A new hybrid fuzzy MCDM approach for evaluation of construction equipment with sustainability considerations

Abstract

Because of the possible harmful effects of construction equipment on the environment, evaluation of them can be considered as a helpful activity to move toward the sustainability in construction. This evaluation process could involve some alternatives and some criteria in a discrete decision space. In this study, a new hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach is proposed to deal with this evaluation process in the fuzzy environment. We present fuzzy extensions of the SWARA (Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) and CRITIC (CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation) methods for determining subjective and objective weights of criteria. Based on these extended methods and the fuzzy EDAS (Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution) method, a new hybrid approach is proposed. In this approach, the subjective and objective criteria weights are combined to determine more justified weights for criteria. The proposed approach is applied to a case study of construction equipment evaluation with sustainability considerations. To examine the result of evaluation, a sensitivity analysis is performed based on varying criteria weights. A comparison is also made between the results of the proposed approach and some existing MCDM methods. These analyses show the stability and validity of the results and efficiency of the proposed approach.