A Comprehensive Overview of the ELECTRE Method in Multi-Criteria Decision-Making

The ELECTRE(ELimination Et Choix Traduisant la REalite)method has gained widespread recognition as one of the most effective multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)methods.Its versatility allows it to be applied in a wide range of areas such as engineering,economics,business,environmental management and many others.This paper aims to provide an overview of the ELECTRE method,including its fundamental concepts,applications,advantages,and limitations.At its core,the ELECTRE method is an outranking family of MCDM techniques,which allows for the direct comparison of alternatives based on a set of criteria.The method takes into account the preferences and importance of decision-makers and generates a ranking of the alternatives based on their relative strengths and weaknesses.The ELECTRE method is a powerful tool for decision-making,and its applicability to a wide range of fields demonstrates its versatility and adaptability.By understanding its concepts,applications,merits,and demerits,decision-makers can use the ELECTRE method to make informed and effective decisions in a variety of contexts.

VIKOR Method-An Effective Compromising Ranking Technique for Decision Making

The VIKOR(VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje)method,which is a multi-criteria decision-making method,is examined in this paper.The VIKOR method,like other MCDM techniques such as the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS),is widely used to solve complex decision-making problems in various fields such as engineering,management,and finance.This paper provides an overview of the VIKOR method,including its application areas,advantages,and disadvantages.Besides,in this survey paper,the process steps of the VIKOR method are described,including determining the decision matrix,normalizing the matrix,determining the weights of the criteria,calculating the utility and regret values,calculating the VIKOR index,and finally ranking the alternatives.By providing an overview of the VIKOR method and its process steps,this paper aims to provide a better understanding of the method and its potential application in different decision-making contexts.

Using the Method of Maximizing Deviation to Make Decision for M ultiindices

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Light-Weighted Decision Support Framework for Selecting Cloud Service Providers

Multi-criteria decision making(MCDM)is a technique used to achieve better outcomes for some complex business-related problems,whereby the selection of the best alternative can be made in as many cases as possible.This paper proposes a model,the multi-criteria decision support method,that allows both service providers and consumers to maximize their profits while preserving the best matching process for resource allocation and task scheduling.The increasing number of service providers with different service provision capabilities creates an issue for consumers seeking to select the best service provider.Each consumer seeks a service provider based on various preferences,such as price,service quality,and time to complete the tasks.In the literature,the problem is viewed from different perspectives,such as investigating how to enhance task scheduling and the resource allocation process,improve consumers’trust,and deal with network problems.This paper offers a novel model that considers the preferences of both service providers and consumers to find the best available service provider for each consumer.First,the model adopts the best-worst method(BWM)to gather and prioritize tasks based on consumers’and service providers’preferences.Then,the model calculates and matches similarities between the sets of tasks from the consumer’s side with the sets of tasks from the provider’s side to select the best service provider for each consumer using the two proposed algorithms.The complexity of the two algorithms is found to be O(n3).

Study on Decision Method of Neutral Point Grounding Mode for Medium-Voltage Distribution Network

The neutral grounding mode of medium-voltage distribution network decides the reliability, overvoltage, relay protection and electrical safety. Therefore, a comprehensive consideration of the reliability, safety and economy is particularly important for the decision of neutral grounding mode. This paper proposes a new decision method of neutral point grounding mode for mediumvoltage distribution network. The objective function is constructed for the decision according the life cycle cost. The reliability of the neutral point grounding mode is taken into account through treating the outage cost as an operating cost. The safety condition of the neutral point grounding mode is preserved as the constraint condition of decision models, so the decision method can generate the most economical and reliable scheme of neutral point grounding mode within a safe limit. The example is used to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the decision method.

Utilizing comprehensive decision analysis methods to determine an optimal planting pattern and nitrogen application for winter oilseed rape

Oilseed rape is one of the most important oil crops globally.Attaining the appropriate cultivation method(planting pattern and nitrogen level)is necessary to achieve high yield,quality and resource utilization efficiency.However,the optimal method for oilseed rape varies across countries and regions.The objective of the present study was to determine an appropriate cultivation method,including planting pattern and nitrogen application,for winter oilseed rape in northwestern China.Two planting patterns:ridge film mulching and furrow planting(RFMF)and flat planting(FP),and six nitrogen(N)amounts:0(N0),60(N60),120(N120),180(N180),240(N240),and 300(N300)kg N ha–1 were applied across three growing seasons(2014–2017).Three comprehensive decision analysis methods:principal component analysis,grey correlation degree analysis and the combined entropy weight and dynamic technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution method were used to evaluate the growth and physiological indicators,nutrient uptake,yield,quality,evapotranspiration,and water use efficiency of winter oilseed rape.Planting pattern,nitrogen amount and their interaction significantly affected the indicators aforementioned.The RFMF pattern significantly increased all indicators over the FP pattern.Application of N also markedly increased all the indicators except for seed oil content,but the yield,oil production and water use efficiency were decreased when N fertilizer exceeded 180 kg N ha–1 under FP and 240 kg N ha–1 under RFFM.The evaluation results of the three comprehensive decision analysis methods indicated that RFMF planting pattern with 240 kg N ha–1 is an appropriate cultivation method for winter oilseed rape in northwestern China.These findings are of vital significance to maximize yield,optimize quality and improve resource use efficiencies of winter oilseed rape.

Maximizing deviation method for multiple attribute decision making under q-rung orthopair fuzzy environment

Because of the uncertainty and subjectivity of decision makers in the complex decision-making environment,the evaluation information of alternatives given by decision makers is often fuzzy and uncertain.As a generalization of intuitionistic fuzzy set(IFSs)and Pythagoras fuzzy set(PFSs),q-rung orthopair fuzzy set(q-ROFS)is more suitable for expressing fuzzy and uncertain information.But,in actual multiple attribute decision making(MADM)problems,the weights of DMs and attributes are always completely unknown or partly known,to date,the maximizing deviation method is a good tool to deal with such issues.Thus,combine the q-ROFS and conventional maximizing deviation method,we will study the maximizing deviation method under q-ROFSs and q-RIVOFSs in this paper.Firstly,we briefly introduce the basic concept of q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets(q-ROFSs)and q-rung interval-valued orthopair fuzzy sets(q-RIVOFSs).Then,combine the maximizing deviation method with q-rung orthopair fuzzy information,we establish two new decision making models.On this basis,the proposed models are applied to MADM problems with q-rung orthopair fuzzy information.Compared with existing methods,the effectiveness and superiority of the new model are analyzed.This method can effectively solve the MADM problem whose decision information is represented by q-rung orthopair fuzzy numbers(q-ROFNs)and whose attributes are incomplete.

A decision tree based decomposition method for oil refinery scheduling

Refinery scheduling attracts increasing concerns in both academic and industrial communities in recent years.However, due to the complexity of refinery processes, little has been reported for success use in real world refineries. In academic studies, refinery scheduling is usually treated as an integrated, large-scale optimization problem,though such complex optimization problems are extremely difficult to solve. In this paper, we proposed a way to exploit the prior knowledge existing in refineries, and developed a decision making system to guide the scheduling process. For a real world fuel oil oriented refinery, ten adjusting process scales are predetermined. A C4.5 decision tree works based on the finished oil demand plan to classify the corresponding category(i.e. adjusting scale). Then,a specific sub-scheduling problem with respect to the determined adjusting scale is solved. The proposed strategy is demonstrated with a scheduling case originated from a real world refinery.

Kind of Fuzzy Method Determining Index Weight on Multi-Objctive Decision Making

Based on fuzzy characteristic of dicision-making thought, matrix of priority relation has been introduced and blurrized. A kind of fuzzy method, which is to determine the index weight on multi-objective decision making, has been put forward by means of the sequence root method for analysis of hierarchical process (AHP). Using this method an example which is to define the index weigbt on multi-objective decision making in thc scheme optimization of mine design has been given.

A Simple Additive Weighting Method for Time-SeriesMultiindices Decision Making and Its Applications

This paper takes the evaluation of overall economic benefit by an example and proposes a simple additive weighting method for time-series multiindices decision making. The method can automatically determine the weight coefficients among the multiindices and the years respectively and it also can obtain the objective evaluation results and conclusions.

Response surface method using grey relational analysis for decision making in weapon system selection

A proper weapon system is very important for a national defense system. Generally, it means selecting the optimal weapon system among many alternatives, which is a multipleattribute decision making(MADM) problem. This paper proposes a new mathematical model based on the response surface method(RSM) and the grey relational analysis(GRA). RSM is used to obtain the experimental points and analyze the factors that have a significant impact on the selection results. GRA is used to analyze the trend relationship between alternatives and reference series. And then an RSM model is obtained, which can be used to calculate all alternatives and obtain ranking results. A real world application is introduced to illustrate the utilization of the model for the weapon selection problem. The results show that this model can be used to help decision-makers to make a quick comparison of alternatives and select a proper weapon system from multiple alternatives, which is an effective and adaptable method for solving the weapon system selection problem.

Research and Application of Maintenance Decision Method of Complex Equipment in Nuclear Power Plant

The determination of maintenance mode of complex equipment in nuclear power plant is an essential work for reliability analysis and maintenance decision. Currently, the main decision method of maintenance mode is reliability centered maintenance( RCM) logic decision-making process, but the process is a qualitative analysis process. Based on a comprehensive analysis of factors affecting equipment reliability and maintenance work, it adopts a fuzzy synthesis decision method to establish a maintenance decision model,which uses the maximum subordination principle and expert assessment method to determine the maintenance mode of complex equipment. Combined with a concrete example of generators in nuclear power plant,a description of maintenance decision method was proposed in the application of complex equipment. The research shows that the method is feasible and reliable.

Multi-attributed decision making for mining methods based on grey system and interval numbers

In the case of unknown weights, theories of multi-attributed decision making based on interval numbers and grey related analysis were used to optimize mining methods. As the representative of independence for the indicator, the smaller the correlation of indicators is, the greater the weight is. Hence, the weights of interval numbers of indicators were determined by using correlation coefficient. Relative closeness based on positive and negative ideal methods was calculated by introducing distance between interval numbers, which made decision making more rational and comprehensive. A new method of ranking interval numbers based on normal distribution was proposed for the optimization of mining methods, whose basic properties were discussed. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of this method were verified by theories and practice.

Automatic Sleep Spindle Detection with EEG Based on Complex Demodulation Method and Decision Tree Model

Sleep spindle is the characteristic waveform of electroencephalogram (EEG) which is important for clinical diagnosis. In this study, an automatic sleep spindle detection method was developed. The EEG signals were recorded based on the standard polysomnogram (PSG) measurement. A preprocessing procedure is introduced to exclude the unnecessary data segments and normalized the necessary data segments. Complex demodulation method is adopted to detect the candidate sleep spindle waveforms and calculate the features. The sleep spindles are recognized based on a decision tree model. Finally, the detected sleep spindles were utilized to amend the sleep stage recognition results. The sleep EEG data from 3 patients with sleep disorders were analyzed. The obtained results showed that the detected sleep spindles in EEG signal improved the accuracy of sleep stage recognition.

A multi-criteria decision-making approach for comparing sample preservation and DNA extraction methods from swine feces

Molecular microbiological methods, such as competetive PCR, real-time PCR, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and large-scale parallel-pyrosequencing, require the extraction of sufficient quantity of high quality DNA from microbiologically and chemically complex matrices. Due to difficulties in the field to standardize/select the optimum DNA preservation-extraction methods in view of laboratories differences, this article attempts to present a straight-forward mathematical framework for comparing some of the most commonly used methods. To this end, as a case study, the problem of selecting an optimum sample preservation-DNA extraction strategy for obtaining total bacterial DNA from swine feces was considered. Two sample preservation methods (liquid nitrogen and RNAlater?) and seven extraction techniques were paired and compared under six quantitative DNA analysis criteria: yield of extraction, purity of extracted DNA (A260/280 and A 260/230 ratios), duration of extraction, degradation degree of DNA, and cost. From a practical point of view, it is unlikely that a single sample preservation-DNA extraction strategy can be optimum for all selected criteria. Hence, a systematic multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was used to compare the methods. As a result, the ZR Fecal DNA MiniPrepTM DNA extraction kit for samples preserved either with liquid nitrogen or RNAlater? were identified as potential optimum solutions for obtaining total bacterial DNA from swine feces. Considering the need for practicality for in situ applications, we would recommend liquid nitrogen as sample preservation method, along with the ZR Fecal DNA MiniPrepTM kit. Total bacterial DNA obtained by this strategy can be suitable for downstream PCR-based DNA analyses of swine feces.

Dynamic programming methodology for multi-criteria group decision-making under ordinal preferences

A method of minimizing rankings inconsistency is proposed for a decision-making problem with rankings of alternatives given by multiple decision makers according to multiple criteria. For each criteria, at first, the total inconsistency between the rankings of all alternatives for the group and the ones for every decision maker is defined after the decision maker weights in respect to the criteria are considered. Similarly, the total inconsistency between their final rankings for the group and the ones under every criteria is determined after the criteria weights are taken into account. Then two nonlinear integer programming models minimizing respectively the two total inconsistencies above are developed and then transformed to two dynamic programming models to obtain separately the rankings of all alternatives for the group with respect to each criteria and their final rankings. A supplier selection case illustrated the proposed method, and some discussions on the results verified its effectiveness. This work develops a new measurement of ordinal preferences’ inconsistency in multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) and extends the cook-seiford social selection function to MCGDM considering weights of criteria and decision makers and can obtain unique ranking result.

Application of Fuzzy Optimization Method in Decision-Making for Personnel Selection

The paper describes the necessity of application of intelligent technologies to support decisions of more objective problems in human resource management. In this paper, we describe the methodology for personnel selection problem for the vacancy with regard to the importance and nonequivalence of numerous indicators characterizing the alternatives. The specific features of the selection problem are highlighted, immersing the problem into a fuzzy environment. A fuzzy multicriterial model of the personnel selection problem is proposed. A technique of order preference by similarity to ideal solition (TOPSIS), was applied for evaluation and regulation of alternatives. This technique is based on criteria of qualitative character, which are hierarchically structured by multiple experts to intellectually support decisions made in personnel selection problem. Using TOPSIS method and generated criteria system an experiment was conducted for evaluation of the candidates during solution of hiring problems. The obtained and reviewed results were compared with results obtained using in reality.

An entropy-based multi-criterion group decision analysis method of selecting the optimum weak-subgrade treatment

Proper treatment of weak subgrade soil is very important to building a highway of good quality. We proposed an entropy-based multi-criterion group decision analysis method for a group of experts to evaluate alternatives of weak subgrade treatment,with an aim to select the optimum technique which is technically,economically and socially viable. We used fuzzy theory to analyze multiple experts' evaluation on various factors of each alterative treatment. Different experts' evaluations are integrated by the group eigenvalue method. An entropy weight is introduced to minimize the negative influences of subjective human factors of experts. The optimum alternative is identified with ideal point discriminant analysis to calculate the distance of each alternative to the ideal point and prioritize all alternatives according to their distances. A case study on a section of the Shiman Expressway verified that the proposed method can give a rational decision on the optimum method of weak subgrade treatment.