Title: A decision support system for assessing alternative projects for the design of a new road network: methodology and application of a case study

Authors: Peter Nijkamp, Francesca Torrieri, Ron Vreeker

Addresses: Department of Spatial Economics, Free University, De Boelelaan, 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Department of Conservation of Architectural and Environmental Assets, Via Roma, 402, I-80132 Naples, Italy. Department of Spatial Economics, Free University, De Boelelaan, 1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: This study aims to offer an applicable evaluation framework for assessing project alternatives by employing different multicriteria evaluation methods as a tool to reduce conflicts in a decision making process. The first part of the paper consists of a brief survey of the great diversity of modern assessment methods that have been developed in recent decades. This helps to provide a perspective for procedural types of decisions in which various qualitative and quantitative aspects are incorporated. The paper initially focuses on three recently developed techniques: Regime analysis, the Analytical Hierarchic Process (AHP) method and the Flag model. It advocates a merger of these methods. In the second part of the paper, the above-mentioned multicriteria methods are applied to a ||real-world|| case concerning the design of a new road network in the area of the Cilento National Park in Italy.

Keywords: evaluation; participation; multidimensional; conflicting objectives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMDM.2002.002468

International Journal of Management and Decision Making, 2002 Vol.3 No.2, pp.114-138

Published online: 18 Jul 2003 *

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