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Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 80664

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Artūras Kaklauskas

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Guest Editor

Department of Construction Economics and Property Management, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: sustainable development; multiple-criteria decision-making; intelligent decision-support systems; environmental, economic, political, and social sustainability dimensions; Industry 4.0; Industry 5.0; Society 5.0; cognitive data mining
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ajith Abraham

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Guest Editor

Chair of Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, LT-10223 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: artificial intelligence; decision support systems; data analytics; Industry 4.0; Smart systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will include a collection of manuscripts analysing decision support systems and multiple criteria decision making for sustainable development. International research shows that decision support systems and multiple criteria decision making for sustainable development are very promising when related to quality, costs, sustainability, and efficiency. The researches of this Special Issue encompass the following main topics via decision support systems and multiple criteria decision making:

Environmental sustainability;
Sustainable economics and environmental economics;
Sustainable technology;
Sustainable manufacturing;
Smart, sustainable cities;
Sustainable engineering and architecture;
Building information modelling in sustainable design, construction, and facilities management;
Approaching sustainable transport;
Health and sustainability;
Sustainable energy;
Sustainable business theory and practice;
Sustainable income;
Politics of sustainability;
Environmental politics;
Threats and paths to sustainability;
Sustainability metrics and indices;
Environmental governance;
Cultural issues in sustainable development;
Cultural heritage sustainability in theory and practice;
Cultural factors of sustainable development projects;
Human-centred design;
Life-cycle analysis;
Open data sustainability;
Circularity and measurement;
Sustainability decision-support systems;
Approaching sustainable, smart infrastructure;
Data and text mining for sustainability;
Affective computing to enhance sustainability;
Achieving sustainable advantage through biometric technologies.

This Special Issue of Sustainability intends to gather manuscripts to analyse the above-listed topics into prospects for perspective developments in decision-support systems and multiple criteria decision making for sustainable development.

Prof. Dr. Artūras Kaklauskas
Dr. Ajith Abraham
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable development
multiple-criteria decision-making
decision-support systems
environmental, economic, political, and social sustainability dimensions

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2419 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Women Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Development: Key Findings from a SWOT–AHP Analysis

by Daniel Stefan, Valentina Vasile, Anca Oltean, Calin-Adrian Comes, Anamari-Beatrice Stefan, Liviu Ciucan-Rusu, Elena Bunduchi, Maria-Alexandra Popa and Mihai Timus

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5298; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095298 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7486

Abstract

This study highlights the perception of women entrepreneurs in Romania regarding specific drivers for a sustainable business model. This study uses a SWOT–AHP method to assess the importance of different factors that enforce or create barriers for the success in women entrepreneurial activities. SWOT analysis was conducted based on an extended literature review. An external expert in risk analysis assessed the importance of the SWOT analysis’ four dimensions—criteria. An AHP survey of 10 women entrepreneurs was conducted to evaluate the impact of each identified factor in sustaining or discouraging the success of their sustainable business model (SBM). The main results of the study present practical implications useful for designing a gender-balanced business environment. In the final part, the paper discusses women’s preference for the sustainable business model, the perceived importance of gender-related stereotypes for the development of sustainable business models, and the relevance of the new digital economy trend to Romanian women entrepreneurship. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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20 pages, 2186 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Managing Sustainable Urban Public Transport Systems: An AHP Multicriteria Decision Model

by Lourdes Rivero Gutiérrez, María Auxiliadora De Vicente Oliva and Alberto Romero-Ania

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 4614; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094614 - 21 Apr 2021

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2996

Abstract

The current combination of sustainable social awareness and the improved decision support systems, including multiple criteria decision models for sustainable development, creates the need for more efficient and accurate public policy decisions based on available technology. The continuous growth of urban public road transport in large cities, and therefore the worsening of air quality, along with recent economic crisis derived from the COVID-19 pandemic, is forcing public administrations to analyze the viability of current models, taking into consideration sustainable alternative energies. This study proposes a novel and consistent analytic hierarchy process (AHP) multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) model that combines both economic and environmental criteria, to evaluate public road transportation vehicles according to their alternative engine technologies and combustion characteristics. The proposed model has been applied to evaluate Madrid’s urban public road transport, based on 2020 data published by the Madrid City Council, compiled by authors, and assessed by a panel of 20 experts to identify criteria and factors included in the AHP-MCDM model. The findings illustrate the economic and environmental impact of alternative vehicles, show that the most sustainable alternative is the plug-in electric vehicle in economic and environmental terms, and assist policymakers and firms in future strategic decisions regarding sustainable urban transport policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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28 pages, 5165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Life Cycle of Buildings Using an Integrated Approach Based on Quantitative-Qualitative and Simplified Best-Worst Methods (QQM-SBWM)

by Maghsoud Amiri, Mohammad Hashemi-Tabatabaei, Mohammad Ghahremanloo, Mehdi Keshavarz-Ghorabaee, Edmundas Kazimieras Zavadskas and Arturas Kaklauskas

Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4487; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084487 - 17 Apr 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2205

Abstract

Evaluating the life cycle of buildings is a valuable tool for assessing sustainability and analyzing environmental consequences throughout the construction operations of buildings. In this study, in order to determine the importance of building life cycle evaluation indicators, a new combination method was used based on a quantitative-qualitative method (QQM) and a simplified best-worst method (SBWM). The SBWM method was used because it simplifies BWM calculations and does not require solving complex mathematical models. Reducing the time required to perform calculations and eliminating the need for complicated computer software are among the advantages of the proposed method. The QQM method has also been used due to its ability to evaluate quantitative and qualitative criteria simultaneously. The feasibility and applicability of the SBWM were examined using three numerical examples and a case study, and the results were evaluated. The results of the case study showed that the criteria of the estimated cost, comfort level, and basic floor area were, in order, the most important criteria among the others. The results of the numerical examples and the case study showed that the proposed method had a lower total deviation (TD) compared to the basic BWM. Sensitivity analysis results also confirmed that the proposed approach has a high degree of robustness for ranking and weighting criteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 2337 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Establishing Merger Feasibility Simulation Model Based on Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making Method: Case Study of Taiwan’s Property Management Industry

by Li-Ming Chien and Kung-Jen Tu

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2448; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052448 - 24 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2219

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to propose a feasible operational evaluation model for property mergers. It is expected that through the merger of enterprises, the comprehensive improvement of business management and the promotion of logistics supply resources will be effectively promoted, so that enterprises can effectively reduce operating costs and achieve maximum profits. This study uses the modified Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process method to find out the key factors of the common dilemmas in Taiwan’s property management companies, and the weight of their impact on the operation. Finally, we use the expected utility theory to develop a valuation model for whether the property is suitable for integration, and to evaluate this, the result is used as a reference indicator for merger operations. After 30 years of vigorous development in Taiwan’s property management companies, due to fierce market competition, most of the companies have reduced their profitability in the face of common dilemmas. The study found that the merger model should be accurately evaluated by the evaluation model. The sharing of logistics resources can indeed bring about the benefits of investment and marketing to the merger, and improve the profitability of the company. At the time of writing, there is no research on such a combined analysis of the property management industry in Taiwan. This research method uses multiple decision analysis theory and utility theory to develop a decision-making model that is suitable for consolidation. It can also be applied to the assessment of mergers in other fields, such as the clean service industry, real estate brokerage and other industry merger assessments. This is also the biggest contribution of this research paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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23 pages, 386 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Well-Being and Sustainability in Crisis Areas: The Case of Taranto

by Nicola Bellantuono, Francesco Paolo Lagrasta, Pierpaolo Pontrandolfo and Barbara Scozzi

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1576; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031576 - 02 Feb 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2824

Abstract

Unresilient and fragile regions need methods and data able to make policy-makers acknowledge the specific criticalities by which they are affected, so as to build effective development strategies and policies. This research explores whether and to what extent well-being and sustainability measurement frameworks are able to recognize crisis areas. We identified Taranto (Italy), declared as both a National Priority Contaminated Site and a Complex Industrial Crisis area, as a paradigmatic and extreme case of crisis areas and adopted the single case approach to address our research question. After reviewing several frameworks able to measure well-being at local level, we focused on Benessere Equo e Sostenibile dei Territori (Equitable and Sustainable Territorial Well-being, BESdT). We used two aggregate indexes to analyze data, namely the Adjusted Mazziotta-Pareto Index and the Adjusted Differences Mean Index. The study shows that, although BESdT does detect some criticalities of the examined area, it seems not able to adequately frame the multifaceted crisis that affects the area of Taranto. Even in presence of a full-blown crisis, the problematic situation does not always reflect into lower territorial performance, neither at the level of single indicators nor at the level of entire domains. Such discrepancy appears to be particularly evident within the economic domain. The paper ends with a discussion on the research and policy implications and some proposals for further research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

24 pages, 2441 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of COVID-19 on Sustainable Business Models in SMEs

by Iva Gregurec, Martina Tomičić Furjan and Katarina Tomičić-Pupek

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031098 - 21 Jan 2021

Cited by 112 | Viewed by 49512

Abstract

Businesses have been exposed to various challenges during the global pandemic, and their response to this disruption has impacted their resilience as well as their chances to overcome this crisis. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are changing their business models in order to adapt to this changing environment. Service-based industries have been hit particularly hard. This research investigates how SMEs operating in service industries have been coping with the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This research aims to gain insights into which transformation drivers they have focused on and which technologies they have selected as a means to respond to the disruption. These insights regarding SMEs are then explored according to their influence on the redefinition of sustainable business models in SMEs. The review data was analyzed via a customized research framework that contains three dimensions and 30 subconcepts. The results show the distribution of drivers and technologies across service sectors. They are organized into a Business Model Canvas and could be considered useful for academia and practitioners. The highly unpredictable environment allows for only a few feasible strategic approaches regarding an SME’s decision on to follow incumbents, to become a challenger, or to reinvent themselves based on their own transformation drivers and readiness to apply digital technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 3425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Stabilizing Systems in Protection of Cultural Heritage: The Case of the Historical Retaining Wall in the Wisłoujście Fortress

by Piotr Chudoba, Jarosław Przewłócki, Piotr Samól and Lesław Zabuski

Sustainability 2020, 12(20), 8570; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208570 - 16 Oct 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2290

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to propose new quantitative criteria for selecting the optimal method of securing and repairing a historical object, which take into account Structural, Conservation and Architectural aspects (the S–C–A method). Construction works on cultural heritage sites tend to be challenging and require an interdisciplinary approach. Therefore, they are strictly related to the philosophy of sustainable development which seeks adequate proportions between factors indicated on the natural and social environment. Optimization of several systems stabilizing retaining structure that are a historic object was considered in the paper. Appropriate formulas for scores meeting additional conservation and aesthetic requirements were proposed. The method is used in the stabilization of the brick retaining wall, a part of the Wisłoujście Fortress located in Gdańsk, Poland. In order to compute the displacement of the wall and its stability, numerical analysis was performed by the two-dimensional explicit Finite Difference Method (using the FLAC2D software). The algorithm proposed could be beneficial to the protection of cultural heritage since it could also be applied to other structures, such as roof trusses, masonry walls, pillars, etc. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 2241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

MCDM Evaluation of Asset-Based Road Freight Transport Companies Using Key Drivers That Influence the Enterprise Value

by Edvardas Liachovičius, Viktor Skrickij and Askoldas Podviezko

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7259; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187259 - 04 Sep 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2401

Abstract

Business owners are trying to enhance company value by developing growth strategies. Besides, they need to know what supports and drives the attractiveness to potential investors. Previously to determine company value, only financial drivers were used. These are essential drivers; however, even they do not reflect the overall situation. This paper proposes a novel approach for the solution of the problem of business valuation by taking into account both financial and non-financial drivers and by using several MCDM (multiple criteria decision making) methods simultaneously both for establishing weights and for the evaluation itself. World-leading road freight transport companies were selected for a case study. MCDM methods were used for determining the weights of the drivers and comparing the listed companies. Key drivers were identified, and the ranking of companies is provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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22 pages, 4784 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodology of Planning the Course of the Cumulative Cost Curve in Construction Projects

by Jarosław Konior and Mariusz Szóstak

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062347 - 17 Mar 2020

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4651

Abstract

Appropriate planning and effective monitoring of the execution of construction projects is important with regard to their successful sustainment of implementation. Time and cost are key elements that determine the success or failure of construction projects. The obtaining of a rational S-curve course before the start of a construction project that reflects reality is important for all the participants involved in implementing an investment task. The article proposes an original methodology for planning the course of the cumulative cost curve in construction projects. It uses a method of shaping the S-curve, which is well-known in both literature and practical approaches. On the basis of the authors’ own research carried out in a homogeneous research group of hotel facilities, the areas of the curve for the correct planning of costs in construction projects were designated, which determine the boundaries of the predicted costs accumulated over time. The data for the development of the authors’ research methodology is the result of the authors’ own experience and professional work. The authors carried out Bank Investment Supervision in the years 2006–2019 on behalf of the banks that grant investment loans for non-public contracts. Knowing the total cost and duration of the planned construction project, which were determined on the basis of project documentation, cost estimates, and also their own database regarding planned and completed deadlines and budgets of similar investments, 6th degree polynomials of the real costs of the construction works were determined. This approach enabled the correct planning of costs over time and the determination of planned monthly amounts of construction works to be executed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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16 pages, 2452 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Group Decision-Making Support for Sustainable Governance of Algal Bloom in Urban Lakes

by Yi Yang, Yuting Bai, Xiaoyi Wang, Li Wang, Xuebo Jin and Qian Sun

Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1494; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041494 - 17 Feb 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2187

Abstract

Algal bloom is a typical pollution of urban lakes, which threatens drinking safety and breaks the urban landscape. It is pivotal to select a reasonable governance approach for sustainable management. A decision-making support method was studied in this paper. First, a general framework was designed to organize the rational decision-making processes. Second, quantitative calculation methods were proposed, including expert selection and opinion integration. The methods can determine the vital decision elements objectively and automatically. Third, the method was applied in Yuyuantan Lake in Beijing, China. The monitoring information and decision-making process are presented and the rank of governance alternatives is given. The comparison and discussion show that the group decision-making method is feasible and effective. It can assist the sustainable management of algal bloom. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Support Systems and Multiple Criteria Decision Making for Sustainable Development)

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