Forest use suitability:Towards decision-making-oriented sustainable management of forest ecosystem services

Management of forest lands considering multi-functional approaches is the basis to sustain or enhance the provi-sion of specific benefits,while minimizing negative impacts to the environment.Defining a desired management itinerary to a forest depends on a variety of factors,including the forest type,its ecological characteristics,and the social and economic needs of local communities.A strategic assessment of the forest use suitability(FUS)(namely productive,protective,conservation-oriented,social and multi-functional)at regional level,based on the provision of forest ecosystem services and trade-offs between FUS alternatives,can be used to develop management strategies that are tailored to the specific needs and conditions of the forest.The present study assesses the provision of multiple forest ecosystem services and employs a decision model to identify the FUS that sup-ports the most present and productive ecosystem services in each stand in Catalonia.For this purpose,we apply the latest version of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support(EMDS)system,a spatially oriented decision support system that provides accurate results for multi-criteria management.We evaluate 32 metrics and 12 as-sociated ecosystem services indicators to represent the spatial reality of the region.According to the results,the dominant primary use suitability is social,followed by protective and productive.Nevertheless,final assignment of uses is not straightforward and requires an exhaustive analysis of trade-offs between all alternative options,in many cases identifying flexible outcomes,and increasing the representativeness of multi-functional use.The assignment of forest use suitability aims to significantly improve the definition of the most adequate management strategy to be applied.

TOPSIS with Belief Structure for Group Belief Multiple Criteria Decision Making

The technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution （TOPSIS） is one of the major techniques in dealing with multiple criteria decision making （MCDM） problems, and the belief structure （BS） model has been used successfully for uncertain MCDM with incompleteness, impreciseness or ignorance. In this paper, the TOPSIS method with BS model is proposed to solve group belief MCDM problems. Firstly, the group belief MCDM problem is structured as a belief decision matrix in which the judgments of each decision maker are described as BS models, and then the evidential reasoning approach is used for aggregating the multiple decision makers＇ judgments. Subsequently, the positive and negative ideal belief solutions are defined with the principle of TOPSIS. To measure the separation from ideal solutions, the concept and algorithm of belief distance measure are defined, which can be used for comparing the difference between BS models. Finally, the relative closeness and ranking index are calculated for ranking the alternatives. A numerical example is given to illustrate the proposed method.

DNA extraction method selection for agricultural soil using TOPSIS multiple criteria decision-making model

There is an increased interest in the extraction of nucleic acids from various environmental samples since culture-independent molecular techniques contribute to deepen and broaden the understanding of a greater portion of uncultivable microorganisms. Due to difficulties to select the optimum DNA extraction method in view of downstream molecular analyses, this article presents a straightforward mathematical framework for comparing some of the most commonly used methods. Four commercial DNA extraction kits and two physical-chemical methods (bead-beating and freeze-thaw) were compared for the extraction of DNA under several quantitative DNA analysis criteria: yield of extraction, purity of extracted DNA (A260/280 and A260/230 ratios), degradation degree of DNA, easiness of PCR amplification, duration of extraction, and cost per extraction. From a practical point of view, it is unlikely that a single DNA extraction strategy can be optimum for all selected criteria. Hence, a systematic Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was employed to compare the methods. The PowerSoil? DNA Isolation Kit was systematically defined as the best performing method for extracting DNA from soil samples. More specifically, for soil:manure and soil:manure:biochar mixtures, the PowerSoil?DNA Isolation Kit method performed best, while for neat soil samples its alternative version gained the first rank.

Dual worth trade-off method and its application for solving multiple criteria decision making problems

To overcome the limitations of the traditional surrogate worth trade-off （SWT） method and solve the multiple criteria decision making problem more efficiently and interactively, a new method labeled dual worth tradeoff （DWT） method is proposed. The DWT method dynamically uses the duality theory related to the multiple criteria decision making problem and analytic hierarchy process technique to obtain the decision maker＇s solution preference information and finally find the satisfactory compromise solution of the decision maker. Through the interactive process between the analyst and the decision maker, trade-off information is solicited and treated properly, the representative subset of efficient solutions and the satisfactory solution to the problem are found. The implementation procedure for the DWT method is presented. The effectiveness and applicability of the DWT method are shown by a practical case study in the field of production scheduling.

Software Selection in Manufacturing Industries Using a Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision Making Method, PROMETHEE

This paper presents an effective decision making framework for software selection in manufacturing industries using a multiple criteria decision making method, Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE). The method is improved in the present work by integrating with analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic is introduced to handle the imprecision of the human decision making process. The proposed decision making framework is practical for ranking competing software products in terms of their overall performance with respect to multiple criteria. An example is included to illustrate the approach.

Extension of Paraconsistent Many-Valued Similarity Method to Group Decision

The Paraconsistent Many-Valued Similarity (PMVS) method for multi-attribute decision making will be incomplete as a decision model if it is not extended to the realm of group decision-making. Therefore, in this article, our primary objective is to show how the paraconsistent many-valued similarity method can be used to solve group decision-making problems involving choice making or ranking of a finite set of decision alternatives. Moreover, since weights are very important parameters in multi-attribute decision-making, we have introduced the Borda rule to calculate the weights of experts and that of every criterion under consideration. To demonstrate how the proposed method works, a numerical example on energy sources of an economy from the points of view of a group of experts is investigated. Further, we compare the results of this new approach with that of fuzzy TOPSIS group decision-making method to illustrate the robustness and effectiveness of the former.

Decision Making in Sustainable Development: Some Methods to Evaluate Energy and Nonrenewable Resources Waste When Using Some Plastics

This paper explores a decision making model for a multidisciplinary problem in nature. This problem considers the role of energy use in sustainable development and the potential sources to increase energy efficiency during its whole life cycle;it also deals with multicriteria decision making of plastic materials used in a day to day basis. Exergy analysis of plastic materials used to the manufacture of disposable polyethylene bags comparing them with other materials that can be used for substitution will be important to take decisions. We are also interested in plastic poly (ethylene Terephthalate or PET) bottles. The calculation of the incoming and outgoing Exergy flows during the production processes are carried out. The Exergy loss considering the sustainability concept, Green House Gases emissions, real energy flows needed to the chain of processes, material balances in the productions chains and value added, are presented as a set of criteria to make decisions of alternative materials including the actual ones. A case study for Mexico’s market will be developed in order to prove the methodology. It offers some interesting data about consumption and production of bags and bottles.

Ontological Foundation of Ecosystem Services and the Human Dimension of Agroecosystems

The purpose of this contribution is to lay down a preparatory groundwork for an ontology of ecosystem services in the setting of agroecosystems viewed as social-ecological systems. This ontology aims at defining a set of representational primitives with which to model agroecosystems, through the prism of ecosystem service flows to and from agriculture. It helps delineate between biophysical structures, processes, functions, and ecosystem services. On the human side of agroecosystems, the ontology includes a conceptualization of the behaviors that govern the management of ecosystem services at different levels. It strengthens the existing analytic basis of multidisciplinary research on ecosystem services in agroecosystems by prompting modelers to stick to a homogeneous dynamic-system decomposition of the target agroecosystem. Most importantly, it provides the conceptual link between biophysical research on ecosystem services and equally important considerations on cognitive and social aspects involved in agricultural and landscape-level decisions that aim at implementing agroecological principles.

Necessary Conditions and Situational Variables of Payments for Ecosystem Services

Clarifying the necessary conditions for the emergence of payments for ecosystem services (PES) and the situational variables that affect PES is the basis for their interpretation, prediction, and selection. This article proposes an analytical framework for the emergence of PES and argues that the key to determining whether PES can occur and whether a selected PES program is appropriate is to evaluate the net gain. When payers anticipate that a PES program will provide a satisfactory number of ES and a net gain over the opportunity cost and will cover all costs, it is assumed that the program will be implemented. When it is difficult to accurately evaluate the net gain of PES, the situational variables that affect the costs and benefits need to be examined. The group characteristics, ES characteristics, spatial and temporal contacts between the suppliers and demanders, correlation with private goods and additionality are important situational variables that affect the emergence and choice of PES.

A Quantity Model for Controlling and Measuring Software Quality Based on the Expert Decision-Making Algorithm

Researchers have been active in the field of software engineering measurement over more than 30 years. The software quality product is becoming increasingly important in the computerized society. Target setting in software quality function and usability deployment are essential since they are directly related to development of high quality products with high customer satisfaction. Software quality can be measured as the degree to which a particular software program complies with consumer demand regarding function and characteristics. Target setting is usually subjective in practice, which is unscientific. Therefore, this study proposes a quantity model for controlling and measuring software quality via the expert decision-making algorithm-based method for constructing an evaluation method can provide software in relation to users and purchasers, thus enabling administrators or decision makers to identify the most appropriate software quality. Importantly, the proposed model can provide s users and purchasers a reference material, making it highly applicable for academic and government purposes.

Decision-Making Model of Public Service Facility Configuration in Multi-agent Communities and Its Application

The decision-making process of the public service facility configuration in multi-agent community is usually simplistic and static.In order to reflect dynamic changes and interactions of all behavior subjects including of residents,real estate developers and the government,a decision-making model of public service facility configuration according to the multi-agent theory was made to improve the efficiency of the public service facility configuration in community and the living quality of residents.Taking a community to the east of Jinhui Port in Fengxian District in Shanghai for example,the model analyzed the decision-makers' adaptive behaviors and simulated the decision-making criteria.The results indicate that the decision-making model and criteria can be well of satisfying the purpose of improving validity and rationality of public service facility configuration in large community.

水利工程施工的IT2FS-MARCOS风险评价

为解决专家决策的主观性造成的风险评价不确定性和不同风险参数权重下考虑多种风险因子评价问题,这里提出一种基于IT2FS-MARCOS法的水利工程施工风险评价方法。首先确定水利工程施工风险指标评估体系,运用最优最劣法(BWM)融合基于层间相关性的客观赋权法(CRITIC)的组合赋权法对各风险参数的权重进行分析;然后引入区间2型模糊集(IT2FS)改进多准则决策中的基于折衷方案的备选方案排序法(MARCOS)计算各风险因素的效用函数值,基于效用函数值进行风险因素分析和评价。结合工程实例应用,表明:地质、天气条件和作业计划安排等风险因素危险程度较高,其中地质条件对该施工项目安全威胁最大,为水利工程施工需重点管理的风险因子。该模型的特点是不仅考虑了专家评价的模糊性,而且采用多准则决策方法避免对风险参数简单加权,与优劣解距离法(TOPSIS)相比,本方法与工程实际符合得更好,有望为处理水利工程不确定信息下的风险评价提供一种新的思路。

毕达哥拉斯犹豫模糊集多属性决策研究

针对属性间相互关联,评价信息为毕达哥拉斯犹豫模糊信息的多属性决策问题,首先通过研究犹豫度对决策结果的影响,提出一种新的毕达哥拉斯犹豫模糊集得分函数,解决了现有得分函数中存在的不足。其次,提出一种最小公倍数规范化原则,解决了现有方法容易引入误差的缺陷。最后,针对属性关联的多属性决策问题,基于λ-模糊测度与Choquet积分,提出了一种拓展交互式多准则决策(interative multi-criteria decision-making,TODIM)方法,既解决了属性关联的问题,又通过前景理论反映了决策者的心理行为特征。实例分析与敏感性分析验证了所提算法的正确性与有效性。

基于社交媒体的学者影响力评价模型构建与实证研究

文章以中美两国图情领域学者为研究对象,构建指标体系并运用熵权法和TOPSIS法搭建基于社交媒体的学者影响力评价模型,量化学者在非正式科学交流的影响力,进而有针对性地补充现有人才评价的不足之处,提高科学交流效率。模型结果与学者h指数相关性分析结果显示:两国学者都为正相关,中国学者为中度相关,美国学者为弱相关;学者影响力评价结果比学者h指数更有区分度。基于社交媒体的学者影响力评价模型具有一定的科学性与可操作性,拓展了评价指标数据的来源,能够体现学者在非正式交流途径中的影响力。

Integration of Decision－Support and Knowledge－Based Techniques in a Problem－Solving Strategy for Sel

The limitations of traditional approaches to selection problems are examined. A problemsolving strategy is presented in which decision-support and knowledge-based techniques play complementary roles. An approach to the representation of knowledge to support the problem-solving strategy is presented which avoids commitment to a specific programming language or implementation environment. The problem of choosing a home is used to illustrate the representation of knowledge in a specific problem domain. Techniques for implementation of the problem-solving strategy are described. Knowledge elicitation techniques and their implementation in a development shell for application of the problem-solving strategy to any selection problem are also described.

Consensus-reaching methods for hesitant fuzzy multiple criteria group decision making with hesitant fuzzy decision making matrices

群决策在管理决策和经济领域有着重要作用。本文建立了两种关于犹豫模糊多准则群共识决策的方法,并使用犹豫模糊决策矩阵(hesitant fuzzy decision matrices,HFDMs)表示专家的偏好。本文建立了两个新颖的、可应用于不同群决策环境的共识模型,其中共识决策过程包括:共识检验过程,共识达成过程和选择过程。专家以犹豫模糊集的方式表达自己的选择,然后通过集成算子计算每个准则下的犹豫模糊集。此外,基于两个专家在决策之间的偏差计算出任意两个犹豫模糊集之间的距离。本文建立了两种达成共识的方法,并提出了两种犹豫模糊多准则群决策方法的具体计算步骤。最后通过具体案例分析了苹果公司以旧换新的决策过程。该案例旨在让所有专家在进行选择决策之前达成高度共识,避免一些专家的偏好值过高或过低。通过共识测量修正的偏好信息可令决策结果更加合理。

MULTIPLE CRITERIA DECISION MAKING： DISCORDANT PREFERENCES AND PROBLEM DESCRIPTION

There are many practical decision problems where decision makers＇ preferences may be inconsistent and contradictory. In this paper, new methods for ordering and classifying multi-attribute objects by discordant collective preferences are suggested. These methods are based on the theory of multiset metric spaces. The proposed techniques are applied to ranking companies and a competitive selection of projects, which are estimated by several experts upon multiple qualitative criteria.

Dynamic multiple criteria group decision-making method based on intuitionistic fuzzy information

In the decision-making process,the decision information provided by decision makers over alter-natives may take the form of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers and come from different periods.The weight of information on decision makers,criteria,periods is usually completely unknown.To this issue,we first utilise hesitation degree information and introduce the concept of confi-dence degree function to determine the decision maker’s weights.Then we aggregate individual evaluation information into group evaluation information through intuitionistic fuzzy number weighted arithmetic averaging operator.We construct a nonlinear optimisation model to gain the criterion weights and apply the aggregate operator to gain the integrated rating value of alternatives in different periods,calculating the deviations of the integrated rating values with respect to their average.Then the period weights are been obtained by using the entropy method.According to the closeness coefficient between alternatives and ideal solution to sort the alternatives and select the optimal one.

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。

我国生态产品价值核算的研究进展、问题与展望

生态产品价值核算是践行“绿水青山就是金山银山”理念的关键路径,是促进生态产品价值实现的重要基础性工作.近年来,相关学者和科研机构围绕生态产品价值核算的基础理论、技术方法与成果应用开展了大量研究,生态产品价值核算逐渐成为生态经济学研究的热点和难点.为系统梳理我国生态产品价值核算的研究进展,识别核算过程中存在的问题与不足,本文采用文献分析与系统归纳的方法,总结了生态产品价值核算的发展历程,解读了国家对相关工作的部署安排与地方实践进展,识别了生态产品价值核算在核算范围与技术方法等方面存在的问题.本研究将生态产品价值核算发展历程划分为科学探索、实践推进和深化铺开3个阶段;发现了我国在当前研究中普遍将生态产品价值等同于生态系统生产总值(GEP)和生态系统服务价值的现象;明确了生态产品价值在当前无法被精确核算且核算结果不具有实际经济意义的现状.针对生态产品价值核算科目与范围不一致、实物量评估方法不确定性大以及价值量定价机制主观性强等问题,研究指出,生态产品价值核算的发展是一个长期和近期相结合的过程,应当像GDP一样核算GEP,下一步地方推进工作建议从完善基础理论框架、建立统计核算技术、形成地方业务能力和推进核算成果应用等方面持续发力,为建立健全生态产品价值实现机制提供理论和技术支撑.