Entropy weight fuzzy synthetic evaluation-based risk evaluation for real estate agent construction project

Flooding is one of the most devastating natural events and leads to enormous and recurring loss of life, properties, and resources around the globe. With climate change and accelerating urbanization, flood disasters in China have increasingly affected the sustainable development of metropolitan areas. Risk assessment is an essential step in flood management and disaster mitigation, which provide a quantitative measure of flood risk. However, the difficulty of flood risk zoning is dealing with the uncertainty of the evaluation process and the complicated non-linear relationship between indicators and risk levels. To address this issue, a fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method based on combined weight (CW) was utilized in this paper to generate flood risk maps at a grid-scale (1 × 1 km). For the case study in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan area (BTH) in China, fourteen indicators were selected to construct the flood risk assessment model based on the FSE approach integrated with ArcGIS. The research demonstrates that moderate, high, and very high risk zones are distributed in the southeast fluvial plain of the BTH area, accounting for 31.36% of the total land area. Meanwhile, low and very-low risk zones occupy 68.64% of the total land area, and are primarily located in the high plateau and mountain regions in the northwest. We analyzed the risk level of each county and proposed risk mitigation measures based on field investigations. The verified risk assessment results were spatially consistent with the historical flood disaster records and loss positions, indicating the accuracy and reliability of the risk assessment map using the FSE approach. Compared with the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) TAR (Third Assessment Report) and AR5 (Fifth Assessment Report) methods, FSE has significant advantages in handling uncertainty, complexity, and the non-linear relationship between indices and risk grades. This study provides a novel quantitative method for flood risk assessment in metropolitan areas and practical implications for urban flood management.

Fuzzy synthetic evaluation of contaminated site management policy from the perspective of stakeholders: A case study from China

Civil architecture energy conservation efficiency evaluation is a kind of multi-factors, multi-hierarchies and multi-criteria synthetic evaluation. Perfect civil architecture energy conservation efficiency evaluation indicators system and reasonably effective synthetic evaluation methodology are keys to do energy conservation efficiency synthetic evaluation. This paper is based on framing civil architecture energy conservation efficiency evaluation system, and uses fuzzy synthetic evaluation methodology to frame civil architecture energy conservation efficiency fuzzy synthetic evaluation model, in order to make the result of evaluation more objective and reasonable.

A general methodology for fuzzy synthetic evaluation is developed and illustrated with a case study of trophic status assessment for Fei-Tsui Reservoir in Taiwan. The historical data base was collected from the management agency of Fei-Tsui Reservoir from 1987 to 1995. The results of this investigation show that the long-term change of water quality and the overturn phenomena cannot be observed with the Carlson index from 1987 to 1992 but is expressed by fuzzy synthetic evaluation. Fuzzy synthetic evaluation is better suited than the Carlson index to rating the trophic status of self-sustaining lakes.

The increasingly frequent extreme weather disasters caused by global climate change have attracted more attention to adverse weather's effect on infrastructure systems. This paper aims to establish an integrated approach to assessing adverse weather's effect on urban rail transit facilities and to provide decision makers with a powerful tool to analyze potential risks and allocate limited sources for risk management. First, fault tree analysis is used to understand where the risks are, how the risks will occur, and what factors have the most significant effects by analyzing all possible basic events. All wind-, rain-, and snow-related adverse weather, along with human-related factors (construction leftover problems and design drawbacks), are found to potentially cause great risks. Adverse impact scenarios are summarized based on the fault tree analysis. Next, an analytic hierarchical process (AHP)-based fuzzy synthetic evaluation model is established to assess the risk level based on an evaluation index system. AHP is used to calculate the weights between the indices for each adverse weather factor. A fuzzy synthetic evaluation process is then carried out to identify the risk level of an evaluation target, an urban rail transit station, or line section. A case study on the Beijing URT Line 8 Olympic Center Station is conducted to illustrate the process of evaluation. The results show that the risk level is high and it becomes acceptable only after countermeasures are taken. Potential countermeasures regarding facility capacity, protection area management, and monitoring/inspection are then briefly discussed. Language: en

The maintenance way of armored vehicle engine is hard time maintenance and breakdown maintenance in our army. So, the situation of lack or excess of maintenance is often existing in armored vehicle engine, and leading to potential safety hazard and wasting of resources. Condition based maintenance, which based on advanced detect and diagnosis technology, is a good way to solve the problems mentioned above. So, parameter tables which can completely reflect the state of armored vehicle engine is set up in this paper, and analytic hierarchy process and fuzzy synthetic evaluation method is used to scientific assess the state of vehicle engine. The computational process is demonstrated by analysis the experiment data of an armored vehicle engine. The work gives the foundation for condition based maintenance of armored vehicle engine.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify driving factors and a quantitative model for implementing public-private partnership (PPP) projects in Ethiopia as a case study in emerging economies.Design/methodology/approachA review of the literature and semi-structured interviews were carried out to identify driving factors affecting the implementation of PPP projects in the Ethiopian context. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey within three months, with 59 validated responses; mean score technique and factor analysis were conducted. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method was applied to develop a driving index (DI) for implementing infrastructure PPP projects. Finally, a comparative analysis of top-five drivers was conducted between four emerging economies.FindingsMean values show that all driving variables are important. Through factor analysis, 22 identified driving variables were grouped into six factors, namely, benefit for public and private sectors, attention of private sector, social development, cost reduction, management ability of public sector and ability of private sector. The FSE method constructs a DI and shows that benefit for public and private sectors is the most crucial factor for PPP implementation in the context of Ethiopia. Apart from this, most driving forces for adopting PPP projects in these countries related to financial problems.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first integrate driving factors for PPP implementation. The index provides the decision-makers with a comprehensive tool to assess the needs of PPP implementation.

Purpose Unlike the design or planning phases, the construction phase necessitates the coordination of multiple project stakeholders, real-time problem-solving and effectively managing physical resources under fluctuating site conditions. However, recent green rating systems are not yet designed to accommodate the unique nature of this stage. Thus, this study aims to develop an empirical measurement model to evaluate the performance of green construction sites (GCS), focusing on the Vietnamese construction industry. Design/methodology/approach Initially, a list of assessment criteria was identified by reviewing previous studies and semi-structured interviews. After that, a questionnaire survey was used to collect practitioners’ views regarding GCS performance. The 155 valid responses were analyzed employing the fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method. Findings The findings showed that the performance of GCS in Vietnam is at a moderate level, with a GCS index of 5.48. Indeed, the human-related factor was the most significant performance group for GCS in Vietnam. Construction site, energy, innovation and material-related factors were among the average performance factors. Moreover, water and waste-related factors were among the lowest performance factors. Originality/value This study highlights the importance of human-related factors, such as worker safety and environmental training, in achieving effective GCS performance. It is recommended that governments should enforce stricter guidelines on using low-embodied carbon materials, sustainable sourcing and effective waste management to improve GCS performance. Neighboring countries can also use valuable insights from this study to enhance their GCS performance.

PurposeThis study presents a fuzzy synthetic evaluation of the challenges of smart city realisation in developing countries, using Nigeria as a case study. By defining and delineating the problems faced by the country, more viable directions to attaining smart city development can be achieved.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a post-positivist philosophical stance with a deductive approach. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from built environment professionals involved in the delivery of Nigerian public infrastructures. Six dimensions of the challenges of smart cities were identified from literature and explored. They are governance, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal issues. Data gathered were analysed using Cronbach alpha test for reliability, Shapiro-Wilks test for normality, Kruskal-Wallis H-test for consistency and fuzzy synthetic evaluation test for the synthetic evaluation of the challenges of smart city attainment.FindingsThe findings revealed that all six assessed dimensions have a significant impact on the attainment of smart cities in Nigeria. More specifically, issues relating to environmental, technological, social and legal challenges are more prominent.Originality/valueThe fuzzy synthetic approach adopted provides a clear, practical insight on the issues that need to be addressed before the smart city development can be attained within developing countries.

Like other construction projects, project success has always been the ultimate goal in Public-Private Partnership projects. However, it will be difficult for private and public sectors to define whether their projects have been successful or not if the success index is not considered. Thus, this study aims to construct a success indicator for Public-Private Partnership transportation projects in Vietnam via a case study. 15 success criteria were identified from a literature review and expert interview. Using factor analysis, four principal factors were grouped based on 15 identified success criteria, namely project objectives, reliable and quality service, effective output, and project management. Finally, the fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) method computed the success index for Rach Mieu Bridge project is 4.15 which is considered as highly successful. This study might provide decision-makers with a quantitative tool to make the decision for implementing PPP projects effectively and assuring sustainable infrastructure development in Vietnam.

Improved gray water footprint calculation method based on a mass-balance model and on fuzzy synthetic evaluation

Factors influencing final clay brick properties are numerous, since the raw materials are highly heterogeneous. The chemometric approach is rarely used in analysis in this field, although it could significantly improve understanding of the overall system behavior and the quality of products. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used on a group of 139 samples collected in Serbia to discriminate groups of samples according to similarity of chemical composition and fired laboratory products properties. The focus of this study was to determine the importance of parameters that describe clay brick production and quality, depending on final usage of raw material in the clay brick industry. A fuzzy synthetic evaluation, using a membership trapezoidal function with defined optimal interval values for different types of heavy clay products, is chosen for the study. The optimal sample’s chemical composition and firing temperature were chosen by the fuzzy synthetic evaluation, regarding the kind of the heavy clay product.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish a synthetic evaluation index system of new socialist countryside (NSC) development at county level in China, and by which to evaluate the level of NSC construction among different regions in China. Then, some problems of rural development can be found and corresponding measures can be proposed, which could provide references for policymaking.Design/methodology/approachFirst, from agricultural, rural and farmers' perspective, a preliminary index system which containing 44 indicators was put forward. Then, combining with a series of subjective and objective indicator screening methods, such as fuzzy synthetic evaluation, clustering analysis, correlation and variation coefficient analysis, the final index system containing 22 indicators was established. Third, combining with factor analysis, the final index system was used to evaluate the level of NSC construction in 28 counties of China in 2007. Finally, we calculated district factor scores by a model and gave an aggregate index ranking of different regions.FindingsNSC construction at county level is not well developed in China and there are significant geographical differences among different districts. First, NSC construction in Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Hangzhou is relatively better. Second, NSC construction of East China is better than that of North China and Central China. Northeast of China is better than Southwest and Northwest. Third, NSC construction in municipalities is higher than non‐municipalities. Rural development in Western regions of China needs to be paid special attention.Originality/valueA final evaluation index system including 22 indicators was designed. These indicators are complete, independent, weakly correlative and stable. The index system can be further applied to evaluate other regions' NSC development. The evaluation results can provide useful references for NSC reform in the whole nation.

Modeling the principal success factors for attaining systemic circularity in the building construction industry: An international survey of circular economy experts

In order to improve the effectiveness of Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) models, a Parameter Correlation Analysis (PCA) was introduced into the FSE and a case study was carried out in the Naoli River in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China. The basic principle of the PCA is that the pairs of parameters which are highly correlated and linear with each other would contribute the same information to an assessment and one of them should be eliminated. The method of the PCA is that a correlation relationship among candidate parameters is examined before the FSE. If there is an apparent nonlinear or curvilinear relationship between two parameters, then both will be retained; if the correlation is significant (p<0.01), and the scatter plot suggests a linear relationship, then one of them will be deleted. However, which one will be deleted? For solving this problem, a sensitivity test was conducted and the higher sensitivity parameters remained. The results indicate that the original data should be preprocessed through the PCA for redundancy and variability. The study shows that introducing the PCA into the FSE can simplify the FSE calculation process greatly, while the results have not been changed much.