Search Results (265)

Currently, there is a lack of systematic and quantitative analytical tools for dust emission control in open-pit iron mines. To address this research gap, this study constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system by integrating the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) method. The framework includes four first-level indicators, 12 s-level indicators and 30 third-level indicators. The structural design was informed by laws and regulations, the relevant literature and the principle of dust hierarchical control to ensure the theoretical and empirical basis for the selection of indicators. The evaluation process was based on on-site monitoring data and production ledgers from the open-pit iron mine of the Shuichang Mine, as well as the results of multiple rounds of consultation by the Delphi method group composed of 30 experts in related industries. The results show that the comprehensive score of the mine is 87.14 points, and the overall prevention and control is effective. But the performance of each dimension is unbalanced: fundamental data on production processes scored highest, while individual exposure and protection measures were relatively weak, indicating that the personnel protection link needs to be strengthened. Sensitivity analysis further verified the structural stability of the index system and identified the ventilation and dust removal system as a key driving factor. This framework can provide quantitative decision support for mine managers, enhancing the precision and overall effectiveness of dust control through the accurate identification of weaknesses and optimized resource allocation. Full article

The increasing frequency of interior renovation and fit-out in office buildings raises concerns about indoor environmental quality, occupant health, and sustainability performance, yet existing certification systems remain largely design-stage or whole-building oriented and provide limited guidance for recurring renovation cycles. This study develops a health-oriented assessment framework for office interior renovation as a structured decision-support tool for practitioners and policymakers. We adopted an integrated approach combining a targeted literature review, expert consultation, the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) for indicator screening, and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for hierarchical weighting, based on an expert panel of 20 professionals spanning green building certification, architecture/interior design, MEP engineering, property/facility management, and energy/environmental consulting. Through consensus screening and weighting, four assessment dimensions and eighteen key indicators were identified and prioritized. Environmental quality was ranked highest (39.2%), followed by safety management (23.0%), functional usability (21.1%), and resource efficiency and circularity (16.7%). At the indicator level, indoor air quality management, Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) energy efficiency, space-friendly layout, preliminary assessment and planning, and thermal comfort emerged as the top priorities. Overall, the framework bridges the gap between certification-oriented evaluation and the operational realities of office renovation, enabling more consistent integration of health and sustainability considerations across renovation decision-making. Full article

Unsafe behaviors remain a major contributor to workplace accidents within broader safety-management systems. Acknowledging the essential influence of organizational and leadership factors, this study focuses on systematically identifying and prioritizing individual-level determinants of unsafe behavior through an integrated qualitative–quantitative methodology to clarify their specific role within the wider safety framework. Grounded Theory analysis of semi-structured interviews with 40 industry professionals yielded a conceptual model encompassing demographic characteristics, general health, individual competencies, personality traits, and psychological factors. Subsequently, the Fuzzy Delphi Method, applied with 20 domain experts, validated and ranked these determinants. The analysis highlighted risk perception as the most influential factor, followed by work experience, skill level, knowledge, and risk-taking propensity, whereas variables such as family welfare, substance use, and self-display exhibited relatively minor effects. These findings reveal the multidimensional nature of unsafe behavior and underscore the importance of focusing on high-impact personal attributes to enhance workplace safety. By recognizing that many individual factors are shaped by organizational and psychosocial conditions, the study provides evidence-based insights for developing integrated safety management and targeted intervention strategies in industrial settings. Full article

In the context of a low-carbon economy, automotive parts supply chains face multifaceted risks, making an effective supply chain risk assessment model a crucial means of ensuring supply chain stability. Traditional evaluation methods struggle to comprehensively and accurately identify all influencing factors and their interrelationships in automotive parts supply chains. This article constructs an evaluation model based on the principle of symmetry. The “structural symmetry” is determined by the ratio of the completeness of risk dimension coverage in the indicator system to the precision of indicators, while “fusion symmetry” refers to the degree of equilibrium in information contribution during the fusion of subjective and objective weights. First, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and the Delphi method are adopted to establish a risk evaluation index system, whereby structural symmetry is ensured by the equilibrium between the completeness of risk dimension coverage and the accuracy of indicators in the index system. Second, drawing on the symmetric fusion principle, this study proposes a hybrid evaluation approach integrating hesitant fuzzy DEMATEL with entropy weight-coefficient of variation (HDEC), and the fusion symmetry is guaranteed by the balanced integration of subjective and objective weight information. Finally, a case study of an automotive parts supply chain enterprise quantitatively assesses and ranks risk factors, with corresponding countermeasures proposed. The symmetry-guided HDEC method achieves high accuracy, identifying indicator–causal relationships. Compared with the traditional entropy-weighted AHP algorithm, the Pearson correlation coefficient is 0.8566, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient is 0.88, indicating strong weight correlation and robust stability. The integration of mathematical symmetry enhances the model’s theoretical rigor, which aligns with symmetry-oriented optimization research. Full article

The CE has attracted widespread interest due to the urgent issues of climate change and resource depletion. The implementation of the CE within small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is crucial, as they play a major economic role globally, including significant contributions to CO₂ emissions and resource depletion in developing countries. The existing literature has primarily examined the factors that hinder and enable the adoption of the CE in SMEs in developed nations. The most critical gap in the previously mentioned literature is the very slow adoption of the CE in developing nations, attributable to a limited understanding of the drivers of its adoption. Through a systematic literature review (PRISMA 2020) and content analysis, we identified 52 potential drivers, which were refined to 33 final drivers using the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) with 20 experts from six developing countries. These drivers were categorized using the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework and prioritized through IVIF-BWM with 15 experts. The results show that 33 drivers of CE adoption are classified into three groups: economic, environmental, and social/organizational. Environmental drivers accounted for 53.02% of the total weight, followed by social/organizational (24.85%) and economic (22.14%) drivers. The three most significant drivers identified were from the environmental drivers category, while purely financial drivers ranked notably lower than expected. These findings suggest that policymakers in developing countries should prioritize regulatory frameworks and environmental infrastructure over financial incentives alone and that SME owners prioritize resource security and compliance for CE transition. Full article

The Civil Aviation Administration of China mandates comprehensive evaluations of emergency response effectiveness. However, existing studies predominantly focus on evaluating response capabilities rather than actual effectiveness. This leads to evaluation results deviating from reality. Other studies evaluating response effectiveness are mostly limited by incomplete indicator systems and flawed algorithms. To address the questions, this study takes runway unsafe events as the study subject, focuses on evaluating response effectiveness, examines common evaluation methodologies, identifies critical gaps in indicator systems, and discusses traditional algorithmic vulnerabilities. Utilizing the Delphi method and fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, this study establishes a four-tier indicator system encompassing evaluation objectives, phases, processes, and elements and proposes an optimized model incorporating scoring criteria, indicator weights, and correction coefficients designed to mitigate inherent algorithmic vulnerabilities prevalent in traditional methodologies. Finally, two simulation verifications based on real incidents demonstrate that the model of emergency response effectiveness at civil airports has a notable improvement in evaluation accuracy. Full article

Digital Transformation (DTN) and Social Media Use (SMU) are reshaping how firms pursue competitiveness and sustainability. Yet, their combined effects on Sustainable Business Performance (SBP)—particularly in emerging-market retail contexts—remain insufficiently explored. This study contributes to closing this gap by exploring how DTN and SMU jointly enhance SBP through interrelated organizational capabilities: Collaboration Networks (CNS), Service Innovation (SIN), Customer Experience (CEX), Organizational Resilience (ORE), and Competitive Advantage (CAE). A dual-method design was adopted. In Phase 1, twenty-three experts participated in a three-round electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) process, during which Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering was used to refine forty-seven indicators and validate expert consensus. The integration of e-Delphi and FCM clustering introduces a novel approach to consensus validation, enhancing methodological rigor. In Phase 2, survey data from 982 Thai retail executives were evaluated employing Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results revealed that DTN and SMU significantly improve SBP when mediated by SIN, CEX, and ORE. Specifically, SMU fosters CNS and SIN, whereas DTN strengthens CEX and CAE. Theoretically, this study integrates the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT); empirically, it provides rare large-scale evidence from Thailand’s retail industry; and practically, it positions DTN as a driving force behind innovation, resilience, and inclusive development consistent aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

The hospitality industry plays a pivotal role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the foodservice sector bears specific responsibilities for reducing environmental impacts and embedding sustainability in practice. Meeting these goals requires chefs to pair technical expertise with ecological responsibility. This study establishes a structured competency indicators framework for sustainable chefs by synthesizing principles from sustainable food systems and culinary practice. We applied the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) with dual triangular fuzzy numbers across two expert rounds. In round 1, 47 of 61 indicators met the consensus threshold; 5 new indicators were added based on expert suggestions. Round 2 achieved full convergence, confirming a final set of 38 sustainable chef competency indicators across six domains. The framework clarifies the competencies required of sustainability-oriented chefs and provides a practical basis for curriculum design, workforce training, and sustainability strategies within the hospitality sector. Full article

The adoption of Product-Service Systems (PSSs) is an important strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), although they face challenges connected to the scarcity of financial, human, and technological resources. Thus, this article seeks to propose a framework that integrates the barriers, drivers, innovation process, and business model elements associated with the adoption of PSSs in Brazilian industrial SMEs to offer guidelines for improvements to the strategies and practices adopted by such enterprises. The research adopted the Fuzzy Delphi method, applied to a panel of ten executives and managers of Brazilian industrial SMEs. This approach was employed to consensually validate a set of variables obtained from recent scientific literature. The results indicate that the adoption of PSSs by Brazilian industrial SMEs is influenced by structural, cultural, and technological barriers, yet driven by factors such as sustainability, customer relations, and competitiveness. Despite the acknowledgement of the importance of innovation, the processes remain little structured, with value proposition, the human factor, and stakeholder relations standing out as central elements in the business models. Through this study proposes specific strategic guidelines for four critical categories: provider enterprise, consumers, PSSs, and environmental aspects. Such guidelines can support managers in formulating practical actions for adopting PSSs, in addition to being replicable by other SMEs with similar characteristics. This research contributes to the literature originally by expanding the knowledge about the reality of PSS adoption by SMEs in emerging economies, thereby bridging a literature gap that still addresses their specificities generically. Full article

Industrial heritage is increasingly becoming an important resource for sustainable urban renewal. With the acceleration of deindustrialization and urban transformation, Adaptive Reuse (AR) is regarded as the core path connecting heritage protection and functional renewal. Balancing the diverse value dimensions of AR has also become a key research focus. However, existing research mostly focuses on financial returns and investment efficiency, ignoring the long-term impact of community space and cultural dimensions on economic feasibility; at the same time, culture is often simplified into a tool for asset appreciation and urban branding, lacking a systematic model that reveals the structural role of culture in economic feasibility. Therefore, this study constructs a multi-attribute decision-making framework that integrates economic performance, community space, and cultural value. Using Guangzhou Guanggang New City as a representative case, the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM), Analytic Network Process (ANP), and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) were employed to screen and rank the highest-priority reuse schemes. The results show that the economic dimension holds the highest overall weight, followed by the community and cultural dimensions. This suggests that economic feasibility remains a key prerequisite for industrial heritage renewal, while cultural and community factors play an important supporting role in achieving long-term sustainability. This study provides a quantifiable assessment path for the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage and offers a basis for decision making in other cities seeking a balance between economic rationality and cultural sustainability. Full article

Informal settlements accommodate more than one billion people worldwide, yet their intricate urban forms are frequently perceived as chaotic, which impedes the formulation of sustainable upgrading strategies. The main objective of this research is to bridge a major methodological gap by developing analytical tools that can systematically decode the inherent spatial logic of such environments. This paper develops and applies an integrated four-part morphological framework designed to provide a deep, form-based reading of informal urbanism. The framework’s indicators were systematically derived from an extensive review of the literature and subsequently validated through the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) with a panel of 15 experts, ensuring analytical robustness. The validated framework was then applied to the Saadi neighborhood, a representative informal settlement in Shiraz, Iran, using a multi-scalar, mixed-methods approach that integrated GIS, remote sensing, and in-depth field surveys. The analysis produced a comprehensive analytical atlas, culminating in a detailed morphological profile. The findings identify Saadi’s urban form not as disordered, but as a ‘consolidating, low-rise, fine-grained fabric shaped by topography,’ revealing a clear, self-organized spatial logic. The study concludes that the proposed framework is a robust and replicable tool for moving beyond pejorative descriptions of informality. By providing an evidence-based method to read the physical language of these settlements, the approach offers a crucial foundation for developing more context-sensitive and sustainable urban upgrading strategies. Full article

Sustainable Development (SD) has increasingly become a core strategic direction. This study centers on the automotive industry, serving as the primary focus for both research and empirical analysis. If Taiwan’s automotive industry can successfully achieve transformation, it will generate a more advanced multiplier effect on the overall development of Taiwan’s industries. The study confirms that Lean Management (LM) and SD can effectively produce synergistic effects. Digital Transformation (DT) is increasingly recognized as a key driver of future business development. Exploring the interrelationships among SD, LM, and DT presents a strategic and practical research direction. Findings from this study suggest that integrating LM and DT can generate synergies that enhance resource efficiency, minimize waste, and improve both environmental and social performance. The primary objective of this study is to develop a structured framework connecting SD, LM, and DT by utilizing the House of Quality (HoQ) from the Quality Function Deployment methodology. The research employs multiple attribute decision-making techniques, including the Fuzzy Delphi Method, the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process, and the Compromise Ranking Method. By constructing and analyzing two HoQs, the study identifies key LM practices and DT technologies that serve as critical strategies for advancing SD performance. Finally, with regard to LM practices, no previous research has attempted to conduct a hierarchical classification. This study is the first to construct a hierarchical structure for Just-in-Time and Jidoka. Full article

With the rapid increase in global trade in recent years, the demand for maritime transportation has significantly intensified vessel activity, leading to a considerable rise in carbon emissions originating from the maritime sector. As a result, in line with the 2050 decarbonization targets set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU), legal regulations addressing carbon emissions have been dynamically tightened and gradually enacted. This study aims to determine the significance levels of the factors affecting the maritime sector in response to carbon emission regulations and to reveal the interrelationships among these factors. In this context, the criteria regarding the impacts of climate-related carbon emission regulations were identified based on expert opinions using the Fuzzy Delphi method. The interaction strengths and significance levels among the factors were analyzed using the Fuzzy DEMATEL method, and the relationships were modeled through Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). According to the findings, “Fuel Preferences and Alternative Fuel Usage” (C2) emerged as the most critical factor under recent international regulations. “Adaptation to International and National Regulations” (C8) and “Port Infrastructure” (C3) were also identified as the key factors impacting shipping industry efficiency. The analysis revealed that “Logistics Costs” (C5) and “Environmental Protection and Sustainability” (C7) are the most significantly affected outcome factors within the system. The hierarchical structural modeling revealed that “Port Infrastructure” (C3) serves as a defining starting point within the system. This study contributes to the literature by uncovering the causal relationships among the factors determining the effectiveness of ever-evolving carbon emission regulations. It offers a valuable decision-support tool for maritime companies and policymakers. Accordingly, it provides an alternative roadmap and a structural model indicating which strategic areas should be prioritized to achieve the targeted low-carbon emission goals in maritime transportation. Full article

International building sustainability assessment tools (BSATs) offer a comprehensive framework for assessing environmental, economic, and social sustainability. However, these tools cannot fill the gap between their standards and the regional needs of developing countries such as Morocco. This paper presents a new framework to assess the sustainability of buildings in Morocco. The methodology proposed is the Fuzzy Delphi method to minimize the list of indicators with the help of 14 local experts and give an appropriate weight to the indicators and sub-indicators. The two-round analysis found a balanced weighting for the environmental, economic, and social dimensions, with the social pillar ranked highest in importance. A hierarchical framework of six consensus-based categories and 63 sub-indicators was developed. Consensus was measured using the dispersion threshold approach ≤ 0.2. The results show that waste and pollution (0.80), adaptability and resilience (0.78), and resources (0.75) are prioritized over the innovation category. Notably, sewage management, water reuse, and public infrastructure emerged as critical sub-indicators. A comparative evaluation against local BSATs from the region—Ethiopia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Oman—revealed convergence in core indicators like energy and water, yet divergence in economic and resilience criteria, reflecting regional specificities. This work contributes to the literature by presenting a validated, expert-driven assessment tool that aligns with local needs, offering a practical basis for national green certification and sustainable housing policy in Morocco and similar contexts. Full article

The increasing construction-driven growth in urbanization requires innovative and holistic design approaches for sustainable housing. This study examines the relationship between Minimalist Design Principles (MDPs) and the UN SDGs and develops a multi-stage decision-support model to operationalize these links. The research adopts a five-stage mixed-methods design. It includes content analysis based on a systematic literature review, conceptual mapping, a two-round Delphi method (N = 56), Fuzzy AHP for criteria weighting, and SEM for model validation. A total of 13 MDPs were mapped against 17 SDGs and 169 subtargets, revealing particularly strong linkages with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The SEM results confirm the structural validity of the proposed model. Among the minimalist principles, those associated with “resource, material, and process simplification” and “user needs, functional flexibility, and quality of life” emerged as the most influential factors for the SDGs. This study proposes a measurable, multidimensional decision-support model in sustainable architecture that clarifies how MDPs influence the SDGs. Full article