A Systematic Literature Review of Multi-Criteria Analysis Model Methods on Sustainability Weighting for Ethanol Plant

The sustainability weighting is crucial as it is practically implemented into sustainability evaluation, especially in industrial development. Sustainability is about the interconnection between three aspects of sustainability impact such as economic impact, environmental impact, and social impact. Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) model play important roles to measure the weighting for each impact according to the scenario and criteria selected based on scientific rules and robust statistical methods. However, there were insufficient studies on the existing literature sustainability weighting model from MCA method for the ethanol plant. Hence, the present paper demonstrates a systematic literature review of MCA model methods on sustainability weighting for the ethanol plant. There are two steps involved in systematic literature reviews: formulation of the research question and systematic searching strategies consisting of identification, screening, eligibility, quality appraisal, data abstraction and analysis. The review is based on leading databases; Scopus – ScienceDirect, Springer, Taylor and Francis, and one supporting database – Google Scholar. From the review, the preferable MCA weighting model for sustainability evaluation of ethanol plants is ‘integrated Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)’ rather than ‘standalone AHP’. The paper offered a significant contribution to the body of knowledge and sustainability evaluation purposes.

Designing for the Environment: An Example of Multi-Criteria Analysis Used for Solar Hot Water System Selection

In the European Union, the building sector accounts for more than 40% of final energy consumption, contributing to the deterioration of the quality of the environment. Among the various solutions that aim to reduce the negative environmental impact caused by the operation of buildings, solar hot water systems (SHW) are popular. The choice of a SHW system is associated with the comfort of use and the access to low-cost energy. The design guidelines include the technical parameters for system operation such as materials, dimensions, sizing and operation temperatures. However, the legitimacy of choosing a particular solution and the available technical parameters are key issues. In the presented study, a multi-criteria analysis was proposed as a basis for the proper selection of system parameters, e.g., collector type, solar tank volume. A model of the SHW system was used to calculate the possible solutions, ensuring the same comfort of usage for several design options. The analyzed model was then used for the calculation of three various indicators: Simple Payback Time (SPBT), Primary Energy consumption (PE) and IMPACT 2002+. The application of a multi-criteria analysis based on a Life Cycle Assessment allowed for beneficial solutions to be found from the point of view of economics, non-renewable resources and environmental protection.

Application of the DEMATEL Model for Assessing IT Sector’s Sustainability

Understanding what are the IT sector’s business opportunities under distorted market conditions is a growing interest in sustainability research. This article investigates how to assess the IT sectors sustainability through a multicriterion assessment. For the assessment of the IT sector’s European and Slovenian competition policy, the DEMATEL technique was chosen. Fifteen economical performance indicators of IT sectors companies in 2015–2019 were selected for analysis. Given the multiplicity of criteria addressed in the sustainability issues, a multi-criteria analysis was used with the assistance of experts. In this research, the DEMATEL technique was developed for problem solving, for the assessment of the concentration of business entities that affect the competitive situation of economy. Results showed that comparison of the DEMATEL method with fuzzy and probability theories proved that it is possible to measure IT sector’s HHI-based performance.

Methodology for the identification of economic, environmental and health criteria for road noise mitigation

The aim of the paper is to define a method for evaluating infrastructural interventions for the mitigation of noise generated by roads based on multi-criteria analysis which considers a series of parameters (environmental, social, economic and health) that could give broader evaluations than just economic convenience. The research develops a guideline based on an already known methodology applied in other fields, which has been adapted to the above-mentioned topic: the multi-criteria analysis. The decision to use this method originates from an in-depth study of the state of the art regarding the issue of noise pollution related to transport infrastructures in Italy and at a European level. The Multi-criteria Analysis proved to be the best solution both for completeness and versatility. In particular, the developed methodology uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process as a multi-criteria analysis method. Through its hierarchical structure, this method offers a comparison not only between possible interventions, but also between the same criteria taken into consideration for the choice of the best intervention. The model was validated by analyzing a real noise mitigation project on an Italian main road. The results showed how the model could represent a valid support to decision-making processes.

A multi-criteria analysis of sewer monitoring methods for locating pipe blockages and manhole overflo

This article is devoted to the aggregation of existing methods for monitoring sewerage systems into a single symbiosis, in particular methods for identifying the locations of clogged pipes and manhole overflows. Clogging of sewers is a frequent problem in large cities, entailing overfilling of manholes with sewage and disruption of the whole sewage system. Today, there are several methods for monitoring sewers: visual, acoustic and laser. Each method is represented by a wide range of devices with different characteristics and applications. The analysis identified the main technical and economic characteristics for each solution presented. Then, on the basis of the data obtained, a multi-criteria analysis was made according to several parameters: measurement accuracy, maximum diameter of the inspected pipe, type of pipe, cost. For the most objective selection, each parameter was given its own weight, and all parameters were normalized for their objective comparison. On this basis, all solutions were sorted by maximum values for each criterion, taking into account the selection by weights. As a result of the multicriteria analysis, five combinations of solutions were built, including several monitoring methods.