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The focus on environment and climate-friendly farming is increasingly important in the European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Activities of the Measure M10 "Agri-environment and Climate" of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 were those policy instruments that pursued environmental and climate goals over large areas under agricultural activities, but their effectiveness is still being questioned. After evaluating implementation successes and failures of the activities of the Measure M10 "Agri-environment and Climate" of the Lithuanian RDP 2014–2020, we aim to contribute to policy instruments that are better designed, more effective, and more attractive for farmers to achieve environmental and climate goals. This research was conducted in several stages: (1) a thorough analysis of the Measure M10 and its implementation; (2) analysis of the Measure M10 activities' contribution to the policy target areas; (3) multi-criteria evaluation of the activities; (4) survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups. The data available from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Agricultural Data Center, and National Paying Agency under Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania was used for the analysis. Analysis of the strategic documents and data on the implementation of Measure M10 was supplemented with results from studies focused on the environmental impact of the implementation of Measure M10 in Lithuania. Multi-criteria evaluation methods were used to arrange the activities of the Measure with respect to the selected indicators. The results from the survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups let us better clarify the motives, experiences, and preferences of farmers' participation in the activities of Measure M10. The questionnaire was distributed to 2455 beneficiaries through the National Paying Agency and 342 answers were received back, i.e., 13.9%. Five discussions in focus groups, formed from farmers participating and not participating in the activities, representatives of implementing institutions, and employees of consulting and scientific institutions, were organized. The research has revealed areas for improvement in Measure M10, and suggestions for improvement were prepared to better achieve environmental and climate objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, we tried to gauge the trends of localization preferences for residential buildings among young adults. The pragmatic dimension of these studies is important in the process of real estate investment, where a location can be expressed using indicators and statistical data and then, using maps, indicate preferred areas for living in a small town. The aim of our research was to examine and visualize the preferences of young people for living locations in relation to access to services. We conducted an online survey using a Likert scale to determine which services and amenities are most important for young residents. Using multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) methods and their formulas, we calculated the attractiveness coefficient of the location of residential buildings, which we propose to call the RBLAF (Residential Building's Localization Attractiveness Factor). The results of this research are maps: qualitative–quantitative with point symbols for the structure of services and quantitative isochromatics showing the preferences of potential future investors in real estate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides have a profound impact on landscape geology, resulting in extensive devastation and loss of human lives. Mapping landslide susceptibility is crucial for effective land use planning in mountainous country like Ethiopia. This study was conducted in the upper Didessa sub-basin, southwestern parts of Ethiopia using Geographic Information System (GIS) and multi criteria evaluation (MCE) technique. This study employed a blend of primary data, encompassing field surveys and interviews with experts, as well as secondary data derived from diverse source, such as remote sensing data, digital soil maps, and geological maps. A total of eleven critical factors were employed to assess the triggers of landslides. These factors include slope, aspect, drainage density, topographic wetness index (TWI), stream power index (SPI), topographic ruggedness index (TRI), hypsometric integral, lithology, land use land cover (LULC), soil texture, and distance from roads. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to determine the significance of each indicator through pairwise comparison matrix. The study area was categorized into different zones based on the susceptibility to landslides, namely very high, high, moderate, low, and very low. Results revealed that cultivated land had the highest likelihood of experiencing landslides, with a total of nine incidents out of 25, followed by built-up areas with seven landslides. Conversely, dense forests, sparse forests, and grazing land experienced a lower likelihood of landslides. Out of the 11 factors contributing to landslides, 24% of the surveyed region was deemed to have a moderate susceptibility, with 12% and 6% falling into the categories of high and very high susceptibility to landslides, respectively. The findings of this research provide important information for policymakers to develop efficient measures for preventing and reducing the risks of landslides.

The goal of this work was to characterize potential biological agents responsible for biodeterioration in heritage buildings identified as Costa Rican Caribbean architecture using a multidisciplinary approach. First, an inventory of buildings of Caribbean architecture from Limón City was elaborated. Then, a multi-criteria evaluation system was used to define priority scores to select buildings for sampling and analysis. Selected buildings were sampled for potential biological agents responsible for biodeterioration. Wood samples were taken from sections showing visual damage and fungi were isolated and characterized using Sanger sequencing. A basic profile of Costa Rican Caribbean architecture was established. A preliminary identification of 101 buildings that satisfied the basic profile of characteristics was con-ducted. Subsequently, these buildings were classified into 4 typologies from which 23 buildings belonging to Typologies 1 and 2 were chosen for the collection and registration of data. Applying the multi-criteria evaluation, 6 buildings with final scores higher than 60 points were selected from which the 1st (Casa Misionera Bautista) and 3rd (Antigua Capitanía de Puerto) in the classification were selected for further characterization of biological agents. From the sampling conducted on these two buildings. A total of 36 fungi were isolated. All fungi identified belonged to the fungal group Ascomycota phylum, the most common genera being Trichoderma, Fusarium, and Penicillium. The study shows how multidisciplinary studies can improve the process of decision-making in the preservation of heritage with the use of a ranking obtained for each building in the multi-criteria evaluation and the use of advanced techniques for the identification of biological agents.

Copyright of Investigaciones Turisticas is the property of Investigaciones Turisticas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Public procurement has gained a heightened role in responding to grand societal challenges. Additional goals besides the more traditional objectives for public procurement have produced conflicts and raised the question of how to assess public procurement comprehensively. In this article, we explore the impact model created for the National Public Procurement Strategy of Finland. We investigate the main positions from where to value and assess public procurement and the key conflicts between the different positions. The national strategy of Finland emphasizes that public organizations should put more weight on secondary policy goals. However, this seems to produce "paradoxes," as partly contradicting goals are pursued simultaneously. The article shows that it is possible to highlight both the strategic and operational roles of public procurement. However, the existence of the paradoxes is important to take into account in governing public procurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of hydrogeologic framework model (HFM)‐based steady‐ and transient‐state numerical simulations is performed first using a coupled subsurface flow‐transport numerical model to analyze groundwater flow and salt transport in an actual three‐dimensional complex coastal aquifer system before and during groundwater pumping. A series of analytic hierarchy process (AHP)‐based multi‐criteria evaluations is then performed applying a multi‐criteria decision‐making approach to determine optimal pumping location and rate for a new pumping well in the complex coastal aquifer system during groundwater pumping. The complex coastal aquifer system is composed of six anisotropic fractured porous geologic media (five rock formations and one fault) and three isotropic porous geologic media (three soil formations) and shows high geometric irregularity and significant heterogeneity and anisotropy of the nine geologic media. Results of the steady‐state numerical simulations show successful model calibration with 26 measured groundwater levels and two observed seawater intrusion front lines. The latter two are determined by spatial interpolation and extrapolation of electrical conductivity logging data and electrical resistivity survey data, respectively. Based on the status and prospect of necessary water uses and available groundwater resources, the field observations of groundwater and seawater intrusion, and the analyses of the steady‐state numerical simulation after the model calibration, six candidate pumping locations are selected for the new pumping well. In addition, from six preliminary individual transient‐state numerical simulations, maximum pumping rates at the six candidate pumping locations are calculated first, and a set of six incremental candidate pumping rates is then assigned at each of the six candidate pumping locations. Results of the transients‐state numerical simulations show that groundwater flow and salt transport are spatially and temporally changed, and seawater intrusion is further intensified by groundwater pumping. In addition, the magnitudes of such spatial and temporal changes and intensification are significantly different depending on the candidate pumping locations and rates. Results of the steady‐ and transient‐state numerical simulations also show that both complexity (geometric irregularity, heterogeneity, and anisotropy including the fault) and topography have significant effects on the spatial distributions and temporal changes of groundwater flow and salt transport in the coastal aquifer system before and during groundwater pumping. In addition, results of statistical estimations of the mesh Peclet and Courant numbers confirm acceptabilities of minimizing numerical dispersion in the steady‐ and transient‐state numerical simulations. Based on the analyses of the transient‐state numerical simulations, eight multiple criteria are chosen to judge, prioritize, and rank the six candidate pumping locations and six candidate pumping rates for optimal pumping. Results of the multi‐criteria evaluations determine the optimal pumping location and rate for the new pumping well among the six candidate pumping locations and six candidate pumping rates. In addition, results of consistency checks confirm consistencies of judgments in the multi‐criteria evaluations. Key Points: Numerical simulations with successful model calibration show that spatial and temporal changes in groundwater flow and salt transport significantly depend on candidate pumping locations and ratesStatistical estimations of the mesh Peclet and Courant numbers confirm acceptabilities of minimizing numerical dispersion in the numerical simulationsMulti‐criteria evaluations determine optimal pumping location and rate, and consistency checks confirm consistencies of judgments in the multi‐criteria evaluations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the background of rapid urbanization, a series of urgent problems have emerged in China, such as tightening resource constraints and intensifying land use conflicts (LUCs). Based on the perspective of agricultural production – residents’ life – ecological security, this study took China as the study area, applied the multi-criteria evaluation analysis method to diagnose the LUC type based on spatial statistics, coupling relationship matrix, comprehensive conflict index, and spatial autocorrelation model, then divided the LUC risk changes into seven patterns, and analyzed their spatial evolution characteristics. The results demonstrated that the scale of competition for scarce land between agriculture, construction, and ecology increased by 3.4 % over the last 20-year period. High conflict zone was mainly located in the eastern plains, which was also the main distribution zone of agriculture-construction conflict, while the agriculture-ecology conflict zone was mainly located in the west. Over time, LUC risk grade changed in 14.3 % of the study area, with the largest area of transitions from no conflict to moderate conflict (34.78 %). High intensification zone coincided almost entirely with ecologically fragile regions of the Midwest, underscoring the critical importance of LUC perspectives in ecological conservation. We provided a new perspective for the study of LUC changes and a scientific reference for realizing sustainable land use management in China and other regions.

Abstract ‘Not in My Back Yard (NIMBY)’ facilities are psychologically sensitive to urban and regional development. Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) method has been widely used for the decision-making of optimum siting of urban NIMBY facilities which aim to improve residents’ psychological satisfaction. However, the evaluation of qualitative criteria in siting analysis remains under researched, such as the insufficient focus on urban and regional spatial development, social public opinion, and psychological factors. Thus, the effective improvement of MCE method through an interdisciplinary view can optimise the decision process and advance the factor assessment system of siting, which helps to supplement qualitative criteria evaluation. The specific improvement steps are as follows. The first step is to introduce the mixed MCE method to improve the qualitative criteria evaluation method by pre-processing qualitative criteria with min–max standardisation and normalization. This process transfers all negative factors to positive ones and transforms the F function to linear functions. The second step is to optimise the existing two-phase siting decision-making including the feasibility evaluation phase and the MCE phase. The third step is to propose a modular criteria system composed of urban and regional spatial planning, social psychological factors and the corresponding improvement strategy of this system from three perspectives of composition, measure, and weight. We argue that the improved method could be broadly applied to optimum siting decision of urban NIMBY facilities and enhance the psychological satisfaction of residents.

Decision-making for the refurbishment of multi-family residential buildings is a complex and computationally difficult task. Therefore, the authors have developed a model that supports modernization planning in a long-term and comprehensive manner, i.e. from assessing the building to indicating the optimal scope of modernization. The comprehensive scope of the model includes the acquisition and provision of relevant knowledge to the model. The original methods proposed for its acquisition are derived from common expert knowledge based on linguistic terms. The methods adopted are not mandatory and may be replaced by others that provide more reliable knowledge. The fundamental aim of the proposed approach, however, is to select the optimal modernization option and allocate it over the planned modernization time horizon. An innovative optimisation approach based on decision matrices is used, allowing the selection of possible scenarios of repair options at each stage. These matrices are a set of constraints written in binary variables allowing the optimisation calculus to maintain a fixed sequence of repairs. In addition, the solutions used in the optimisation modules make it possible to take into account assumptions regarding the assumed assessment of the building’s condition and financial constraints. The developed model provides a practical and versatile tool that can be used by managers at the maintenance stage of residential buildings.

This paper presents a proposal for a multi-criteria evaluation methodology for partial building structures. The use of the multi-criteria methodology allows, in contrast to the usual assessment of the sustainability of buildings (e.g. for building certification), the assessment of individual building structures, which is essential, especially for the renovation or reconstruction of existing buildings. The survey aims at administrative buildings of public administration, however, the design of the methodology can be applied to a variety of building structures. The authors carried out research into innovative ways of using building information tools that are important for making the overall property management in facility management more efficient. The paper focuses on the possibility of using information based on these building information tools. One of the possibilities how to make building management more efficient and increase human performance can be using building-specific information along with providing a pleasant healthy workplace. Maintenance, renovation or reconstruction represent a significant cost over the entire life cycle. However, it is necessary to set limit conditions defining the level above which the condition of buildings should be maintained in relation to their purpose and demands placed on them. The article also responds to an anticipated EU decision that shall lead to renovations or reconstructions of office buildings as a result of efforts to reduce their emissions impact and energy intensity. Thanks to the proposed methodology, the owner which specifically in this article is the state and public administration, will be able to better evaluate both the financial impact and other criteria important for the choice of a specific type of construction, product and implementation procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Not in My Back Yard (NIMBY)' facilities are psychologically sensitive to urban and regional development. Multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) method has been widely used for the decision-making of optimum siting of urban NIMBY facilities which aim to improve residents' psychological satisfaction. However, the evaluation of qualitative criteria in siting analysis remains under researched, such as the insufficient focus on urban and regional spatial development, social public opinion, and psychological factors. Thus, the effective improvement of MCE method through an interdisciplinary view can optimise the decision process and advance the factor assessment system of siting, which helps to supplement qualitative criteria evaluation. The specific improvement steps are as follows. The first step is to introduce the mixed MCE method to improve the qualitative criteria evaluation method by pre-processing qualitative criteria with min–max standardisation and normalization. This process transfers all negative factors to positive ones and transforms the F function to linear functions. The second step is to optimise the existing two-phase siting decision-making including the feasibility evaluation phase and the MCE phase. The third step is to propose a modular criteria system composed of urban and regional spatial planning, social psychological factors and the corresponding improvement strategy of this system from three perspectives of composition, measure, and weight. We argue that the improved method could be broadly applied to optimum siting decision of urban NIMBY facilities and enhance the psychological satisfaction of residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecotourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry nowadays. Ethiopia is not effectively using its rich and endemic wildlife species for ecotourism due to various physical and socioeconomic factors. Masha district has also abundant and valuable natural and cultural resources that can be developed into ecotourism, but the district was not used its attractive resources for ecotourism. The current study was initiated to select potential sites for ecotourism using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing as a decision support tool in Masha district, Southwest Ethiopia. This study employed Geographic Information System-based Multi-Criteria Evaluation Method because it was commonly used technique in suitable site selection. To achieve the objective of this study, about even physical and socioeconomic parameters were selected through the literature review. Then, weights for each factor were assigned based on Analytical Hierarchy Process using pairwise comparison matrices. Based on the overlay result, a thematic map of potential ecotourism sites was produced. The final results reveal that about 21.2% of the study area was classified as highly suitable potential ecotourism sites whereas about 59 and 19.5% of the district were under moderately and marginally suitable classes. But, only the small portion of the district (0.4%) was considered as not currently suitable site for ecotourism. Therefore, decision-makers should give a due attention to advertise the selected suitable site for both local and foreign tourists in order to develop the district as one of the ecotourism destination areas in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Control Theory & Applications / Kongzhi Lilun Yu Yinyong is the property of Editorial Department of Control Theory & Applications and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The primary objective of the article is to evaluate the innovation potential of Central and Eastern European Union countries. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution method was employed to assess and rank this potential. The research was based on 10 indicators that characterize the main areas related to innovation, namely intellectual capital (as a measure of social innovative capacity), financial capital (as a measure of the potential for financing research and development) as well as research and innovation activities. Three objective approaches were used to calculate weights of these evaluation criteria (in the TOPSIS method): Shanon–Entropy, criteria importance through intercriteria correlation and equal weights. As a evaluate of the level of innovation potential of studied CEE countries between 2013 and 2022, the determined values of the Innovation Potential Index were used to evaluate the studied countries and divide them into four groups. With the use of the two non-parametric test, the relationships of this index with selected parameters were also measured. The research results show that the innovation potential level of CEE countries is highly differentiated. Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Estonia, countries investing in R&D and social development, were found to have a high level of innovation. The remaining countries need to take more decisive action in the areas studied to improve their level of innovation. The methodology developed for the research, the conducted study, and the resulting findings offer opportunities to analyze the indicators and areas studied, and through this to implement strategies for building an innovative knowledge-based economy both by the countries in question and the EU as a whole.

Deforestation is the main challenge that forests in Ethiopia are currently facing. Identifying the factors that have the most significant impact on woody vegetation coverage will help sustain the remaining forests and increase woody vegetation coverage in severely degraded landscapes. Therefore, this study was conducted in the Mugulat area of northern Ethiopia to determine the magnitude of woody vegetation cover change and quantify the vulnerability of woody vegetation to disturbances using GIS techniques. Landsat images from 1984, 2000, and 2017 were used for this study. Multi-criteria evaluation through the overlay weight analysis of ArcGIS 10.5 was used to evaluate the vulnerability of woody vegetation to disturbance risk. Cultivated land increased by 35.04 % from 28.51 km2 in 1984 to 38.51 km2 in 2017. Shrubland alarmingly almost reduced by half (47.49 % %) from 24.44 km2 in 1984 to 12.83 km2 in 2017. Over the last 30 years, forest land increased from 4.70 km2 in 2017 to 3.71 km2 in 1984. Along with a forest cover increase of 26.64 %, the results show that woody vegetation cover declined from 48.35 % in 1984 to 32.95 % in 2017, corresponding to an annual loss of 27.42 ha. The significant decline in shrublands is an indicator of the vulnerability of the woody vegetation cover in the study area. Over 50 % and 25 % of the vegetation cover range from very high to high vulnerability, respectively, and are susceptible to disturbance. Restoration measures must be implemented to reduce the vulnerability of the woody vegetation cover. Policymakers and decision-makers should focus on nature-based solutions and climate-smart agriculture, which can contribute to increasing woody vegetation cover.

This article presents the importance of geological studies for identifying the most suitable areas for regional and urban planning in Greece. Termed as geological suitability studies, these studies aim to determine the geological suitability of land to protect the built environment from natural hazards and hazards associated with human interventions and activities. Key areas of focus include the exploitation of geological resources and the protection of the geological environment. In addition, the application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) for assessing geological parameters, which are crucial for the delimitation of geologically suitable zones, are discussed. Furthermore, the article explores how GIS and MCE can be applied in the development of geological suitability models.

The focus on environment and climate-friendly farming is increasingly important in the European Union (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Activities of the Measure M10 “Agri-environment and Climate” of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 were those policy instruments that pursued environmental and climate goals over large areas under agricultural activities, but their effectiveness is still being questioned. After evaluating implementation successes and failures of the activities of the Measure M10 “Agri-environment and Climate” of the Lithuanian RDP 2014–2020, we aim to contribute to policy instruments that are better designed, more effective, and more attractive for farmers to achieve environmental and climate goals. This research was conducted in several stages: (1) a thorough analysis of the Measure M10 and its implementation; (2) analysis of the Measure M10 activities’ contribution to the policy target areas; (3) multi-criteria evaluation of the activities; (4) survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups. The data available from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania, Agricultural Data Center, and National Paying Agency under Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania was used for the analysis. Analysis of the strategic documents and data on the implementation of Measure M10 was supplemented with results from studies focused on the environmental impact of the implementation of Measure M10 in Lithuania. Multi-criteria evaluation methods were used to arrange the activities of the Measure with respect to the selected indicators. The results from the survey of beneficiaries and discussions in the focus groups let us better clarify the motives, experiences, and preferences of farmers’ participation in the activities of Measure M10. The questionnaire was distributed to 2455 beneficiaries through the National Paying Agency and 342 answers were received back, i.e., 13.9%. Five discussions in focus groups, formed from farmers participating and not participating in the activities, representatives of implementing institutions, and employees of consulting and scientific institutions, were organized. The research has revealed areas for improvement in Measure M10, and suggestions for improvement were prepared to better achieve environmental and climate objectives.

In this study, we tried to gauge the trends of localization preferences for residential buildings among young adults. The pragmatic dimension of these studies is important in the process of real estate investment, where a location can be expressed using indicators and statistical data and then, using maps, indicate preferred areas for living in a small town. The aim of our research was to examine and visualize the preferences of young people for living locations in relation to access to services. We conducted an online survey using a Likert scale to determine which services and amenities are most important for young residents. Using multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) methods and their formulas, we calculated the attractiveness coefficient of the location of residential buildings, which we propose to call the RBLAF (Residential Building’s Localization Attractiveness Factor). The results of this research are maps: qualitative–quantitative with point symbols for the structure of services and quantitative isochromatics showing the preferences of potential future investors in real estate.

The increase of the urban population in the world and the associated economic expansion have accelerated municipal solid waste (MSW) production. About 40% of the world's waste is disposed of inappropriately in open dumps and/or only partially controlled landfills. Many types of waste are mixed and disposed without treatment in illegal dumpsites or non-sanitary landfills, especially in developing countries such as Brazil. This research aims to identify areas for the implementation of landfills in the tropical climate of the Metropolitan Region of Salvador (MRS), Brazil, which generates approximately 4900 tons of MSW per day. In a first step, geographic information system (GIS) is used to apply Boolean logic to 15 restrictive criteria based on Brazilian legislation. In a second step, locations found to be legally appropriate are ranked with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in a multi-criteria decision approach using 11 non-restrictive criteria based on technical knowledge and literature. Results show that 6% of the areas are classified as highly suitable, 16% as suitable, 9% not suitable, and 69% with legal restrictions. The result of this study serves as a guide for suitably siting landfills in the MRS and similar regions in the world, reducing costs and biased assessments potentially implied by empirical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the effects of saltwater intrusion from rising sea water levels, climate change, and socioeconomic issues, the Nga Nam district in Vietnam has suffered damage to its agriculture and changes in agricultural land use. This study aimed to investigate the factors that influenced land use changes and to propose approaches to limit the changes in agricultural land use. The damage caused by saltwater intrusion on agricultural production was evaluated via the use of secondary data collected from the Department of Infrastructure Economics of the Nga Nam district in the period of 2010–2021. The results show that during the 2010–2015 period, agricultural production areas were affected in 2010, 2012, and 2015. In the period of 2015–2021, the trend of saltwater intrusion along the damaged area remarkably decreased due to the work of saltwater-preventing structures. In this period, the area of annual plants increased, while that of fruit trees decreased. In the area comprising annual plants, the area using the triple rice land use type converted into an area using the double rice and double rice–fish ones. Lands for fruit trees transitioned from mixed farming to specialized farming to raise the economic efficiency for farmers. These changes were affected by four main factors: the physical factor, the economy, society, and the environment. The environmental and economic factors were seen to play the most important role as drivers of changes in land use. The factors of saltwater intrusion and acid-sulfate-contaminated soil, consumer markets, floods, drought, profit, and investments were noted to be significant drivers in agricultural land use change. Thus, both structural and non-structural approaches are suggested to inhibit the safeguard changes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision-making for the refurbishment of multi-family residential buildings is a complex and computationally difficult task. Therefore, the authors have developed a model that supports modernization planning in a long-term and comprehensive manner, i.e. from assessing the building to indicating the optimal scope of modernization. The comprehensive scope of the model includes the acquisition and provision of relevant knowledge to the model. The original methods proposed for its acquisition are derived from common expert knowledge based on linguistic terms. The methods adopted are not mandatory and may be replaced by others that provide more reliable knowledge. The fundamental aim of the proposed approach, however, is to select the optimal modernization option and allocate it over the planned modernization time horizon. An innovative optimisation approach based on decision matrices is used, allowing the selection of possible scenarios of repair options at each stage. These matrices are a set of constraints written in binary variables allowing the optimisation calculus to maintain a fixed sequence of repairs. In addition, the solutions used in the optimisation modules make it possible to take into account assumptions regarding the assumed assessment of the building's condition and financial constraints. The developed model provides a practical and versatile tool that can be used by managers at the maintenance stage of residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas are referred to around the world as the basis of conservation strategies. Designation of marine protected areas (MPAs) is to preserve marine biodiversity and protect species, habitats in the seas, and oceans. The simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) with other algorithms (swap iterative improvement, normal followed by two step, two step iterative improvement, and normal iterative improvement) in MARXAN conservation solutions software and the multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) method were used to locate MPAs in the Southern Caspian Sea. Then, four methods were examined for site selection that include: (1) Simulated annealing algorithm, (2) MCE with zonal land suitability (ZLS), (3) MCE with compactness and contiguity, and (4) combined method of multi-criteria evaluation with spatial constraints and a simulated annealing algorithm (improved MCE). In the MCE method, we applied different weighted scenarios to locate MPAs. The criteria for determining the desired regions of MPAs included 12 factors gathered in three groups, including: (1) Ecological criteria (distribution of fish Huso huso, Acipenser persicus, Acipenser stellatus, Rutilus frisii kutum, and Alosa braschnikowi; location of coastal protected areas, distance from coastal rivers (Coastline), distance from estuaries and deltas); (2) Physical criteria (distance from the coast, shore sensitive areas); and (3) Socio-economic criteria (distance from densely populated coastal cities, distance from industries near the coast). The results of comparing the algorithms in MARXAN 4.0.6 software showed that the simulated annealing algorithm has a better ratio of border-length/area than other algorithms. Also, the combined method of MCE (improved MCE) selects the best protection patches in terms of location, taking into account the seascape ecology metrics (e.g., patch compactness, edge density, normalized entropy, area metric for patches). Moreover, the results of the comparison of four methods for proposing MPAs based on seascape metrics showed that the combined method of MCE considers a protection network with more contiguity and compactness than the simulated annealing algorithm. The use of seascape ecology can help to preserve and create larger and denser patches in the arrangement of protective areas, because such a selection of protective areas is nature-inspired and can be more bold and appropriate in the course of conservation planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal spaces are shaped by human activity. Approaching their urban spaces allows us to analyse the concepts of structure, growth, and management. Highlighting the problems associated with these concepts can lead to intensive scientific analysis and provide solid research methods. This paper focuses on the study of how the process of territorial occupation takes place and the urban forms it generates on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. It is based on the consideration that the process of territorial occupation is deficient in its territorial adequacy. To analyse this, a methodology is proposed that addresses processes of analysis at different scales: dynamics of changes in land use, the study of the morphologies of urban development with spatial analysis tools, and the adaptation of urban processes to the characteristics of the spaces that support them with multi-criteria evaluation techniques and GIS (Geographical Information Systems). The results are specified in five degrees of suitability of the occupation of the territory. Two conclusions can be observed: first, urban planning gives rise to forms of occupation that follow a similar pattern in the twenty areas studied, and second, the suitability of the urban process is not governed by planning based on precepts of suitability and environmental logic but by a weakness of the adapted planning methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaria is a major public health concern, and accurate mapping of malaria risk is essential to effectively managing the disease. However, current models are unable to predict malaria risk with high temporal and spatial resolution. This study describes a climate-based model that can predict malaria risk in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, daily at a resolution of 2 km using meteorological (relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and temperature) and elevation data. We used the multi-criteria evaluation technique to develop the model. For the weighting of factors, we employed the analytical hierarchy process and linear regression techniques to compare expert knowledge-driven and mathematical methods. Using climate data from the prior 2 weeks, the model successfully mapped regions with high malaria case numbers, enabling accurate prediction of high-risk regions. This research may contribute to the development of a sustainable malaria risk forecasting system, which has been a longstanding challenge. Overall, this study provides insights into model development to predict malaria risk with high temporal and spatial resolution, supporting malaria control and management efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An environmentally friendly and economically efficient forest road network is the key to sustainable forest management, and it is essential to evaluate the sustainability of an established forest road network and to optimize the forest road network based on sustainability criteria. This study proposes a sustainability evaluation method for forest road networks. The evaluation index system was constructed by selecting 12 indices from the social, economic, and ecological dimensions. To improve the credibility of the weighting of the evaluation indicators, the evaluation indicators were assigned subjective and objective weights by the analytic hierarchy process and the entropy weight method, respectively, and the game theory idea was used to comprehensively assign the weights. The study area was chosen to be the Taohuajiang State-Owned Forest Farm, which is a national forest park and is also an ecological public welfare forest. The development of the forest road network in the social, economic, and environmental dimensions was calculated by adopting the evaluation method proposed in this study, and the sustainability of the forest road network in each subdivision of the study area was determined, to provide a detailed theoretical basis for the management to carry out the upgrading of the sustainability of the forest road network. The results derived from the evaluation methodology show that the sustainable development of the forest road network in the study area is "excellent". At the same time, the level of sustainability of the forest road network in different areas of the study area was also evaluated. Finally, this paper puts forward policy recommendations for optimizing the sustainable development of forest road networks. The original sustainability evaluation method in this paper provides a scientific tool for assessing the degree of sustainable development of forest road networks, which contributes to optimizing the forest road networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In hybrid vehicle development, the operating strategy has a decisive role in meeting the development goals, such as compliance with emission standards and high energy efficiency. A considerable number of interactions and cross-influences on other topics, such as emissions, on-board diagnostics, or drivability, must be considered during the calibration process. In this context, the given time constraints pose further challenges. To overcome these, approaches for virtualization of the calibration process are an effective measure. For this purpose, in the current study, a real engine control unit is embedded into a virtual simulation environment on so-called hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) testbenches, which allow virtual calibration and validation of the complete target vehicle. In this context, the paper presents a novel method for virtual calibration of operating strategies for hybrid-electric propulsion systems. This includes an innovative multi-criterial approach that considers the requirements of several development tasks, such as emission and OBD calibration. Measurement data for this optimization is generated on a HiL testbench setup tailored for the described methodology, including both the electrical setup and the simulation environment. To validate the selection of modeling approaches and the parametrization, the simulation environment is operated in open loop. The results of the open loop validation show promising behavior regarding the proposed use case. Finally, the presented methodology is evaluated regarding time and cost savings compared to a conventional approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For evaluation of industrial augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) applications, a comprehensive knowledge of their impact on productivity, process metrics, and human factors is critical to facilitate the transition from lab-scale research to industrial settings. While laboratory-scale evaluations have been extensively researched, successful implementation in industrial settings has fallen short. This paper presents a multi-criteria evaluation model using a mixed methods approach to study thirteen industrial use cases of AR/VR applications in manufacturing over two years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with companies about the impact of the application. A human factors questionnaire was completed by 69 participants, including in-house users, industry experts, and inexperienced novices. The results of the use cases show an average reduction of 23.61% in process and 25% in cycle time. Process quality indicators improved significantly compared to baseline. The evaluation found no significant differences in workload and ease of use between age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of building grouping patterns on enhancing shading in public open spaces, considering different solar orientations, housing densities, and the hot climatic conditions of Saudi Arabia. The study considered a set of environmental performance indicators, including the percentage of open space shaded areas, heat gains through the building envelope, open space surface temperature, and the natural ventilation potential of each grouping pattern of the buildings. The results showed that at a building height of five floors, the percentage of open space shaded areas ranged from 14% to 53%. However, using the suggested multi-criteria evaluation framework to consider the above-mentioned performance indicators revealed more in-depth observations. Configurations that included parallel rows of buildings staggered and centralized in the middle of the site offered the best performance in this regard. This shows that compact grouping patterns in which open spaces are decentralized offer more urban shading and protection against undesirable heat gains through the building envelope during summer. The results of this study will enable a wider exploration of different building grouping patterns, which are needed in the harsh hot climate of Saudi Arabia to respond to current rapid housing development plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Double-stage organic Rankine cycle (DORC) is a more effective mechanism of circulation for recovering heat released from industrial wastewater. It is crucial to determine the optimum operating circumstances for the DORC system, and its effectiveness cannot be effectively assessed by applying a single objective evaluation approach. The AHP-entropy analysis method is utilized to establish a three-level assessment system, taking into account several indicators, in order to execute a thorough study of the DORC system. Eight organic fluids, including R113, R124, R1233zd(E), etc, are chosen as the working mediums of the DORC system. The results demonstrate that the heat source temperature exists maximum value that match the working fluids under the impact of the pinch point temperature difference and the critical temperature of the working medium. When the evaporation pressure increases, the whole system performance improves, according to the AHP-entropy analysis of the operating state that corresponds to the single goal optimum value. When the critical temperature of the working medium is approximately 50 °C above the hot water temperature for a given heat source, the system performs more effectively. Additionally, when the heat source temperature is close to the critical temperature of the eight organic fluids, the DORC system operates more effectively.

Study region: Iran. Study focus: In this study, the temporal-spatial performances of Global Climate Models (GCMs) of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) in simulating precipitation and temperature over Iran are evaluated. The simulations of 37 CMIP6 GCMs are compared to the gauge-based observational data from the University of Delaware (UDEL) at the 0.5°×0.5° spatial resolution for 1985–2014. A multi-criteria statistical approach is used to evaluate the models. In this study, the evaluation criterion for GCMs is the degree of conformity between their outputs and UDEL data. Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), is used to integrate statistical test results. New hydrological insights for the region: Results show that the ACCESS-CM2, BCC-CSM2-MR, and ACCESS-ESM1–5 models have superior performance over Iran. The Taylor diagram methodology was employed to assess the spatial agreement between GCMs and gridded observational data. The resulting correlation coefficients for rainfall and temperature variables from different models were (0.35–0.75) and (0.6–0.9), respectively, as determined by the Taylor diagram. The models that achieved higher ratings in the time performance evaluation phase, are also showed the better performance in the evaluation of their spatial pattern.

In hybrid vehicle development, the operating strategy has a decisive role in meeting the development goals, such as compliance with emission standards and high energy efficiency. A considerable number of interactions and cross-influences on other topics, such as emissions, on-board diagnostics, or drivability, must be considered during the calibration process. In this context, the given time constraints pose further challenges. To overcome these, approaches for virtualization of the calibration process are an effective measure. For this purpose, in the current study, a real engine control unit is embedded into a virtual simulation environment on so-called hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) testbenches, which allow virtual calibration and validation of the complete target vehicle. In this context, the paper presents a novel method for virtual calibration of operating strategies for hybrid-electric propulsion systems. This includes an innovative multi-criterial approach that considers the requirements of several development tasks, such as emission and OBD calibration. Measurement data for this optimization is generated on a HiL testbench setup tailored for the described methodology, including both the electrical setup and the simulation environment. To validate the selection of modeling approaches and the parametrization, the simulation environment is operated in open loop. The results of the open loop validation show promising behavior regarding the proposed use case. Finally, the presented methodology is evaluated regarding time and cost savings compared to a conventional approach.

Sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions faces unique challenges that require targeted assessment and intervention. Addressing the knowledge gap in this context, the current study evaluates the sustainability performance of 50 rainfed farms in the Zaër Region of northwestern Morocco using the innovative Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles/IDEA method (indicators of farming systems sustainability), which encompasses agro-ecological, social and economic criteria to assess the three pillars of sustainability. Customized assessment criteria and a tailored scoring system, specific to the region’s context, are employed, resulting in a comprehensive grid with 18 indicators across nine components. Data analysis and visualization were facilitated using statistical methods and an Excel macro. The findings reveal limitations in the sustainability of the surveyed farms. Socio-territorial factors, including issues with product quality, insufficient farmer training, limited workforce mobilization and low social involvement, contribute to the overall sustainability challenges. Agroecologically, low crop diversification, inadequate space management, and excessive reliance on chemical inputs are identified as areas of concern. On the economic scale, low specialization levels hinder economic viability despite some financial autonomy. The study emphasizes the need for interventions to enhance sustainability in rainfed agrosystems. Recommendations are provided to address socio-territorial constraints, improve agricultural practices, and promote economic viability. The findings have implications for policymakers, farmers and stakeholders, offering valuable insights for prioritizing strategies and actions to achieve sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions.

IntroductionIn recent decades, the change in most land uses, regardless of the capabilities and limitations of the environment, has led to many problems such as soil degradation and pollution of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, this study has been conducted to investigate how to reduce the effects of possible future land use changes in the Gorganrood watershed by examining the potential of lands as a solution to protect natural resources. Land management and appropriate use of natural resources in the region and the country in accordance with environmental characteristics are the basic and important principles of sustainable development. One of the basic points in land use planning is to observe the suitability of existing land uses for future utilizations. The meaning of land suitability is to match the characteristics of the land according to the type of use and activities. If the characteristics of the land can meet the needs and requirements of its use, that land will be suitable for its use. Assessing and determining land suitability involves comparing the requirements of each land use type based on the specifications and quality of each land unit. The study of ecological potential determines the appropriate type of land use for a region that can be considered as a base for sound land management. Several studies have been conducted in the field of assessing the ecological potential of the lands using geographical information system and multi-criteria evaluation methods, While, no study has been done to evaluate the ecological potential of future uses, which is an innovation of the present study. Predicting and locating potential areas can provide useful managers and tools for sustainable land management. As a result, the ineffectiveness of the one-dimensional approach and the need for comprehensiveness in adopting the best decisions and management methods, the use of different expertise, and the presentation of different management options and scenarios are necessary to choose the best scenario for land use changes in the future. Materials and methodsThe primary step in this study is to investigate how to reduce the effects of possible future land use changes in the Gorganrood watershed by examining the potential of lands as a solution to protect natural resources. Therefore, the Land Change Model (LCM) was used to investigate the possible changes in future land use, and then, using the Geographic Information System (GIS) and multi-criteria evaluation method (weighted linear composition), the most desirable areas for agricultural use, forests and pastures were determined. Land change modeling provides the possibility of analyzing changes to plan and experimentally model future land use changes and land cover. The main stages of land change modeling in order to model and land use changes are as follows: 1) preparation of land use maps; 2) Analysis and identification of changes in land use classes (analysis of changes);3) Modeling the transfer potential of land uses; 4) Predicting land cover changes; 5) Assessment of modeling accuracy (validation); 6) Modeling transmission potential and predicting future changes. Assessing the most suitable areas for future forestry, rangeland, and agricultural uses and preparing a map of the suitability of the area for these three uses using the multi-criteria evaluation method in several stages is described according to the following steps: 1) Goal setting and determining the effective criteria, 2) Standardization of criteria (factor and limitation); 3) Weighting of factors, 4) Integration using linear combination method. Results and discussionThe results showed that during the study period (1990 to 2020), deforestation (279.53 km2), reduction of rangelands (542.598 km2), and agricultural development (413 km2) occurred in the Gorganrood watershed. According to the projected land use plan for 2040, the area of forest, agriculture, and rangeland will reach 1364.98, 2396.09, and 3481.1881 km2 based on the current changes. Meanwhile, based on the ecological potential (Makhdoom model), the area of forest, agriculture, and rangeland will reach 1427.54, 2258.55, and 3567.549 km2. According to the projected land use plan for 2040 under two management scenarios, the area of forest, agriculture, and rangeland in the first scenario (based on the current trend of change) by a change of -5.37, 35.8, and 8.28 km2 to 1364.98, 2396.09, and 3481.18 km2 will be reached. In this regard, reducing the area of forest lands and increasing the area of agricultural lands, rangelands and residential areas indicate that the human factor will play an important role in changing the land use of the Gorganrood watershed. Forest conservation such as afforestation, conservation of irrigated lands as well as rangelands, or limiting agricultural development in sloping lands or creating gardens in upstream rangelands and as a result sustainable watershed management should be adopted. Meanwhile, in the second scenario (based on ecological potential), the area of forest, agriculture, and rangeland changed by 4.27, -100.86, and 96.58 km2 to 1427.54, 2258.55, and 3567.49 km2 will be reached. ConclusionAccording to the results obtained during the study period, there was deforestation, loss of pastures, development of agricultural lands, and development of residential areas in the Gorganrood watershed. The assessment of land cover changes in the Gergunrood watershed showed that during the study period, the most changes were in forest cover and pasture destruction, and the largest increase was related to agricultural use, which was concentrated in the northeastern part of the watershed. The restoration arias with high priority should be determined according to changes in land cover use and in areas where changes in land cover change scenarios are predicted, preventive and protective measures should be taken considering the conditions of land use in the second scenario. Reducing the area of forest lands and increasing the area of agricultural lands, rangelands and residential areas indicate that the human factor will play an important role in changing the use of Gorganrood watershed lands. Preservation of irrigated lands as well as rangelands or limiting agricultural development in sloping lands or creating gardens in upstream rangelands and as a result sustainable watershed management should be adopted.

ABSTRACTFor evaluation of industrial augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) applications, a comprehensive knowledge of their impact on productivity, process metrics, and human factors is critical to facilitate the transition from lab-scale research to industrial settings. While laboratory-scale evaluations have been extensively researched, successful implementation in industrial settings has fallen short. This paper presents a multi-criteria evaluation model using a mixed methods approach to study thirteen industrial use cases of AR/VR applications in manufacturing over two years. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with companies about the impact of the application. A human factors questionnaire was completed by 69 participants, including in-house users, industry experts, and inexperienced novices. The results of the use cases show an average reduction of 23.61% in process and 25% in cycle time. Process quality indicators improved significantly compared to baseline. The evaluation found no significant differences in workload and ease of use between age groups.

AbstractThe increase in open dumping and burning of solid waste in Tercha town, Southwest Ethiopia, has become a major environmental and public health concern. This research aims to identify suitable landfill sites for accommodating the increasing amount of solid waste generated as a result of urban expansion in the area. Various criteria such as slope, land use, soil type, distance from settlement, drainage, road, borehole, lithology, and fault were considered to generate a suitability map using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) procedures. The multi-criteria evaluation methodology was applied to identify suitable sites according to the specified decision rules. The results showed that only 1.9% of the study area was highly suitable for a landfill, while 3% was unsuitable, and 34.91% and 60.1% were moderately and less suitable, respectively. From the highly suitable areas, criteria such as distance from the city center, settlement, and size of the landfill were considered, and Landfill site 4 was identified as the most suitable option. The other candidate sites were ranked lower according to the AHPs. Finally, by considering complex physical and socioeconomic factors, a suitable landfill site has been selected. This research provides valuable guidance to local government officials in establishing proper waste disposal regulations and practices.

Land use planning is a science that specifies the optimized use of land based on ecological and socioeconomic characteristics. In many parts of Iran, the selection and management of land use (development, especially) is performed regardless of land capability, which causes disinvestment and reduces the environmental capacity. The main objective of this study is to evaluate and reform the ecological model of urban, rural, and industrial development in the study area. This study was conducted in Fasa County in the southern part of Iran, and the investigated methods included Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) or Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE), with two views, without limitation and with limitation, and the proposed geometric mean method through the integration of maps in GIS. The results showed that the geometric mean evaluation model (with kappa = 0.69) is the best and easiest compared to other models in the estimation of environmental capability. It should be mentioned that the lowest precision (with kappa = 0.59) between the methods was observed in the MCE method without a limiting factor, and it is clear that the limiting factor has a decisive role in assessing ecological capability and increasing accuracy. It is concluded that the proposed geometric mean method, due to the simplicity and high accuracy of the calculations, has a significant contribution to increasing efficiency and reducing the costs associated with the assessment of ecological capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Software-defined network (SDN) technology can offer wireless networks the advantages of simplified control and network management. This SDN subdomain technology is called the software-defined wireless network (SDWN). In this study, the performance of four controllers in an SDWN environment is assessed, since the controller is the most significant component of the entire network. Using the Mininet-WiFi platform, the performance of each controller is evaluated in terms of throughput, latency, jitter, and packet loss. Moreover, a multi-criteria evaluation is introduced and applied to provide a fair comparison between SDWNs. This study provides an appropriate configuration of SDWNs that is useful for network engineering and can be used for SDWNs performance optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Pacific Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) is a little-known cetacean under human pressure in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. In Iran, most sightings have been reported from the northern coasts of the Strait of Hormuz. We invested the spatial overlap between finless porpoise habitats and human activities in the Harra Protected Area and Biosphere Reserve in the north of the Strait of Hormuz. Suitable porpoise habitats were modeled using the Maxent model, employing 112 presence points and an array of physical seascape variables. A detailed (30 m) Landsat 8-derived depth layer was found as the most important factor determining porpoise distribution. The multi-criteria evaluation procedure was calibrated using a set of pairwise weighted and fuzzified layers including ship routes, and distance from main boat routes, coastal and port cities, and fishing zones to determine the intensity of human sea use. Results showed a significant spatial overlap of over 3,500 ha (8.7% of the region) between highly suitable porpoise habitats and human sea use areas, covering the whole entrance of the estuary where high-speed boats sail between northern and southern cities. Since the porpoise population is found in the study area only within the borders of the Harra Protected Area, limited fishing activities and low-speed boat movement inside the zone of overlap are suggested to lower the human-porpoise interaction in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The energy sector is interested in sustainable solar power plants. It is obvious that the working temperature of solar panels, which is significantly higher than the specified working cell temperature in hot climes, has a significant impact on efficiency and longevity. The selection of solar panel cooling systems, on the other hand, is worrisome since the choice process incorporates ergonomic, technical, economic, and environmental issues. The goal of this research is to (1) present a multi-criteria decision-making approach that is both quantitative and qualitative in nature for selecting solar panel cooling systems; (2) outrank nine alternative solar panel cooling systems with eleven performance measures for each alternative to assist decision makers in determining the best viable choice; and (3) visualize the relationship between the different solar panel cooling systems and performance measures under consideration. The proposed approach is to compare and rank solar panel cooling systems, as well as their validation and evaluation through sensitivity analysis. When operating efficiency is prioritized, finned air cooling is shown to be the best solar panel cooling technique, whereas thermosiphon cooling is the best alternative when emission reduction criteria are prioritized. A comparison of the findings shows that phase change material cooling and forced convection cooling performed worst in almost all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]