, the LMB has been facing significant challenges concerning its biodiversity and ecosystem. In 2017, Mekong River Commission (MRC), an intergovernmental organisation founded in 1995 among LMB countries, established the Council Study, which analysed the impacts of water development scenarios concerning the environmental, socioeconomic aspects of the LMB. This paper explores the nature of risks to the LMB water development and subsequently evaluates LMB’s water development scenarios described in the Council Study by using a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) method. MCDA method has been widely applied in the field of water resource management in order to assist the decision-making process by systematically evaluating a certain number of alternatives against well-selected criteria through a preference rating scheme. By implementing a risk-based comprehensive assessment of the LMB transboundary water, this study provides insights into the impacts of the increasing risks to the ecosystem and human beings on the water development of the basin over time, which assists to change the awareness and the perspective toward humans’ risks and transboundary river ecosystem of decision-makers. This paper provides valuable recommendations for MRC to improve their policy concerning benefit-sharing scheme, water planning and risk mitigation strategies.

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis for Usage Based Optimization of Powertrains

The electrification of powertrains leads to an increasing diversification of powertrain configurations. Each single configuration has its specific advantages which appear depending on the usage profile. To find the usage based optimal powertrain in consideration of a variety of evaluation criteria, the powertrains have to be optimized for the usage profile and characteristics have to be extracted from the usage profile. The carbon dioxide emissions of the optimized powertrains and usage based criteria are used in a multi-criteria decision analysis to determine the optimal powertrain for a specific usage profile. The description of characteristic maps forms the objective function of a minimization problem. The determined carbon dioxide emissions are one criterion in a multi-criteria decision process. All considered criteria are at least partly objective so that subjective ratings are eliminated as far as possible. The result is an optimized powertrain for a desired usage under the consideration of objective criteria that are extracted from the usage profile.

“AniFair”:A GUI Based Software Tool for Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis--An Example of Assessing Animal Welfare

Multi-criteria decision analysis deals with decision problems in which multiple criteria need to be considered. The criteria might be measured on different scales so that comparability is difficult. One approach to help the user to organize the problem and to reflect on his or her assessment on the decision is Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical Based Evaluation TecHnique (MACBETH). Here the user needs to provide qualitative judgment about differences of attractiveness regarding pairs of options. MACBETH was implemented in the M-MACBETH software using the additive aggregation model. The present article introduces the software tool “AniFair” which combines the MACBETH approach with the Choquet integral as an aggregation function, because the Choquet integral enables the modeling of interaction between criteria. With the Choquet integral, the user can define constraints on the relative importance of criteria (Shapley value) and the interaction between criteria. In contrast to M-MACBETH, with every instance of “AniFair” the user is made available at least two aggregation level. “AniFair” provides Graphical User Interfaces for the entering of information. The software tool is introduced via an example from the Welfare Quality Assessment protocol for pigs. With this, “AniFair” is applied to real data that were collected from thirteen farms in Northern Germany by an animal welfare expert. The “AniFair” results enabled a division of the farms into five groups of comparable performance concerning the welfare principle “Good feeding”. Hereby, the results differed in how much the interaction between criteria contributed to the Choquet integral values. The shares varied from 5% to 55%. With this, the vulnerability of aggregation results towards relative importance of and interaction between criteria was stressed, as changes in the ranking due to the definition of constraints could be shown. All results were exported to human readable txt or csv files for further analyses, and advice could be given to the farmers on how to improve their welfare situation.

Groundwater Exploration Using Multi Criteria Decision Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Central Nigeria

There exists a growing demand for potable water resources to fill the abysmally insufficient water needs for domestic and industrial especially in the Basement Complex terrains of Nigeria. This situation is attributable to its complex hydrogeologic character. The present challenge has worsened due to the non-incorporation of integrated methods in groundwater exploration campaigns. To effectively combat the challenge of unacceptable failure rates in drilled water well development, there is a need for innovative scientific principles and quantitative assessment of groundwater resources to enhance sustainable and proper utilisation of these resources. Hence, it is the objective of this research to exploit the potential application of remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques and freely open datasets in mapping groundwater potential zones. Seven thematic maps have been produced based on factors that are deemed to influence and deemed to have significant control on the occurrence and movement of groundwater. These factors are geology, lineament density, slope, drainage density, rainfall, land-use/land cover, and soil class. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assign normalised weights to the thematic maps based on the various relative contributions to groundwater occurrence and movement. These thematic maps were then processed in a GIS environment using the Weighted Overlay tool which implements the MCDA. The resulting Groundwater Potential Zones (GPZ) of the area gave rise to Five classes viz: Very good, Good, Moderate, Poor and Very Poor representing 19%, 8%, 14%, 47% and 13% respectively. It is recommended that the GPZ map should be used as a reconnaissance tool for selecting prospective sites for detailed groundwater resource exploitation.

Sanitary Landfill Site Selection Using Multi-criteria Analysis Evaluation:Case Study of Dibra Region,Albania

Landfill is a common solution for the final disposal of MSW(Municipal Solid Waste)in Albania.Landfill sitting is an extremely difficult task to accomplish because the site selection process depends on different factors and regulations.To ensure that an appropriate site is chosen,a systematic process should be developed and followed.In this study,10 candidate sites for an appropriate landfill area in Dibra Region are determined by using the MCE(Multi-criteria Evaluation).From the application of the exclusion criteria provided in the study methodology,it was able to find the best three alternatives.The statistical processing for the determination of the best place was accomplished through MCA(Multi-criteria Analysis)and Environmental Management,for three scenarios with different weights of criteria.The application of this method has led to the identification of the most suitable site for the construction of sanitary landfill in the Dibra Region.

Benefit-Risk Assessment of Chinese Medicine Injections for Primary Liver Cancer Based on Multi-criteria Decision Analysis

ObjectiveTo evaluate the benefit-risk of 3 commonly used Chinese medicine injections, Aidi Injection (ADI), Cinobufagin Injection (CINI) and Compound Kushen Injection (CKI), in the treatment of primary liver cancer (PLC), so as to provide a reference for clinical decision-making.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ADI, CINI and CKI in the treatment of PLC published in the databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, SinoMed, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were retrieved from January 2020 to October 2022. The data of benefit and risk indicators were combined to obtain the effect value. The multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) model was applied to build the decision tree. The benefit value, risk value and benefit risk value of the 3 injections in PLC treatment were calculated. Monte Carlo simulation was carried out to calculate the 95% confidence interval and probability of differences among the 3 injections, so as to optimize the evaluation results.ResultsA total of 71 RCTs were included. The benefit values of ADI, CINI and CKI combined with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) were 42, 38 and 36, respectively. The risk values were 42, 25 and 37, respectively. The benefit risk values were 42, 31 and 37, respectively. The benefit risk differences of ADI vs. CINI, ADI vs. CKI, and CKI vs. CINI were 11 (−0.86, 17.75), 5 (−5.01, 11.09), and 6 (−1.87, 12.63), respectively. The probability that ADI superior to CINI, ADI superior to CKI, and CKI superior to CINI was 96.26%, 77.27%, and 92.62%, respectively.ConclusionBased on the results of MCDA model, CINI combined with TACE has the greatest risk in the treatment of the PLC. Considering the efficacy and safety, the possible priority of the 3 Chinese medicine injections combined with TACE in the treatment of PLC is ADI, CKI and CINI.

A new hybrid decision support tool for evaluating the sustainability of mining projects

The integration of sustainable development challenges and opportunities into the decision making process during the design and/or implementation of multi-disciplinary mining projects is generally not supported by decision support systems(DSS). A new hybrid decision support tool, which features an integrated assessment of sustainable development issues as they apply to mining projects, is hereby proposed. The proposed DSS framework, named ‘‘Acropolis DSS", can be used to assist involved stakeholders in critical decisions, especially when addressing issues such as stakeholder participation, transparency,and trade-offs. The proposed DSS is based on a multi-criteria decision analysis combined with the multi-attribute utility theory.

Study and Analysis of Chennai Flood 2015 Using GIS and Multicriteria Technique

Terrain characteristics of the land and meteorological properties of the region are the main natural factors for flood. The recent flood in Chennai was unexpected and not triggered by the above factors. Sometimes floods occur when the watershed size is considerably small which leads to the over flow of water inland may due to the encroachment and the urban development of the city. Temporarily used backwater effects in sewers and local drainage channels and creation of unsanitary conditions may cause flooding. Chennai flood was basically claimed to occur due to improper drainage system and underlying strata which was found to be landfill over the ponds and lakes. The Coouam River which flows through the centre of main city was found silting due to the improper drainage facilities and encroachment by the local peoples who causes flood. For the analysis of potentially affected areas Geographical Information System (GIS) integrated with Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) were employed. Ranking and displaying the potentially risky areas, the spatial Multicriteria analysis was used. It has been revealed that all most all the area’s having populations are likely to be exposed to flood hazard. At the end of study, a map of flood risk areas was generated and studied with a view to assisting decision makers on the consequences posed by the disaster.

Multi-Criteria Wildfire Risk Hazard Assessment in GIS Environment: Projection for the Future and Impact on RES Projects Installation Planning

It is alarming for the fact that Wildfires number, severity and consequently impact have significantly increased during the last years, an aftermath of the Climate Change. One of the most affected areas worldwide is Mediterranean, due to the unique combination of its type of vegetation and demanding climatic conditions. This research is focused on the Region of Epirus in Greece, an area with significant natural vegetation and a range of geomorphological aspects. In order to estimate the Wildfire Risk Hazard, several factors have been used: geomorphological (slope, aspect, elevation, TWI, Hydrographic network), social (Settlements and landfils, roads, overhead lines and substations), environmental (land cover) and climatic (Fire Weather Index). Through a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in a GIS environment, the Wildfire Risk Hazard has been estimated not only for current conditions but also for future projections for the near future (2031-2060) and the far future (2071-2100). The selected case study includes the potential impact of the Wildfires to the installed (or targeted to be installed) RES projects in the studied region.

应用GIS模糊层次分析法对森林火灾风险区划——以湖南省宁远县为例

应用ArcGIS的模糊逻辑和层次分析法,对湖南省宁远县的森林火灾风险进行评估和火险区划研究,参与评估的火险因子包括环境、人类活动和地形因子。研究结果表明:温度、降水、海拔和归一化植被指数(NDVI)对研究区域林火风险的影响最为显著;宁远县47.6%的区域被确定为四级及以上火险等级,主要分布于该县中部的大部分地区,该县火险情况严峻;编制的森林火灾风险图预测精度达82.7%。模糊层次分析法在森林火灾风险预测中展现出较好的效果,可作为林火预测和火险制图的重要工具,编制的森林火灾风险图为宁远县的林火管理提供了科学参考依据。

Indexing habitat suitability and human-elephant conflicts using GIS-MCDA in a human-dominated landscape

Concerns for biodiversity loss, wildlife conservation, and habitat destruction have dominated the policy agenda worldwide for decades. Unsustainable human-induced development and negative interaction between humans and wildlife have emerged as predominant issues globally. The present study deals with human and elephant conflicts (HEC) in the Polpitigama Divisional Secretariat, Sri Lanka, which is located in the Kahalla-Pallekele elephant corridor and connects Wilpattu and Kaudulla wildlife sanctuaries. The research objectives are identifying spatial patterns of elephant habitat suitability and probable risk zones for HEC. The elephant habitat suitability and HEC risk zones were identified on spatial and temporal scales using Geographic Information System integrating Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Different factors, including habitat suitability, distance to roads, distance to croplands, distance to forests and protected areas, settlements, and population density, were considered to determine HEC risk zones in the area. Topography, water, and vegetation criteria are considered when determining elephant habitat suitability. The results of the Analytic Hierarchy Process run the spatially explicit model. The results revealed that of the total area, 15.3% is very highly suitable for elephant habitats, while the least suitable areas contribute only 4%. About 33.8% of the area is moderately suitable for elephants. The risk map indicates that 23.7% of the total area is under very high risk for HEC, and the least risk areas only account for 5.4%. About 26.2% of the area falls under the moderate risk zone for HEC. Since the model considered three aspects of HEC, it will help policymakers in wildlife conservation to avoid and minimize the HEC.

多准则决策分析优化电动医疗设备预防性维修路径的研究

目的:采用多准则决策分析(MCDA)方法对电动医疗设备预防性维修路径进行优化并验证其优化效果。方法:组建医疗设备管理小组,以文献研究与小组讨论的形式确定电动医疗设备预防性维修路径;组织相关领域内的15名专家,以会议研讨形式确定并论证预防性维修路径评价准则,设定准则权重;专家以准则为标准对各项预防性维修路径进行打分,利用均值计算每条维修路径的评分并进行排序形成最优路径。选取2021-2022年解放军联勤保障部队第960医院临床在用的7类767台电动医疗设备,根据管理模式不同分别采用常规预防维修管理(简称常规管理模式)和MCDA方法优化后的预防性维修路径管理(简称MCDA管理模式),对比两种管理模式电动医疗设备的故障发生率、维修时长、质检合格率及维修成本等指标变化情况。结果:研究期间内采用MCDA管理模式的电动医疗设备故障发生率为8.71%(67/767),低于常规管理模式,其差异有统计学意义(χ^(2)=3.960,P<0.05);采用MCDA管理模式的设备维修时长为(2.24±1.17)d,低于常规管理模式,其差异有统计学意义(t=2.360,P<0.05);采用MCDA管理模式的质检合格率为(96.57±2.74)%,高于常规管理模式,其差异有统计学意义(t=4.342,P<0.05);采用MCDA管理模式的设备平均维修费用占其资产的比例为2.37%,低于常规管理模式,其差异有统计学意义(χ^(2)=4.261,P<0.05)。结论:MCDA方法能够为电动医疗设备预防性维修路径优化提供定量化的结构模型,优化后的预防性维修路径能够实现对电动医疗设备的高效管理,注重维修人员技术水平培训可提高自修率,降低医疗设备故障率。

Multi-criteria land evaluation for suitability analysis of wheat:a case study of a watershed in eastern plateau region,India

Improper land use results in land degradation as well as decline in agricultural productivity.To obtain optimum benefit from the land,proper utilization of its resources is necessary.Land suitability analysis is the evaluation and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for a defined use,which is a precondition for sustainable land use planning.This study investigated the applicability of Geographical Information System(GIS)techniques in combination with multi-criteria land evaluation for analysing land suitability.The study used the weighted overlay technique for multi-criteria evaluation with GIS for the assessment of suitability of wheat cultivation in Beko watershed(Purulia,India).The watershed area is moderately suitable for wheat crop production,with constraints like imperfect drainage and poor soil depth.

Delineating Groundwater Potential Zones Using Geospatial and Analytical Hierarchy Process Techniques in the Upper Omo-Gibe Basin,Ethiopia

In regions with unpredictable rainfall and limited water supply,it’s crucial to pinpoint areas with high potential for groundwater and find the best spots for groundwater resource development.This study utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP)in combination with Geographic Information Systems(GIS)to evaluate the potential groundwater zones in the Gombora watershed within the Omo Gibe basin in Ethiopia.Combining these two tools provided a detailed map showing potential groundwater areas.These zones are determined based on various thematic maps containing information about geology,soil texture,lineament density,slope,land use,and drainage density.The AHP method combines these data layers by assigning weights to each layer based on its importance for groundwater recharge.These weighted layers are then overlaid using a GIS platform to produce a conclusive map of potential groundwater areas.The groundwater potential within the watershed was qualitatively divided into five categories with area coverages of very good(1.6%),good(7.4%),moderate(21.4%),poor(51.6%),and very poor(17.9%)of thewatershed area.The accuracy of the groundwater potential zones was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and the area under the curve(AUC),producing good results(AUC=75.5%).This research has shown that integrating AHP with GIS can effectively pinpoint potential groundwater zones.Additionally,the findings could play a key role in determining suitable locations for new groundwater wells and supplying valuable insights to decision-makers to aid in planning and implementing sustainable strategies for managing groundwater resources in the watershed.

垃圾填埋场地下水污染修复技术优选研究

结合国内外地下水污染场地的修复经验,综合考虑当地社会经济条件、地下水脆弱性、污染物特征等因素,采用层次分析法建立了修复技术优化指标体系;在此基础上运用多准则决策分析模型(MCDA)进行地下水污染修复技术优选排序,构建垃圾填埋场地下水污染修复技术筛选模型;并以湖北省某简易垃圾填埋场为例进行应用研究。结果表明:在备选的5种场地地下水修复技术(监测自然衰减技术、渗透反应格栅、多相抽提技术、抽出-处理技术、原位微生物修复技术)中,抽出-处理技术、原位微生物修复技术较为理想。综合考虑该污染场地条件、地下水污染治理要求及附近受体分布情况,得到最佳修复方案为:高污染风险区域采用抽出-处理技术和原位微生物修复技术组合;低污染风险区域采用监测自然衰减技术。

基于多准则的医疗大数据智能决策平台模型构建探索

目的:构建基于医疗大数据的多准则智能决策平台,提升医疗决策的效率。方法:采用模型法与实验法,分析多准则决策过程与医疗大数据平台构建核心环节;基于MCDA方法学的关键流程,探讨构建基于大数据的多准则智能化决策平台。结果:建立了基于大数据的多准则智能化决策框架模型,进而基于Hadoop架构的医疗健康大数据平台,通过量化决策目标与准则,实现多准则医疗目标智能化决策。结论:医疗健康大数据平台为多准则决策分析提供数据平台支持,有助于提高决策的透明性与规范性。

Research Progress of the Planning Methods of Prior Conservation Areas

The planning of prior conservation areas is an important part of nature re- serve system, ：it is of great significance for biodiversity conservation. The methods of priority planning include hot-spots analysis, gap analysis, systematic conservation planning analysis and multi-criteria decision analysis. The key issues of priority area planning include the determination of the protect objects, the analyses of the protec- tion value and protection cost, the win-win development of protection and economy, and the changes of the management strategies of the protected areas. In this study, the features and research progress of different conservation methods were analyzed, and based on the discussion on the key issues of the planning of the protected areas, the application prospect of different methods was analyzed.