This research compares three approaches to land suitability evaluation, Boolean, Fuzzy AHP and Ideal Point, for barley, wheat and maize crops in the north-western region of Jeffara Plain in Libya. A number of soil and landscape criteria were identified to accommodate the three cash crops under irrigation conditions and their weights specified as a result of discussions with local experts. The findings emphasised that soil factors represented the most sensitive criteria affecting all the crops considered. In contrast, erosion and slope were found to be less important in the study area. Using Boolean logic the results indicated only four suitability classes (highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and currently not suitable) for all crops. In contrast, the results obtained by adopting the Fuzzy AHP and Ideal Point approaches revealed that the area of study has a greater degree of subdivision in land suitability classes. Overall, the results of the three approaches indicated that the area under consideration has a good potential to produce barley, wheat and maize under irrigation provided that the water and drainage requirements are met. Comparing the three models showed that each suitability class derived from the Boolean approach is associated with low and high values for joint membership functions when derived from Fuzzy AHP and Ideal Point approaches respectively. In other words, the two fuzzy approaches have shown their ability to explore the uncertainties associated with describing the land properties. The richer overall picture provides an alternative type of land suitability evaluation to Boolean approaches and allows subtle variations in land suitability to be explored. The Fuzzy AHP approach was found to be better than the Ideal Point approach; the latter was biased towards positive and negative ideal values. In the future, field trial plots will be needed to evaluate and validate the results further.

Investors, stock exchanges and financial regulatory institutions can be used as strong levers for making firms accountable for achieving sustainable operational performance and not just maximizing profits. The objective of this research study is to enhance the quantitative tools available to stakeholders for evaluating relative operational performance of firms, thereby encouraging the financial investors to base their portfolio investment decisions on the basis of sustainable operational performance of firms. The study reviews the existing literature on evaluating relative operational performance of firms on sustainability metrics and proposes multi-level multi criteria decision making (MCDM) quantitative methods for measuring the same. The research work demonstrates the research framework proposed in the study by evaluating the 2014 Sustainable Operational Performance of firms in the oil & gas sector. The reason for choosing the oil & gas sector for this case study is in view of the relative large ecological and social impact which this industry has on different stakeholders. Due to the same reasons, the oil & gas sector is a bit more advanced in terms of its sustainability performance reporting standards. The review of past literature and the sustainability reports of firms for the year 2014 is initially used to develop the construct for measuring the firm operational performance on three pillars of TBL i.e. for the ecological, social and economic dimensions. / February 2017

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) represents one of the core research streams in the field of operations research (OR). Altough numerous sound MCDM methods for various kind of applications exist, the application of such methods in the practical field is found rarely. The reason for this gap between scientific development and practical acceptance can be found in two distinct points: On the one hand, MCDM methods naturally tend to build on rather complex mathematical foundations. Decision makers (DMs) in practice are mostly experts in their area of expertise but do not necessarily have solid education or experience with high-level mathematical methods. Thus, in order to not alienate DMs in practice, academic research has to translate mathematically challenging models into easy-to-use, self-explaining tools that can effectively support real-life decision scenarios. On the other hand, academic research in MCDM often ends in the proposal of a theoretical model, that may be sound and promising, but never leaves the field of academics due to its theoretical nature. Therefore, the underlying dissertation investigates on the usage of MCDM methods for integration in a decision support system (DSS), implemented as a sofware that is easy to distribute and applicable to decision problems in practice. This study tries to mitigate the lack of MCDM acceptance by analysing MCDM methods according to their applicability, pointing out possible improvements and validating proposed advancements. (author's abstract)

The final disposal location for used nuclear fuel in the U.S. remains unresolved. A major complication in resolving this issue has historically been the lack of public acceptance. This motivates the creation of a decision making model for selecting a nuclear fuel cycle in the U.S. that incorporates the preferences of the public. A model based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was created, tested, and shown to be problematic in incorporating public opinion into decision objectives. A new model based on Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) has been created. This model contains the fundamental objectives for both technical and non-technical factors in both the short and long term for the decision. Additionally, the relevant subject matter experts involved in a nuclear fuel cycle selection are evaluated based on the public's perception of their qualifications, and environmental scientists are found to be considered equally as qualified as nuclear engineers and scientists.

Data Envelopment Analysis is a multi-criteria decision making tool employing set of minimizing criteria (inputs) and set of maximizing criteria (outputs) for evaluating decision making unit efficiency. This method is accompanied by problems in field of input and output weight assignment, whereas benevolent basic model formulation enables decision making unit evaluation to be based on far unevenly distributed weight vector. Furthermore, data envelopment analysis basic model produces dichotomized dividing in form of efficient and inefficient decision making unit sets. Extensive set of efficient units occurs frequently and this causes difficulties in choosing one or less number efficient units. These phenomena appear often simultaneously. An implementation of multi-criteria decision making models into data envelopment analysis is exercised in order to reduce these undesired effects in applications.

[pt] A abordagem multicritério é empregada no contexto de avaliação de modelos geradores de cenários sintéticos, tendo como objetivo ordená-los em relação ao desempenho global do ponto de vista estocástico. Ao longo dos últimos anos, têm sido desenvolvidos modelos alternativos de geração de cenários para utilização no planejamento energético da operação hidrotérmica de médio prazo. Esses estudos são motivados pela necessidade contínua de se investigar melhorias na modelagem vigente. A proposta de desenvolvimento de um índice capaz de ordenar diversos modelos surgiu da falta de uma avaliação categórica das modelagens que vinham sendo propostas no decurso dos anos. Tendo isso em vista utilizou-se o Processo de Análise Hierárquica, ou em inglês AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), com o intuito de auxiliar a escolha do melhor processo gerador de cenários. Essa abordagem gera pesos para cada um dos atributos selecionados e, a partir desses valores, ponderam-se as alternativas. O problema é estruturado de forma hierárquica em quatro níveis, sendo, em ordem decrescente: objetivo, critérios, subcritérios e alternativas. Os subcritérios selecionados são agrupados em critérios que representam testes escolhidos para avaliar os modelos em julgamento (alternativas). O processo de geração de pesos foi feito através de consulta aos especialistas do setor elétrico (ONS, EPE, CEPEL, PSR, entre outros), buscando gerar os melhores resultados possíveis e expandir a aplicabilidade da modelagem. Com o objetivo de auxiliar o tomador de decisão, a abordagem proposta mostrou-se eficiente ao ordenar os modelos e indicar, através de análises de sensibilidade dos atributos, a volatilidade das alternativas. / [en] Multicriteria approach is deployed in the context of evaluation of synthetic scenarios generating models, having as its purpose to order them concerning the overall performance in the stochastic point of view. Alternative scenarios generating models are being developed through the years to be used in medium-term hydrothermal operation energy planning. These studies are motivated by the ongoing necessity of investigating improvements in the current pattern. The development proposal of an index capable of sorting several models has come from the lack of a categorical evaluation on patterns, which have been proposed in the course of years. Taking it into consideration, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been used in order to assist the adoption of the best scenarios generating process. This approach creates weights for each one of the selected attributes and, starting from these values, alternatives are pondered. The problem is hierarchically structured in four levels, which, in descending order are: objective, criteria, subcriteria and alternatives. The selected subcriteria are grouped in criteria which represent statistical tests chosen to assess the models that are being judged (alternatives). The weights generation process was held through consulting Brazilian electrical sector specialists [National Operator of the Electrical System (ONS), Public Company of Energy Research (EPE), Research Center of Electric Power (CEPEL), PSR, among others], aiming at producing the best achievable results and at expanding the applicability of the pattern. Excelling the support to the decision maker, the suggested approach has shown efficient at ordering the models and indicating, through attributes sensitivity analysis, the volatility of the alternatives.

This study aims to describe how a tool can be developed by assessing risk and cost within the supply chain of a company. By interviewing stakeholders of the chosen case company, and later analysing their answers with the help of a thematic analysis, we were able to isolate the risk criteria seen as significant. Quality, people, delivery, cost-variation, flexibility and information risk were then used in an AHP model, together with the addition of a cost criterion. By using the AHP methodology, we were able to establish the relation between risk and cost, the different risk criteria and the different product flows considered. The AHP resulted in a matrix which presents the internal relations which can be used as a tool when choosing between different product flows. The purpose of this tool is to help mitigate some of the uncertainties that can emerge when making decisions within the supply chain. The data used in this study is based on the input of the case company, the general application of the matrix have therefore not been tested. / Studien syftar till att beskriva hur ett verktyg kan utvecklas genom att risk och kostnad i ett företags logistikkedja tas i beaktning. Riskerna som behandlas i rapporten identifierades genom att intervjua nyckelpersoner inom det fallföretag som studien utgick ifrån. För att identifiera de risker som ansågs påverka valet av produktflöde, genomfördes en tematisk analys av intervjumaterialet där riskkriteriernas relativa frekvens uppmättes. Den tematiska analysen resulterade i en enkät där parvisa jämförelser mellan riskelement och produktflöden utfördes utefter en beslutshierarki som utarbetats. Resultatet från den tematiska analysen och enkäten visade att risker kopplade till, kvalité, kompetens, leverans, kostnadsvariationer, flexibilitet samt information skall ges en större vikt när produktflöden utvärderas relativt den kostnad som flödena ger upphov till. Resultatet har sammanställts i en matris, där förhoppningen är att matrisen skall hjälpa motverka en del av den osäkerhet som kan uppstå när produktflöden utvärderas. Matrisen i sig är framtagen med hjälp av fallföretaget och dess generella applicering har därför inte testats.

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-02-15T15:42:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Vagner Gerhardt Mâncio_.pdf: 2330651 bytes, checksum: 51d1129f6c7064f70ea101a75bca32d1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-15T15:42:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vagner Gerhardt Mâncio_.pdf: 2330651 bytes, checksum: 51d1129f6c7064f70ea101a75bca32d1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-07-03 / Nenhuma / A competição entre as empresas é cada vez mais um fator de sobrevivência, e a busca de diferenciais é o principal objetivo para que as empresas tornem-se destaques no mercado e se mantenham competitivas. Com o objetivo de contribuir para a evolução das empresas com variedade de produtos e uma taxa média de produção, desenvolveu-se esta pesquisa sobre a viabilidade de altos investimentos em automação e a criação de um método para a escolha de equipamentos a partir de uma visão estratégica, considerando as principais dimensões de competição: custo, qualidade, flexibilidade, entrega. A pesquisa delimita-se no campo de Sistemas Flexíveis de Manufatura – do inglês Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) –, cujas análises estratégicas e de equipamentos de automatização tenham características de sistemas flexíveis. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na metodologia de modelagem quali-quantitativa, na qual, através da modelagem dos cenários, puderam ser realizadas avaliações qualitativas e quantitativas; o Método de Análise Hierárquica – do inglês Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) – foi utilizado para determinar o cenário que melhor combina com a principal variável competitiva. Para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa, foram coletadas opiniões de especialistas de empresas sobre os pesos comparativos do método AHP e sobre os equipamentos de automação que fazem parte dos cenários criados. O cenário 1 possui layout escada com a movimentação dos materiais realizado por esteiras através de pallets, cuja manipulação é realizada por sistemas pneumáticos. O cenário 2 possui layout campo aberto com a movimentação dos materiais realizado por veículos guiados automaticamente – do inglês Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), capazes de abastecer e descarregar os equipamentos. O cenário 3 possui layout centrado no robô, com 3 robôs que se movimentam em uma esteira para abastecer e desabastecer os equipamentos. Foram propostos dois métodos de cálculo do mérito final dos cenários, e, para ambos, o melhor cenário foi o 3. Adicionalmente, concluiu-se que adotar o cenário 3 é melhor do que não fazer nada, ou seja, continuar com a instalação atual da célula estudada. / The competition between companies is increasingly a factor of survival, and the search for differential is the main objective for companies to become highlights in the market and remain competitive. In order to contribute to the development of companies with a variety of products and an average rate of production, this research was carried out on the feasibility of large investments in automation and the creation of a method for choosing equipment from a vision strategic, considering the main dimensions of competition: cost, quality, flexibility, delivery. The research is delimited in the Flexible Manufacturing Systems field (FMS) whose strategic analysis and automation equipment have flexible systems characteristics. The research was conducted in the qualitative and quantitative modeling methodology, in which, through the modeling of scenarios, could be carried out qualitative and quantitative assessments; the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to determine the setting that best suits the key competitive variable. For the development of research, business expert opinions were collected on the comparative weights of AHP and on the automation equipment that are part of the created scenarios. Scenario 1 has ladder layout with the movement of the materials carried by pallets through mats, in which the handling of materials is achieved by pneumatic systems. Scenario 2 has the open layout with the movement of materials held by Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV), able to supply and unloading equipment. Scenario 3 has focused on the layout robot, in which there are three robots, moving on a conveyor and load and unload the equipment. Two methods of calculating the final merit of the scenarios were proposed. By both methods, the best scenario was the 3. Additionally, the conclusion is that adopting the scenario 3 is better than doing nothing, that is, continue with the current installation of cell studied.

O presente trabalho propõe sistemas para eliminar o efluente líquido (lixiviado) de um aterro sanitário a partir da combustão do efluente gasoso (biogás) gerado no mesmo local, caracterizando a integração energética dos dois efluentes. As gerações de biogás e lixiviado são referentes ao aterro de Guajuviras e são estimadas usando o modelo de IPCC, 2006 e o modelo de balanço hídrico respetivamente, estimando também suas incertezas de geração. Os resultados foram obtidos para a fase de operação e posteriormente de fechamento de um aterro real, com uma incerteza estimada de 50%. A integração energética dos efluentes é primeiramente verificada para situações de máxima eficiência por meio de balanços de massa e energia. Em sequencia, cinco propostas conceituais de sistemas são apresentadas, tendo em comum a completa eliminação do lixiviado a partir da energia do biogás. Os sistemas Combustor-Evaporador (CE) e Incinerador-Evaporador (IE) tem como produto apenas a evaporação do lixiviado, e consomem cerca de 30% do biogás disponível no aterro. Os sistemas Motor-Evaporador (ME), Combustor-Motor-Evaporador (CME) e Incinerador-Motor-Evaporador (IME) são montados com a finalidade de aproveitar o excedente de biogás, mantendo sempre a evaporação completa do lixiviado. O desempenho dos sistemas propostos é avaliado por meio de indicadores técnico-ambientais e financeiros ao longo de um período de vinte anos, e sua importância é ordenada usando elementos da análise hierárquica de processos (AHP). Todos os sistemas propostos indicam ser viáveis, destacando-se aqueles que produzem energia elétrica, que se mostraram mais atraentes do ponto de vista técnico-ambiental, porém com investimentos específicos altos. Os sistemas que promovem a eliminação do lixiviado e produzem eletricidade com o excedente de biogás (CME e IME) são os mais viáveis financeiramente, com payback de 7 e 8 anos, VPL na media de US $4.790.00 e TIR de 39% aproximadamente. A AHP indica que os sistemas baseados em cogeração têm pesos similares, variando só em 3% ao serem avaliados num viés ambiental. Da mesma forma, o cenário de viés financeiro apresentou uma pequena diferença entre os sistemas CME, IME e CE. / The present work proposes systems to carry out the thermal decommissioning of the liquid effluent (leachate) from a sanitary landfill through the combustion of the gas effluent (biogas) produced in the same place, characterizing the energy integration of the two effluents. The biogas and leachate productions refer to the Guajuviras landfill and are estimated using the IPCC model, 2006, and the water balance model respectively, their production uncertainties are also estimated. The results are obtained for the operation phase and afterwards for a former real landfill, with an estimated uncertainty of 50%. The energy integration of effluents is first verified for situations of maximum efficiency through mass and energy balances. In the sequence, five conceptual proposals of systems are presented, having in common the complete reduction of the leachate from the biogas energy. The simplest CE and CI systems have only the leachate evaporation, and consume about 30% of the biogas available in the landfill. The ME, CME and IME systems are set up to take advantage of the biogas surplus, always maintaining complete evaporation of the leachate. The performance of the proposed systems is evaluated through technical-environmental (PEB and PEL) and financial indicators (IES, NPV, TIR and PB) over a period of twenty years, and their importance is ordered using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). All proposed systems indicate that they are feasible, especially those that produce electricity, which have been more attractive from an environmental and technical point of view, but with high specific investments (IES). The systems that promote leachate abatement and produce electricity with biogas surplus (CME and EMI) are the most financially viable, with paybacks of 7 and 8 years, NPV average of US $ 4,790.00 and IRR of approximately 39%. The AHP indicates that the cogeneration-based systems have similar weights, varying only by 3% when evaluated in an environmental bias. Likewise, the financial bias scenario presented a small difference between the CME, EMI and EC systems.

Orientador: Sérgio Ricardo Lourenço / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Energia, 2013