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Abstract: The problem of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) selection has a significant impact on the speed and cost of excavating sector; so that it is a strategic issue. On the other hand, selecting the optimum TBM among a pool of alternatives is a multicriteria decision making (MCDM) problem. In this paper, an evaluation model based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and another fuzzy MCDM technique, namely fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) is developed to help the tunneling designers in the process of the TBM selection under fuzzy environment where the vagueness and uncertainty are taken into account with linguistic variables parameterized by triangular fuzzy numbers. The fuzzy AHP is applied to form the structure of the TBM selection problem and to determine weights of the evaluation criteria, and fuzzy TOPSIS method is utilized to acquire final ranking. A real world case study is illustrated in order to demonstrate the potential of the proposed model for the TBM selection issue. It demonstrates the effectiveness and capability of the proposed model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Using the balanced scorecard approach based on sustainable development parameters is a powerful and useful methodology to evaluate the sustainable performance of organization or company. In this paper, a new approach based on sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) and multi criteria decision making (MCDM) approaches is developed for evaluating the performance of oil producing companies in Iran. For reflecting the interdependent relationships among factors influencing the problem under consideration, analytical network process (ANP), a branch of the MCDM techniques, is employed. However, using the ANP method for calculating the preference ratings of alternatives is a time-consuming and bothersome process; therefore, COPRAS (COmplex PRoportional ASsessment) technique is adopted to prioritize the feasible alternatives in terms of linguistic variables. Based on this study, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The performance evaluation model proposed by using a combination of the MCDM methods and the SBSC approach helps authorities to make an attempt for achieving a competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]