In this study, we use the respective advantages of the tabu search (TS) and the Web-based technologies to develop a Web-based decision support system (DSS) for cell formation (CF) problems considering alternative proc...In this study, we use the respective advantages of the tabu search (TS) and the Web-based technologies to develop a Web-based decision support system (DSS) for cell formation (CF) problems considering alternative process routings and machine sequences simultaneously. With the assistance of our developed Web-based system, the CF practitioners in the production departments can interact with the systems without knowing the details of algorithms and can get the best machine cells and part families with minimize the total intercellular movement wherever and whenever they may need it. To further verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the system developed, an example taken from the literature is ado- pted for illustrational purpose. Moreover, a set of test problems with various sizes drawn from the literature is used to test the performance of the proposed system. Corresponding results are compared to several well-known algorithms previously published. The results indicate that the proposed system improves the best results found in the literature for 67% of the test problems. These show that the proposed system should thus be useful to both practitioners and researchers.展开更多
The uncertainty analysis is an effective sensitivity analysis method for system model analysis and optimization. However,the existing single-factor uncertainty analysis methods are not well used in the logistic suppor...The uncertainty analysis is an effective sensitivity analysis method for system model analysis and optimization. However,the existing single-factor uncertainty analysis methods are not well used in the logistic support systems with multiple decision-making factors. The multiple transfer parameters graphical evaluation and review technique（MTP-GERT） is used to model the logistic support process in consideration of two important factors, support activity time and support activity resources, which are two primary causes for the logistic support process uncertainty. On this basis,a global sensitivity analysis（GSA） method based on covariance is designed to analyze the logistic support process uncertainty. The aircraft support process is selected as a case application which illustrates the validity of the proposed method to analyze the support process uncertainty, and some feasible recommendations are proposed for aircraft support decision making on carrier.展开更多
The necessity of having an effective computer-aided decision support system in the housing construction industry is rapidly growing alongside the demand for green buildings and green building products. Identifying and...The necessity of having an effective computer-aided decision support system in the housing construction industry is rapidly growing alongside the demand for green buildings and green building products. Identifying and defining financially viable low-cost green building materials and components, just like selecting them, is a crucial exercise in subjectivity. With so many variables to consider, the task of evaluating such products can be complex and discouraging. Moreover, the existing mode for selecting and managing, often very large information associated with their impacts constrains decision-makers to perform a trade-off analysis that does not necessarily guarantee the most environmentally preferable material. This paper introduces the development of a multi-criteria decision support system (DSS) aimed at improving the understanding of the principles of best practices associated with the impacts of low-cost green building materials and components. The DSS presented in this paper is to provide designers with useful and explicit information that will aid informed decision-making in their choice of materials for low-cost green residential housing projects. The prototype MSDSS is developed using macro-in-excel, which is a fairly recent database management technique used for integrating data from multiple, often very large databases and other information sources. This model consists of a database to store different types of low-cost green materials with their corresponding attributes and performance characteristics. The DSS design is illustrated with particular emphasis on the development of the material selection data schema, and application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) concept to a material selection problem. Details of the MSDSS model are also discussed including workflow of the data evaluation process. The prototype model has been developed with inputs elicited from domain experts and extensive literature review, and refined with feedback obtained from selected expert builder and developer companies. This paper further demonstrates the application of the prototype MSDSS for selecting the most appropriate low-cost green building material from among a list of several available options, and finally concludes the study with the associated potential benefits of the model to research and practice.展开更多
The purpose of this study was to explore the process of family support provided by nurses to families with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) patient. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 nurses who ...The purpose of this study was to explore the process of family support provided by nurses to families with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) patient. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 nurses who had provided care to BPD patients. Data obtained from the interviews were qualitatively analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. As an overall core category of family support processes practiced by nurses for families with BPD patients, family support practiced without awareness that the nurses were supporting families was extracted. Through this process, nurses held perceptions that were premises for family support, which were formed through their individual nursing experiences and perspectives. Nurses also had diverse perceptions concerning the image of families. Through the integration of perceptions that were premises for family support and perceptions of an image of the family, nurses underwent a process of “determination and ambivalence about the need for family support.” Then, nurses provided “family support practice” when they acknowledged the need for family support. During the “family support practice,” nurses had difficulties in providing family support. When family support was not successfully provided, nurses provided “family support practice with seeking more effective ways through trial and error.” For cases in which nurses did not acknowledge the need for intervention, they intentionally chose “not to provide family support.” Furthermore, during the “family support practice,” nurses had contradictory perspectives of family support. Such family support processes ultimately led to an awareness of the same family support required for the future. Family support was provided with “family support practice” and “family support practice with seeking more effective ways through trial and error.” In some cases, however, the process ended in “not to provide family support intentionally.” Experiences and perspectives in providing family support are important factors in carrying out future family support. Developing the positive implications of these factors and reducing psychological strain on nurses may ensure smooth implementation of family support. Thus, nurses need to recognize that they are supporting the family, which is identified as a core category.展开更多
The prediction of magnitude （M） of reservoir induced earthquake is an important task in earthquake engineering. In this article, we employ a Support Vector Machine （SVM） and Gaussian Process Regression （GPR） for...The prediction of magnitude （M） of reservoir induced earthquake is an important task in earthquake engineering. In this article, we employ a Support Vector Machine （SVM） and Gaussian Process Regression （GPR） for prediction of reservoir induced earthquake M based on reservoir parameters. Comprehensive parameter （E） and maximum reservoir depth] （H） are considered as inputs to the SVM and GPR. We give an equation for determination oil reservoir induced earthquake M. The developed SVM and GPR have been compared with] the Artificial Neural Network （ANN） method. The results show that the developed SVM and] GPR are efficient tools for prediction of reservoir induced earthquake M. /展开更多
An AI-aided simulation system embedded in a model-based, aspiration-led decision support system NY-IEDSS is reported. The NY-IEDSS is designed for mid-term development strategic study of the Nanyang Region in Henan, C...An AI-aided simulation system embedded in a model-based, aspiration-led decision support system NY-IEDSS is reported. The NY-IEDSS is designed for mid-term development strategic study of the Nanyang Region in Henan, China, and is getting beyond its prototype stage under the decision maker's (the end user) orientation. The integration of simulation model system, decision analysis and expert system for decision support in the system implementation was reviewed. The intent of the paper is to provide insight as to how system capability and acceptability can be enhanced by this integration. Moreover, emphasis is placed on problem orientation in applying the method.展开更多
The level of present understanding of earthquake prediction of seismologists at home and abroad is very different. This is because China has opened up a special path of earthquake prediction research that has not been...The level of present understanding of earthquake prediction of seismologists at home and abroad is very different. This is because China has opened up a special path of earthquake prediction research that has not been explored by other countries, with its own advantages and potentialities.Therefore, we considered that it is the most practical way to use the advantages and potentialities for raising the earthquake prediction level. For this purpose, we have developed a set of intelligent decision support system for earthquake prediction, with the analysis of cluster anomalies process at the core. The facts show that it can obviously raise the level of synthetic earthquake prediction.展开更多
The objective of this research is to propose a decision support system for avoiding flood on solar power plant site selection. Methodologically, the geographic information system (GIS) is used to determine the optimum...The objective of this research is to propose a decision support system for avoiding flood on solar power plant site selection. Methodologically, the geographic information system (GIS) is used to determine the optimum site for a solar power plant. It is intended to integrate the qualitative and quantitative variables based upon the adoption of the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. These methods are employed to unite the environmental aspects and social needs for electrical power systematically. Regarding a case study of the choice of a solar power plant site in Thailand, it demonstrates that the quantitative and qualitative criteria should be realized prior to analysis in the Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS model. The fuzzy AHP is employed to determine the weights of qualitative and quantitative criteria that can affect the selection process. The adoption of the fuzzy AHP is aimed to model the linguistic unclear, ambiguous, and incomplete knowledge. Additionally, TOPSIS, which is a ranking multi-criteria decision making method, is employed to rank the alternative sites based upon overall efficiency. The contribution of this paper lies in the evolution of a new approach that is flexible and practical to the decision maker, in providing the guidelines for the solar power plant site choices under stakeholder needs: at the same time, the desirable functions are achieved, in avoiding flood, reducing cost, time and causing less environmental impact. The new approach is assessed in the empirical study during major flooding in Thailand during the fourth quarter of 2011 to 2012. The result analysis and sensitivity analysis are also presented.展开更多
Switzerland is one of the most desirable European destinations for Chinese tourists;therefore, a better understanding of Chinese tourists is essential for successful business practices. In China, the largest and leadi...Switzerland is one of the most desirable European destinations for Chinese tourists;therefore, a better understanding of Chinese tourists is essential for successful business practices. In China, the largest and leading social media platform—Sina Weibo, a hybrid of Twitter and Facebook—has more than 600 million users. Weibo’s great market penetration suggests that tourism operators and markets need to understand how to build effective and sustainable communications on Chinese social media platforms. In order to offer a better decision support platform to tourism destination managers as well as Chinese tourists, we proposed a framework using linked data on Sina Weibo. Linked Data is a term referring to using the Internet to connect related data. We will show how it can be used and how ontology can be designed to include the users’ context (e.g., GPS locations). Our framework will provide a good theoretical foundation for further understand Chinese tourists’ expectation, experiences, behaviors and new trends in Switzerland.展开更多
-License plate recognition （LPR） is an image processing technology that is used to identify vehicles by their license plates. This paper presents a license plate recognition algorithm for Saudi car plates based on t...-License plate recognition （LPR） is an image processing technology that is used to identify vehicles by their license plates. This paper presents a license plate recognition algorithm for Saudi car plates based on the support vector machine （SVM） algorithm. The new algorithm is efficient in recognizing the vehicles from the Arabic part of the plate. The performance of the system has been investigated and analyzed. The recognition accuracy of the algorithm is about 93.3%.展开更多
Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to create a watershed vulnerability model for Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Watershed vulnerability was investigated as a function of soil erosion and infiltratio...Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to create a watershed vulnerability model for Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Watershed vulnerability was investigated as a function of soil erosion and infiltration criteria: precipitation, land slope, soil erodibility (K-factor), vegetation cover (NDVI), land use, drainage density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and hydrologic soil group. Respective criteria weights were derived using a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) supported by expert opinion. A survey of 10 experts, representing New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT), the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), and the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), provided model input data for an integrated pair-wise comparison matrix for soil erosion and for infiltration. Individual criteria weights were determined by decomposing the respective fuzzy synthetic extent matrix using the centroid method. GIS layers were then combined based on criteria weights to produce maps of soil erosion potential and infiltration potential. A composite watershed vulnerability map was generated by equal weighting of each input map. Model results were categorized into five vulnerability categories: not vulnerable (N), slightly vulnerable (SV), moderately vulnerable (MV), highly vulnerable (HV), and extremely vulnerable (EV). The resulting FAHP/GIS model was used to generate a watershed vulnerability map of discrete areas in Bernalillo County, which may be vulnerable to stormwater run-off events and soil erosion. Such high volume run-off events can cause erosion damage to property and infrastructure. Alternatively, in areas near urban development, stormwater run-off may contribute non-point-source pollutant contamination of New Mexico’s surface water resources. The most problematic areas in Bernalillo County are present in the Eastern and Northwestern portions. However, less than 1% of the total area lies within the lowest and highest vulnerability categories with the majority centered around moderate vulnerability. The results of the model were compared with a previously published crisp AHP method. Both methods showed similar regional vulnerability trends. This MCDS/GIS approach is intended to provide support to local governments and decision makers in selection of suitable structural or nonstructural stormwater control measures.展开更多
Decisions regarding relocation of people due to environmental requirements can be very complex and may have serious socio-economic implications. We present the design of a Decision Support System to support such decis...Decisions regarding relocation of people due to environmental requirements can be very complex and may have serious socio-economic implications. We present the design of a Decision Support System to support such decision making processes involving many inputs, human preferences and multiple objectives.展开更多
文摘In this study, we use the respective advantages of the tabu search (TS) and the Web-based technologies to develop a Web-based decision support system (DSS) for cell formation (CF) problems considering alternative process routings and machine sequences simultaneously. With the assistance of our developed Web-based system, the CF practitioners in the production departments can interact with the systems without knowing the details of algorithms and can get the best machine cells and part families with minimize the total intercellular movement wherever and whenever they may need it. To further verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the system developed, an example taken from the literature is ado- pted for illustrational purpose. Moreover, a set of test problems with various sizes drawn from the literature is used to test the performance of the proposed system. Corresponding results are compared to several well-known algorithms previously published. The results indicate that the proposed system improves the best results found in the literature for 67% of the test problems. These show that the proposed system should thus be useful to both practitioners and researchers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(71171008)
文摘The uncertainty analysis is an effective sensitivity analysis method for system model analysis and optimization. However,the existing single-factor uncertainty analysis methods are not well used in the logistic support systems with multiple decision-making factors. The multiple transfer parameters graphical evaluation and review technique（MTP-GERT） is used to model the logistic support process in consideration of two important factors, support activity time and support activity resources, which are two primary causes for the logistic support process uncertainty. On this basis,a global sensitivity analysis（GSA） method based on covariance is designed to analyze the logistic support process uncertainty. The aircraft support process is selected as a case application which illustrates the validity of the proposed method to analyze the support process uncertainty, and some feasible recommendations are proposed for aircraft support decision making on carrier.
文摘The necessity of having an effective computer-aided decision support system in the housing construction industry is rapidly growing alongside the demand for green buildings and green building products. Identifying and defining financially viable low-cost green building materials and components, just like selecting them, is a crucial exercise in subjectivity. With so many variables to consider, the task of evaluating such products can be complex and discouraging. Moreover, the existing mode for selecting and managing, often very large information associated with their impacts constrains decision-makers to perform a trade-off analysis that does not necessarily guarantee the most environmentally preferable material. This paper introduces the development of a multi-criteria decision support system (DSS) aimed at improving the understanding of the principles of best practices associated with the impacts of low-cost green building materials and components. The DSS presented in this paper is to provide designers with useful and explicit information that will aid informed decision-making in their choice of materials for low-cost green residential housing projects. The prototype MSDSS is developed using macro-in-excel, which is a fairly recent database management technique used for integrating data from multiple, often very large databases and other information sources. This model consists of a database to store different types of low-cost green materials with their corresponding attributes and performance characteristics. The DSS design is illustrated with particular emphasis on the development of the material selection data schema, and application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) concept to a material selection problem. Details of the MSDSS model are also discussed including workflow of the data evaluation process. The prototype model has been developed with inputs elicited from domain experts and extensive literature review, and refined with feedback obtained from selected expert builder and developer companies. This paper further demonstrates the application of the prototype MSDSS for selecting the most appropriate low-cost green building material from among a list of several available options, and finally concludes the study with the associated potential benefits of the model to research and practice.
文摘The purpose of this study was to explore the process of family support provided by nurses to families with a borderline personality disorder (BPD) patient. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 nurses who had provided care to BPD patients. Data obtained from the interviews were qualitatively analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. As an overall core category of family support processes practiced by nurses for families with BPD patients, family support practiced without awareness that the nurses were supporting families was extracted. Through this process, nurses held perceptions that were premises for family support, which were formed through their individual nursing experiences and perspectives. Nurses also had diverse perceptions concerning the image of families. Through the integration of perceptions that were premises for family support and perceptions of an image of the family, nurses underwent a process of “determination and ambivalence about the need for family support.” Then, nurses provided “family support practice” when they acknowledged the need for family support. During the “family support practice,” nurses had difficulties in providing family support. When family support was not successfully provided, nurses provided “family support practice with seeking more effective ways through trial and error.” For cases in which nurses did not acknowledge the need for intervention, they intentionally chose “not to provide family support.” Furthermore, during the “family support practice,” nurses had contradictory perspectives of family support. Such family support processes ultimately led to an awareness of the same family support required for the future. Family support was provided with “family support practice” and “family support practice with seeking more effective ways through trial and error.” In some cases, however, the process ended in “not to provide family support intentionally.” Experiences and perspectives in providing family support are important factors in carrying out future family support. Developing the positive implications of these factors and reducing psychological strain on nurses may ensure smooth implementation of family support. Thus, nurses need to recognize that they are supporting the family, which is identified as a core category.
文摘The prediction of magnitude （M） of reservoir induced earthquake is an important task in earthquake engineering. In this article, we employ a Support Vector Machine （SVM） and Gaussian Process Regression （GPR） for prediction of reservoir induced earthquake M based on reservoir parameters. Comprehensive parameter （E） and maximum reservoir depth] （H） are considered as inputs to the SVM and GPR. We give an equation for determination oil reservoir induced earthquake M. The developed SVM and GPR have been compared with] the Artificial Neural Network （ANN） method. The results show that the developed SVM and] GPR are efficient tools for prediction of reservoir induced earthquake M. /
文摘An AI-aided simulation system embedded in a model-based, aspiration-led decision support system NY-IEDSS is reported. The NY-IEDSS is designed for mid-term development strategic study of the Nanyang Region in Henan, China, and is getting beyond its prototype stage under the decision maker's (the end user) orientation. The integration of simulation model system, decision analysis and expert system for decision support in the system implementation was reviewed. The intent of the paper is to provide insight as to how system capability and acceptability can be enhanced by this integration. Moreover, emphasis is placed on problem orientation in applying the method.
基金This research is one of the key projects No. 863-306-04-03-4 in the State High Science-Technology Program (Program 863), China.
文摘The level of present understanding of earthquake prediction of seismologists at home and abroad is very different. This is because China has opened up a special path of earthquake prediction research that has not been explored by other countries, with its own advantages and potentialities.Therefore, we considered that it is the most practical way to use the advantages and potentialities for raising the earthquake prediction level. For this purpose, we have developed a set of intelligent decision support system for earthquake prediction, with the analysis of cluster anomalies process at the core. The facts show that it can obviously raise the level of synthetic earthquake prediction.
文摘The objective of this research is to propose a decision support system for avoiding flood on solar power plant site selection. Methodologically, the geographic information system (GIS) is used to determine the optimum site for a solar power plant. It is intended to integrate the qualitative and quantitative variables based upon the adoption of the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) model. These methods are employed to unite the environmental aspects and social needs for electrical power systematically. Regarding a case study of the choice of a solar power plant site in Thailand, it demonstrates that the quantitative and qualitative criteria should be realized prior to analysis in the Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS model. The fuzzy AHP is employed to determine the weights of qualitative and quantitative criteria that can affect the selection process. The adoption of the fuzzy AHP is aimed to model the linguistic unclear, ambiguous, and incomplete knowledge. Additionally, TOPSIS, which is a ranking multi-criteria decision making method, is employed to rank the alternative sites based upon overall efficiency. The contribution of this paper lies in the evolution of a new approach that is flexible and practical to the decision maker, in providing the guidelines for the solar power plant site choices under stakeholder needs: at the same time, the desirable functions are achieved, in avoiding flood, reducing cost, time and causing less environmental impact. The new approach is assessed in the empirical study during major flooding in Thailand during the fourth quarter of 2011 to 2012. The result analysis and sensitivity analysis are also presented.
文摘Switzerland is one of the most desirable European destinations for Chinese tourists;therefore, a better understanding of Chinese tourists is essential for successful business practices. In China, the largest and leading social media platform—Sina Weibo, a hybrid of Twitter and Facebook—has more than 600 million users. Weibo’s great market penetration suggests that tourism operators and markets need to understand how to build effective and sustainable communications on Chinese social media platforms. In order to offer a better decision support platform to tourism destination managers as well as Chinese tourists, we proposed a framework using linked data on Sina Weibo. Linked Data is a term referring to using the Internet to connect related data. We will show how it can be used and how ontology can be designed to include the users’ context (e.g., GPS locations). Our framework will provide a good theoretical foundation for further understand Chinese tourists’ expectation, experiences, behaviors and new trends in Switzerland.
文摘-License plate recognition （LPR） is an image processing technology that is used to identify vehicles by their license plates. This paper presents a license plate recognition algorithm for Saudi car plates based on the support vector machine （SVM） algorithm. The new algorithm is efficient in recognizing the vehicles from the Arabic part of the plate. The performance of the system has been investigated and analyzed. The recognition accuracy of the algorithm is about 93.3%.
文摘Geographic Information System (GIS) software was used to create a watershed vulnerability model for Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Watershed vulnerability was investigated as a function of soil erosion and infiltration criteria: precipitation, land slope, soil erodibility (K-factor), vegetation cover (NDVI), land use, drainage density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and hydrologic soil group. Respective criteria weights were derived using a Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) supported by expert opinion. A survey of 10 experts, representing New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT), the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), and the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), provided model input data for an integrated pair-wise comparison matrix for soil erosion and for infiltration. Individual criteria weights were determined by decomposing the respective fuzzy synthetic extent matrix using the centroid method. GIS layers were then combined based on criteria weights to produce maps of soil erosion potential and infiltration potential. A composite watershed vulnerability map was generated by equal weighting of each input map. Model results were categorized into five vulnerability categories: not vulnerable (N), slightly vulnerable (SV), moderately vulnerable (MV), highly vulnerable (HV), and extremely vulnerable (EV). The resulting FAHP/GIS model was used to generate a watershed vulnerability map of discrete areas in Bernalillo County, which may be vulnerable to stormwater run-off events and soil erosion. Such high volume run-off events can cause erosion damage to property and infrastructure. Alternatively, in areas near urban development, stormwater run-off may contribute non-point-source pollutant contamination of New Mexico’s surface water resources. The most problematic areas in Bernalillo County are present in the Eastern and Northwestern portions. However, less than 1% of the total area lies within the lowest and highest vulnerability categories with the majority centered around moderate vulnerability. The results of the model were compared with a previously published crisp AHP method. Both methods showed similar regional vulnerability trends. This MCDS/GIS approach is intended to provide support to local governments and decision makers in selection of suitable structural or nonstructural stormwater control measures.
文摘Decisions regarding relocation of people due to environmental requirements can be very complex and may have serious socio-economic implications. We present the design of a Decision Support System to support such decision making processes involving many inputs, human preferences and multiple objectives.
