Factsheet: Multi Criteria Analysis Tool

Definition

A set of procedures of analysis of complex decision problems involving non-commensurable, conflicting criteria on the basis of which alternative decisions are evaluated.

Application objectives

Select the most optimal alternative given the criteria selected.

Pertinent participation process phase(s)

	1.	Starting organization
	2.	Actors analysis, context
	3.	Diagnostic of the current situation
	4.	Search of solutions
	5.	Implementation, evaluation

Application method

To solve a problem, often more then one one solution is possible. In MCA these solutions are called “alternatives”. Which alternative is the best possible solution? In order to be able to assess this, the alternatives are scored against a number of criteria. All kinds of scores are possible: a number (investment needed), a scale (+++, ++, +, 0, -, --, ---) or a fraction (0.5 realized). In order to compare the scores the following process is
needed:

Standardize;
Weigh;
Rank.

Standardizing means translating each score into a value between 0 and 1 (--- = 0 and +++ = 1).

Not every criterion is of equal importance, so the user(group) is allowed to put weighing factors on the separate criteria.

Based on the weighed, standardized scores the alternative can be ranked for all the criteria as a whole, or ranked per criterion.

Most tools also offer a wide range of sensitivity analysis tools and
dedicated presentations.

Application example(s)

General practice in Environmental Implications Assessment studies like:

Dutch survey for reallocation of agricultural land: a multicriteria approach (M. Van Herwijnen, R. Janssen & P. Rietveld)
Integrating environmental objectives in the planning of natural gas exploration drillings in sensitive areas in the Netherlands: the North Sea coastal zone and the Wadden Sea (Stefan Morel, Paper for the International Seminar on Coastal Area Management, March 1998)

Example tools

Definite; IVM / Institute for Environmental Studies Amsterdam (single user license €1360)
Delphos: http://environ.chemeng.ntua.gr/aquastress/Default.aspx?t=95
Facilitator: http://sourceforge.net/projects/facilitator; The Facilitator software is a decision support system which uses decision rules, a hierarchical system for ranking criteria, score functions and linear programming to identify preferred management options consistent with the ranking of criteria.
The Electre familiy of MCA tool http://www.lamsade.dauphine.fr/english/software.html.
PROMETHEE and HIPRE are other well known tools.

AquaStress contact(s)

George Arampatz, NTUA (arab@chemeng.ntua.gr)

Dionysis Assimacopoulos, NTUA (assim@chemeng.ntua.gr)

Reference

Janssen, R. & Herwijnen, M. Van (in press), A toolbox for multicriteria decision-making, International Journal of Environment, Technology and Management.

Herwijnen, M. Van & Janssen, R., 2004, Software support for multicriteria decision making. In Giupponi, C, Jakeman, T.& Kasserberg, D. (Eds), Sustainable management of water resources: an integrated approach. (pp. 150-165), Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Lim.

van Huylenbroeck, G., 1995, The conflict analysis method: bridging the gap between ELECTRE, PROMETHEE and ORESTE, European Journal of Operational Research 82, p 490