OPEN ACCESS
It is well-known that a transport project is of multi-dimensional importance. However, the economic dimension of its effects dominates the evaluation of a transport project, in many cases, and less attention is given to other non-economic parameters. Within the framework of this article, the contribution of multi-criteria analysis (MCA) techniques to the evaluation of a transport system is presented and discussed. Their relative advantage is that they include not only economic criteria but also other qualitative criteria such as the environmental impacts. The latter is a very important factor in the evaluation process because it is directly connected to the sustainable character of the transport project each time. Case studies concerning the implementation of MCA techniques in the transport sector worldwide are also presented. A comparative evaluation of MCA techniques is also included in the article to assist in the selection process of the most appropriate technique(s) for a transport project.
analytical hierarchy process, decision-making, multi-criteria analysis, transport evaluation process
[1] Omann, I., Multi-Criteria Decision Aid as an Approach for Sustainable Development Analysis and Implementation, Karl-Franzes University, Graz, 2004.
[2] Bouwman, M. & Moll, H., Environmental analyses of land transportation systems in the Netherlands. Transportation Research, 4(7), pp. 331–345, 2002.
[3] Hirschberg, S., Dones, R., Heck, T., Burgherr, P. & Bauer, C., Sustainability of Electricity Supply Technologies Under German Conditions: A Comparative Evaluation, Paul Scherrer Institut: Berricht, 2004.
[4] Arrow, K.J., Social Choice and Individual Values, Wiley: New York, 1951.
[5] Doumpos, M. & Zopounidis, C., Multicriteria Analysis: Theory and Applications, Kleidarithmos: Athens, 2001.
[6] Wolfslehner, B., Potentials and Limitations of Multi-Criteria Analysis Methods in Assessing Sustainable Forest Management, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, 2006.
[7] Nijkamp, P., Stochastic quantitative and qualitative multicriteria analysis for environmental design. Papers in Regional Science, Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, 2005.
[8] Treitz, M., Production Process Design Using Multi-Criteria Analysis, University of Karlsruhe, Germany, 2006.
[9] Bertsch, V., Treitz, M., Geldermann, J. & Rentz, O., Multidimensional Sensitivity Analysis for Multi-Attribute Decision Making Under Preferential Uncertainty, Institute for Industrial Production, University of Karlsruhe, Germany, 2006.
[10] French, S., Uncertainty and imprecision: modelling and analysis. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 46, pp. 70–79, 1995.
[11] Montibeller, G. & Belton, V., Qualitative Operators for Reasoning Maps: Evaluating MultiCriteria Options with Networks of Reasons, The London School of Economics and Political Science: London, 2007.
[12] Belton, V. & Gear, T., On a short-coming of Saaty’s method of analytic hierarchies. Omega, 11(3), pp. 228–230, 1983.
[13] Samuelson, P.A., The empirical implications of utility analysis. Econometrica, 6, pp. 344–356, 1938.
[14] Luce, R.D. & Raiffa, H., Games and Decisions, Wiley: New York, 1957.
[15] Fishburn, P.C., Utility for Decision Making, Wiley: New York, 1970.
[16] Roy, B., Classement et choix en precense de points de vue multiples: la methode ELECTRE. R.I.R.O., 8, pp. 57–75, 1968.
[17] Simon, H.A., From substantive to procedural rationality. Method and Appraisal in Economics, ed. S.J. Latsis, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, pp. 129–148, 1976.
[18] Keeney, R.L. & Raiffa, H., Decisions with Multiple Objectives, Wiley: New York, 1976.
[19] Saaty, T.L., The Analytical Hierarchy Process, McGraw-Hill: New York, 1980.
[20] Tsamboulas, D., Yiotis, G. & Roilos, H., Potential application and inclusion of quantitative – qualitative criteria in a multi-criteria analysis for the assessment of transport projects. Technika Chronika, 1(3), pp. 35–49, 1999.
[21] DTRL, Multi-Criteria Analysis Manual, UK.
[22] Pardalos, P.M., Siskos, Y. & Zopounidis, C., Advances in Multicriteria Analysis, Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, Boston and London, 1995.
[23] Schoner, B. & Wedly, W.C., Ambiguous criteria weights in AHP: consequences and solutions. Decision Sciences, 20, pp. 462–475, 1989.
[24] Millet, I. & Saaty, L., On the relativity of relative measures – accommodating both rank preservation and rank reversals in the AHP. European Journal of Operational Research, 121, pp. 205–212, 2000.
[25] Schoner, B. & Wedly, W.C., A unifi ed approach to AHP with linking pins. European Journal of Operational Research, 64, pp. 384–392, 1993.
[26] Bouyssou, D., Marchant, T., Pirlot, M., Perny, P., Tsoukias, A. & Vincke, P., Evaluation and Decision Model: A Critical Perspective, Kluwer Academic Publishers: Boston, London and Dordrecht, 2002.
[27] Brans, J.P. & Vincke, P., A preference ranking organization method. Management Science, 31(6), pp. 647–656, 1985.
[28] Massaglia, M. & Ostanello, A., N-TOMIC: a decision support for multicriteria segmentation problems, International Workshop on Multicriteria Decision Support, Springer-Verlag: Berlin, pp. 167–174, 1991.
[29] Belacel, N., Multicriteria assignment method PROAFTN: methodology and medical applications. European Journal of Operational Research, 5, pp. 179–199, 2000.
[30] Roubens, M., Preference relations on actions and criteria in multicriteria decision making. European Journal of Operational Research, 10, pp. 51–55, 1982.
[31] European Union, SAMI project, Deliverable 2: Review of Strategic Assessment Tool and Methods, Fourth Framework Programme, 1998.
[32] Xiaozhan, X., The SIR method: A superiority and inferiority ranking method for multiple criteria decision making. European Journal of Operational Research, 131, pp. 587–602, 2001.
[33] Chen, S.J. & Hwang, C.L., Fuzzy Multiple Attribute Decision Making: Methods and Applications, Springer-Verlag: Berlin, 1992.
[34] Opricovic, S., Multicriteria Optimization of Civil Engineering Systems, Faculty of Civil Engineering: Belgrade, 1998.
[35] Jacquet-Lagreze, E. & Siskos, J., Assessing a set of additive utility functions for multicriteria decision making, the UTA method. European Journal of Operational Research, 10, pp. 151–164, 1982.
[36] Greco, S., A new PCCA method: IDRA. European Journal of Operational Research, 98, pp. 587–601, 1997.
[37] Charnes, A., Cooper, W. & Rhodes, E., Measuring the effi ciency of decision making units. European Journal of Operation Research, 2, pp. 429–444, 1986.
[38] Haimes, Y.Y., Hall, W.A. & Freedman, H.T., Multiobjective Optimization in Water Resources Systems, Elsevier Scientifi c: New York, 1975.
[39] Goumas, M. & Lygerou, V., An extension of the PROMETHEE method for decision making in fuzzy environment: Ranking of alternative energy exploitation projects. European Journal of Operational Research, 123, pp. 606–613, 2000.
[40] Zadeh, L.A., Fuzzy sets. Information and Control, 8, pp. 338–353, 1965.
[41] Lahdelma, R., Hokkanen, J. & Salminen, P., SMAA – Stochastic multiobjective acceptability analysis. European Journal of Operational Research, 106, pp. 137–143, 1998.
[42] Pawlak, Z., Rough sets. International Journal of Information and Computer Sciences, 11, pp. 341–356, 1982.
[43] Paelinck, J.H.P., Qualifl ex, a fl exible multiple criteria method. Economics Letters, 3, pp. 193–197, 1978.
[44] Voogd, H., Multicriteria Evaluation for Urban and Regional Planning, Pion: London, 1983.
[45] Mashrur, A., Paulin, T. & Surekha, L., An Interactive Multiobjective Decision Support Framework for Transportation Investment, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, University of Dayton, Dayton, 2002.
[46] Yedla, S. & Shrestha, R., Multi-criteria approach for the selection of alternative options for environmentally sustainable transport system in Delhi. Transportation Research, 37, pp. 717–729, 2003.
[47] Arampatzis, G., Kiranoudis, C.T., Scaloubacas, P. & Assimacopoulos, D., A GIS-based decision support system for planning urban transportation policies. European Journal of Operational Research, 152, pp. 465–475, 2004.
[48] Massam, B., The search for the best alternative using multiple criteria, Singapore Transit Study, Economic Geography, 54(2), pp. 245–253, 1978.
[49] Tzeng, G.H., Lin, C.W & Opricovic, S., Multi-criteria analysis of alternative fuel buses for public transportation. Energy Policy, 33, pp. 1373–1383, 2005.
[50] Hinloopen, E., Nijkamp, P. & Rietveld, P., Integration of ordinal and cardinal information in multicriteria ranking with imperfect compensation, European Journal of Operational Research, 158, pp. 317–338, 2004.
[51] Transport for London Integration, Greenwich Waterfront Transit, Summary Report, London, 2001.
[52] Gercek, H., Karpak, B. & Kilincaslan, T., A multiple criteria approach for the evaluation of the rail transit networks in Istanbul. Transportation, 31, pp. 203–228, 2004.
[53] Zak, J., The methodology of multiple-criteria decision making in the optimization of an urban transportation system: case study of Poznan City in Poland. International Transactions in Operational Research, 6, pp. 571–590, 1999.
[54] Grassini, L. & Viviani, A., A Multicriteria Decision Method to Evaluate Local Transport Service, University of Florence, Florence, 2002.
[55] Yeh, C., Deng, H. & Chang, Y., Fuzzy multicriteria analysis for performance evaluation of bus companies. European Journal of Operational Research, 126, pp. 459–473, 2000.
[56] European Commission, TRANSECON Project, Deliverable 2, Helsinki, 2003.
[57] Cascajo, R., Assessment of Economic Social and Environmental Effects of Rail Urban Projects, Transport Research Center, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, 2004.
[58] Tsamboulas, D. & Mikroudis, G., EFFECT-evaluation framework of environmental impacts and costs of transport initiatives. Transportation Research, 5, pp. 283–303, 2000.
[59] Panou, K.D. & Sofi anos, A.I., A fuzzy multicriteria evaluation system for the assessment of tunnels vis-à-vis surface roads: theoretical aspects – part II. Tunneling and Underground Space Technology, 17, pp. 209–219, 2002.
[60] Juan, Z. & Wu, J., The socio-economic impacts assessment of advanced convoy driving on motorway. Transportation Research, 37, pp. 731–747, 2003.
[61] Fuller, D.O., Williamson, R., Jeffe, M. & James, D., Multi criteria evaluation of safety and risks along transportation corridors on the Hopi Reservation, Applied Geography, 23, pp. 177–188, 2003.
[62] Bailey, K., AMIS: Development and Application of a GIS/Multicriteria Corridor Evaluation Methodology, Department of Geography and Regional Development, University of Arizona, Arizona, 2003.
[63] Tsoukias, A. & Papayannakis, A., A Real Case Study on Transportation Scenario Comparison, TRUTH S.A.: Thessaloniki, 2001.
[64] Brown, K., Adger, N., Tompkins, E., Bacon, P., Shim, D. & Young, K., Trade-off analysis for marine protected area management. Ecological Economics, 37, pp. 417–434, 2001.
[65] Vreeker, R., Nijkamp, P. & Welle, C., A multicriteria Decision Support Methodology for Evaluating Airport Expansion Plans, Tinbergen Institute: Amsterdam, 2001.
[66] Levine, J. & Underwood, S., A multi-attribute analysis of goals for intelligent transportation system planning, Transportation Research, 4(2), pp. 97–111, 1996.
[67] Ukkussuri, S., Karoonsoontawong, A., Waller, S. & Kockelman, M., Congestion pricing technologies: synthesis and an evaluation framework. Proc. of the 2005 Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board, 2004.
[68] Reggiani, A., Lampugnani, G., Nijkamp, P. & Pepping, G., Towards a typology of European inter-urban transport corridors for advanced transport telematics applications. Journal of Transport Geography, 3(1), pp. 53–67, 1995.
[69] Haynes, K., Bowen, W., Arieira, C., Burhans, S., Salem, P. & Shafi e, H., Intelligent transportation systems benefi t priorities: an application to the Woodrow Wilson bridge. Journal of Transport Geography, 8, pp. 129–139, 2000.
[70] European Commission, Regional Balkans Infrastructure Study – REBIS, 2000 CARDS Programme, Final Report, 2003.
[71] Louis Berger, S.A., Transport Infrastructure Regional Study (TIRS) in the Balkans, Final Report, 2002.
[72] Janic, M., Multicriteria evaluation of high-speed rail, transrapid MAGLEV and air passenger transport in Europe. Transportation Planning and Technology, 26(6), pp. 491–512, 2003.
[73] Makridakis, C.M., Applications of Multi-Criteria Analysis Techniques to the Evaluation of Transport Projects, M.Sc. Thesis, Supervisor: S. Basbas, Postgraduate Program: Planning, Organization and Management of Transport Systems, Faculties of Civil Engineering & Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 2005.