Title: A fuzzy multi-criteria decision analysis approach for the management of petroleum-contaminated sites

Authors: Jianbing Li, Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Ronald Wallen Thring

Addresses: Environmental Science and Engineering Program, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, V2N 4Z9 Canada; China–Canada Energy and Environmental Research Center, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China. ' Environmental Science and Engineering Programs, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, V2N 4Z9 Canada. ' Environmental Science and Engineering Programs, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, V2N 4Z9 Canada

Abstract: This paper presents an effective Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (FMCDA) approach for contaminated site management. The development was based on: selecting eight criteria for remedial alternative evaluation and determining the weight of criteria importance under uncertainty; addressing various uncertainty issues in remedial alternative assessment process using a fuzzy-set approach based on the questionnaire survey results; evaluating and ranking remedial alternatives by establishing a fuzzy evaluation matrix of remediation alternatives through comprehensively considering different stakeholder opinions and uncertainties within a general decision analysis framework. A case study on the remedial alternative selection for a contaminated site in western Canada is conducted to illustrate the efficiency and applicability of the developed approach.

Keywords: contaminated sites; fuzzy sets; fuzzy MCDA; FMCDA; multicriteria decision analysis; remediation alternatives; stakeholders; uncertainty; petroleum contamination; environmental pollution; contaminated site management; Canada.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2010.034236

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2010 Vol.42 No.1/2/3, pp.220 - 239

Published online: 30 Jul 2010 *

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