The research applied multi-criteria decision-making analysis to donor decisions regarding the choice of a particular charity in order to identify which donor attitudes are significant in the giving decision. Factors affecting the appeal of major charities in Health and Disability were compared. The giving decision has not been widely researched overseas and particularly in New Zealand there is a need to do this in order to better manage Not-for-profit marketing resources. 24 factors associated with giving decisions were identified and quantified giving rise to a fully-specified giving model and potentially direct benefits to charitable organizations. The research has made a contribution to our understanding of donor choice determinants and giving models.

Continuous development has been occurring in the area of decision support systems. Modern systems focus on applying decision models that can provide intelligent support to the decision maker. These systems focus on modelling the human reasoning process in situations requiring decision. This task may be achieved by using an appropriate decision model. Multicriteria decision making (MCDM) is a common decision making approach. This research investigates and seeks a way to resolve various issues associated with the application of this model. MCDM is a formal and systematic decision making approach that evaluates a given set of alternatives against a given set of criteria. The global evaluation of alternatives is determined through the process of aggregation. It is well established that the aggregation process should consider the importance of criteria while determining the overall worth of an alternative. The importance of individual criteria and of sub-sets of the criteria affects the global evaluation. The aggregation also needs to consider the importance of the sub-set of criteria. Most decision problems involve dependent criteria and the interaction between the criteria needs to be modelled. Traditional aggregation approaches, such as weighted average, do not model the interaction between the criteria. Non-additive measures such as fuzzy measures model the interaction between the criteria. However, determination of non-additive measures in a practical application is problematic. Various approaches have been proposed to resolve the difficulty in acquisition of fuzzy measures. These approaches mainly propose use of past precedents. This research extends this notion and proposes an approach based on similarity-based reasoning. Solutions to the past problems can be used to solve the new decision problems. This is the central idea behind the proposed methodology. The methodology itself applies the theory of reasoning by analogy for solving MCDM problems. This methodology uses a repository of cases of past decision problems. This case base is used to determine the fuzzy measures for the new decision problem. This work also analyses various similarity measures. The illustration of the proposed methodology in a case-based decision support system shows that interactive models are suitable tools for determining fuzzy measures in a given decision problem. This research makes an important contribution by proposing a similarity-based approach for acquisition of fuzzy measures.

<p>This thesis was aimed at the development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) based model to support the Rwanda Land Use and Development Master Plan. Developing sustainable land management is the main task of this master plan. Stakeholder’s involvement was of key importance. Their demands should be analysed and visualised to support discussions and the decision-making process. Spatial Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is a proven method for land-use planning purposes. However, most land-use planning applications focus on a specific theme, such as urban development. In addition, land-use planning is often limited to a relatively small area. This thesis focused at the development of a countrywide GIS model, containing all land-uses accommodated in three main land-use categories: urban, agriculture and conservation. The GIS model was largely based on the Land-Use Conflict Identification Strategy (LUCIS) model. Many of the goals, objectives, and subobjectives that described the earlier mentioned land-use categories were adopted from the original model. However, a significant number of them were dropped, and new were created to suit the Rwandan situation. Stakeholder’s involvement was realized by assigning weights to the goals and preference maps. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used as weighting method. ESRI’s ArcGIS ModelBuilder was used to give the model shape in the GIS. Firstly, suitability maps were created of all elements in the model. The suitability maps were then transformed into preference maps by weighting them. In the next step the preference maps were collapsed in three classes: low, medium and high preference. Finally, the preference maps of the three land-use categories were combined, in order to visualize conflict areas. Ortho photos proved to be useful when acting as reference for the suitability and preference maps. Despite a large number of missing datasets, the GIS model was executed to simplify the understanding. However, many of the obtained results were unreliable because of the incompleteness of datasets, and can therefore not be used for decision-making.  Unfortunately, due to the stage of the project it was not possible to obtain weights from the stakeholders, and should therefore be done when the time is right. Right Choice DSS, a very user-friendly decision support application, was proposed to use for calculating weights. To conclude, the developed GIS model integrated countrywide land-use suitability mapping and stakeholders’ wishes that can be used for discussions and decision making.</p>

<p>There are a number of decision making problems in which Geographical Information System (GIS) has employed to organize and facilitate the procedure of analyzing the problem. These GIS-based decision problems which typically include a number of different criteria and alternatives are generally analyzed by Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA).Different locations within a geographical area represent the alternatives by which the overall goal of the project is achieved. The quality of achieving the goal is evaluated by a set of criteria which should be considered in the work. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) which is a powerful method of MCDA generally can organize spatial problems and decides which alternatives are most suitable for the defined problems. However due to some intrinsic uncertainty in the method, a number of authors suggest fuzzifying the method while others are against fuzzification of the AHP.</p><p>The debate over fuzzifying AHP is going on and attempt for finding that was mostly in theory, and little, if any; practical comparison between the AHP and fuzzified AHP has done. This work presents a practical comparison of AHP and fuzzy AHP in a GIS-based problem, case study, for locating a dam in Costa Rica, considering different criteria. In order to perform the AHP and fuzzy AHP in the GIS-based problem and calculating weights of the criteria by the methods, some computer codes have written and developed in MATLAB.</p><p>The comparisons between the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods are done on result weights and on the result final maps. The comparison between the weights is repeated on different levels of uncertainty in fuzzy AHP then all the results are compared with the result of AHP method. Also this study for checking the effect of fuzzification on results is suggested Chi-Square test as a suitable tool.</p><p>Comparisons between the resulting weights of the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods show some differences between the methods. Furthermore, the Chi-Square test shows that the higher level of uncertainty in the fuzzy AHP, the greater the difference in results between the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods.</p>

We study the problem of minimizing the maximum latency of flows in networks with congestion. We show that this problem is NP-hard, even when all arc latency functions are linear and there is a single source and sink. Still, one can prove that an optimal flow and an equilibrium flow share a desirable property in this situation: all flow-carrying paths have the same length; i.e., these solutions are "fair," which is in general not true for the optimal flow in networks with nonlinear latency functions. In addition, the maximum latency of the Nash equilibrium, which can be computed efficiently, is within a constant factor of that of an optimal solution. That is, the so-called price of anarchy is bounded. In contrast, we present a family of instances that shows that the price of anarchy is unbounded for instances with multiple sources and a single sink, even in networks with linear latencies. Finally, we show that an s-t-flow that is optimal with respect to the average latency objective is near optimal for the maximum latency objective, and it is close to being fair. Conversely, the average latency of a flow minimizing the maximum latency is also within a constant factor of that of a flow minimizing the average latenc

This study defines the optimum route planning for Electric Transmission Lines by Multicriteria Decision Analysis which is based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Determination of the optimum route is performed by using both the spatial and Euclidean distances between two points located on the Earth&rsquo / s surface. The criteria needed to be taken into account to define the route of the Electrical Transmission Lines were evaluated with help of the experts who are doing this business in the available system and for this study the decision about the usage of needed data such as landuse map, landuse capability map, geology map, road map, zone plan and digital elevation models is also made with their knowledge. A Matlab code, which computes the optimum distance between two transformers by using real distance (spatial distance) method and by considering materials mentioned above is written. The results are compared with the ones found from the Euclidian distance, which is the common distance finding method in the available commercial GIS softwares. The spatial resolution effect in finding the spatial distance is also analyzed. The routes obtained by two different distance computation methods are compared with the existing route. The economical expectations in finding the optimum route are also discussed.

This thesis was aimed at the development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) based model to support the Rwanda Land Use and Development Master Plan. Developing sustainable land management is the main task of this master plan. Stakeholder’s involvement was of key importance. Their demands should be analysed and visualised to support discussions and the decision-making process. Spatial Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is a proven method for land-use planning purposes. However, most land-use planning applications focus on a specific theme, such as urban development. In addition, land-use planning is often limited to a relatively small area. This thesis focused at the development of a countrywide GIS model, containing all land-uses accommodated in three main land-use categories: urban, agriculture and conservation. The GIS model was largely based on the Land-Use Conflict Identification Strategy (LUCIS) model. Many of the goals, objectives, and subobjectives that described the earlier mentioned land-use categories were adopted from the original model. However, a significant number of them were dropped, and new were created to suit the Rwandan situation. Stakeholder’s involvement was realized by assigning weights to the goals and preference maps. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used as weighting method. ESRI’s ArcGIS ModelBuilder was used to give the model shape in the GIS. Firstly, suitability maps were created of all elements in the model. The suitability maps were then transformed into preference maps by weighting them. In the next step the preference maps were collapsed in three classes: low, medium and high preference. Finally, the preference maps of the three land-use categories were combined, in order to visualize conflict areas. Ortho photos proved to be useful when acting as reference for the suitability and preference maps. Despite a large number of missing datasets, the GIS model was executed to simplify the understanding. However, many of the obtained results were unreliable because of the incompleteness of datasets, and can therefore not be used for decision-making.  Unfortunately, due to the stage of the project it was not possible to obtain weights from the stakeholders, and should therefore be done when the time is right. Right Choice DSS, a very user-friendly decision support application, was proposed to use for calculating weights. To conclude, the developed GIS model integrated countrywide land-use suitability mapping and stakeholders’ wishes that can be used for discussions and decision making.

There are a number of decision making problems in which Geographical Information System (GIS) has employed to organize and facilitate the procedure of analyzing the problem. These GIS-based decision problems which typically include a number of different criteria and alternatives are generally analyzed by Multicriteria Decision Analysis (MCDA).Different locations within a geographical area represent the alternatives by which the overall goal of the project is achieved. The quality of achieving the goal is evaluated by a set of criteria which should be considered in the work. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) which is a powerful method of MCDA generally can organize spatial problems and decides which alternatives are most suitable for the defined problems. However due to some intrinsic uncertainty in the method, a number of authors suggest fuzzifying the method while others are against fuzzification of the AHP. The debate over fuzzifying AHP is going on and attempt for finding that was mostly in theory, and little, if any; practical comparison between the AHP and fuzzified AHP has done. This work presents a practical comparison of AHP and fuzzy AHP in a GIS-based problem, case study, for locating a dam in Costa Rica, considering different criteria. In order to perform the AHP and fuzzy AHP in the GIS-based problem and calculating weights of the criteria by the methods, some computer codes have written and developed in MATLAB. The comparisons between the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods are done on result weights and on the result final maps. The comparison between the weights is repeated on different levels of uncertainty in fuzzy AHP then all the results are compared with the result of AHP method. Also this study for checking the effect of fuzzification on results is suggested Chi-Square test as a suitable tool. Comparisons between the resulting weights of the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods show some differences between the methods. Furthermore, the Chi-Square test shows that the higher level of uncertainty in the fuzzy AHP, the greater the difference in results between the AHP and fuzzy AHP methods.

The dissertation considers the problems, associated with passenger transportation by international trains (PTIT). The research object is the process of passenger transportation by international trains (PPTIT). By using the experimental methods, the significances (weights) and the order of preferences of the qualitative criteria, describing this process, are determined. The complex model, deve-loped by the author for multicriteria PTIT evaluation, allows for determining a single-valued quantitative criterion for evaluating a particular train travelling on a particular route. The main aim of the dissertation is to offer a methodology for evaluating the quality of passenger transportation by international trains (QPTIT). The dissertation consists of the Introduction, four chapters, the description of the obtained results, the list of references as well as the author’s publications on the topic of the thesis and 12 annexes. The Introduction briefly describes the research problem and object, the topicality of the work, its aim and objectives, and the applied research methods, as well as the novelty and practical value of the results obtained and the defended statements. Finally, the Introduction presents the list of the author’s publications and reports delivered at the conferences on the topic of the dissertation. Chapter 1 presents the analysis of the Lithuanian and EU standards and regulations, defining the quality of passenger transportation by rail. It also describes the... [to full text] / Disertacijoje nagrinėjamos tarptautinio keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais (TKVG) problemos. Pagrindinis darbo objektas – tarptautinio keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais procesas (TKVGP). Eksperimentiniais metodais nustatyti kelionės traukiniu kokybės kriterijų reikšmingumas ir šių kriterijų grupių svarba (pirmumas). Autorės suformuluotas TKVG kompleksinis daugiakriterinis vertinimo modelis leido nustatyti vieno traukinio, vykstančio tam tikru maršrutu, vienareikšmį kiekybinį rodiklį. Pagrindinis disertacijos tikslas – pateikti tarptautinio keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais (kelionės traukiniu) kokybės (TKVGK) vertinimo metodologiją. Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, keturi skyriai, rezultatų apibendrinimas, naudotos literatūros ir autorės publikacijų disertacijos tema sąrašai bei 12 priedų. Įvade trumpai aptarta tiriamoji problema, darbo aktualumas, pristatytas tyrimų objektas, suformuluotas darbo tikslas bei uždaviniai, aprašyta tyrimų metodika, mokslinis darbo naujumas, praktinė rezultatų reikšmė bei pateikti ginamieji teiginiai. Įvado pabaigoje pristatomos autorės paskelbtos publikacijos ir pranešimai konferencijose disertacijos tema. Pirmajame skyriuje atlikta geležinkelio infrastruktūros, riedmenų ir TKVGP mokslinių darbų analizė. Taip pat atlikta Lietuvos Respublikos (Europos Sąjungos) norminių dokumentų, reglamentuojančių keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais kokybę, analizė. Antrasis skyrius skirtas AB ,,Lietuvos geležinkeliai“ (LG) veiklos ir keleivių vežimo rodiklių apžvalgai, kelionės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Disertacijoje nagrinėjamos tarptautinio keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais (TKVG) problemos. Pagrindinis darbo objektas – tarptautinio keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais procesas (TKVGP). Eksperimentiniais metodais nustatyti kelionės traukiniu kokybės kriterijų reikšmingumas ir šių kriterijų grupių svarba (pirmumas). Autorės suformuluotas TKVG kompleksinis daugiakriterinis vertinimo modelis leido nustatyti vieno traukinio, vykstančio tam tikru maršrutu, vienareikšmį kiekybinį rodiklį. Pagrindinis disertacijos tikslas – pateikti tarptautinio keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais (kelionės traukiniu) kokybės (TKVGK) vertinimo metodologiją. Disertaciją sudaro įvadas, keturi skyriai, rezultatų apibendrinimas, naudotos literatūros ir autorės publikacijų disertacijos tema sąrašai bei 12 priedų. Įvade trumpai aptarta tiriamoji problema, darbo aktualumas, pristatytas tyrimų objektas, suformuluotas darbo tikslas bei uždaviniai, aprašyta tyrimų metodika, mokslinis darbo naujumas, praktinė rezultatų reikšmė bei pateikti ginamieji teiginiai. Įvado pabaigoje pristatomos autorės paskelbtos publikacijos ir pranešimai konferencijose disertacijos tema. Pirmajame skyriuje atlikta geležinkelio infrastruktūros, riedmenų ir TKVGP mokslinių darbų analizė. Taip pat atlikta Lietuvos Respublikos (Europos Sąjungos) norminių dokumentų, reglamentuojančių keleivių vežimo geležinkeliais kokybę, analizė. Antrasis skyrius skirtas AB ,,Lietuvos geležinkeliai“ (LG) veiklos ir keleivių vežimo rodiklių apžvalgai, kelionės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The dissertation considers the problems, associated with passenger transportation by international trains (PTIT). The research object is the process of passenger transportation by international trains (PPTIT). By using the experimental methods, the significances (weights) and the order of preferences of the qualitative criteria, describing this process, are determined. The complex model, deve-loped by the author for multicriteria PTIT evaluation, allows for determining a single-valued quantitative criterion for evaluating a particular train travelling on a particular route. The main aim of the dissertation is to offer a methodology for evaluating the quality of passenger transportation by international trains (QPTIT). The dissertation consists of the Introduction, four chapters, the description of the obtained results, the list of references as well as the author’s publications on the topic of the thesis and 12 annexes. The Introduction briefly describes the research problem and object, the topicality of the work, its aim and objectives, and the applied research methods, as well as the novelty and practical value of the results obtained and the defended statements. Finally, the Introduction presents the list of the author’s publications and reports delivered at the conferences on the topic of the dissertation. Chapter 1 presents the analysis of the Lithuanian and EU standards and regulations, defining the quality of passenger transportation by rail. It also describes the... [to full text]