An Expert System for Evaluating Multicriteria Transportation Networks

An expert system is developed for evaluating transportation network improvement alternatives with multicriteria. The advantages of this system are 1) integrating data, transportation models, and evaluation methods within one framework; 2) applying multicriteria evaluation methods and choice rules for these methods onto various evaluation environments; and 3) providing a friendly man-machine interface. First, a transportation network improvement evaluation problem is specified. Then, an expert system is formulated. The relative data bases, model bases, and knowledge bases are described. Finally, a brief example is used to demonstrate the practicality of the system. The whole program is an integration of LOTUS 123, Turbo PROLOG and C language programs on an IBM personal computer.     

苏州河综合整治决策系统的模型系统开发

为了对苏州河综合整治三期工程实施后的效果进行论证,开发了用于苏州河综合整治的决策支持系统(decision support system,DSS).作为核心组件的模型系统集成了水动力模型和水质模型,具有新建和管理工程案例、工程案例计算、结果展示、工程案例分析等功能.应用该模型对水系截污、治污工程以及上游郊区污水处理厂配套管网工程和苏州河底泥疏浚工程等进行了模拟和分析,为科学决策提供了支持.     

城市供水系统决策支持系统的开发与设计

通过对城市供水系统优化运行理论的深入研究,综合运用多种系统方法和计算机技术,开发了城市供水系统决策支持系统.首先按照城市供水系统运行的内容和流程设计出该系统的总体结构和框架.在此基础上,采用Delphi和Matlab等编程工具,结合数据库技术,通过多种接口设计方法实现了供水系统优化运行的数据、模型、算法等的有机结合.最后,通过实例验证,表明该系统功能比较强大,操作简便,具有较强的实用价值,能够提高供水企业的工作效率和决策水平.     

地下空间规划的决策支持系统

在大城市的发展进程中,中心区地下行人和商业系统变得日渐重要.地下系统的增长引起了人们对于稳定性、长期经济价值和协调发展等问题的关注.虽然我们有可能对发展地区的大部分地下工程进行预测,但要确定这些工程的建设时序和各自精确的特征还非常困难.本文建议推行一个决策系统,而不要试图制定长远性的总体规划.通过这种逐步推进的方法,评估单体项目对整个地下系统和地面发展的影响.由于项目的使用程度、最终的经济价值和公共用途的有效性可以通过最新的研究方法得到预测,因此就有可能对单项提案进行评估.在评估中,审批、成本分摊和系统的连接费用都可以落实到单个项目上.这种方法不仅能够激发开发者的革新和创造力,也能确保系统的长期发展和稳定.     

A Hypertext Decision Support Model for Contractor Prequalification

Abstract: Owners of construction projects often make decisions regarding prequalification of contractors for a specific project. This paper describes a hypertext approach to enhance the contractor prequalification process. Relevant recent research is discussed, and potential benefits of using multiattribute decision making and hypertext information systems versus expert systems are explored. The developed prototype system uses the same criteria as QUALIFIER-1 and allows the user to make a rational decision about assigning importance weights to various prequalification factors. The flexibility of the system in altering various weights for factors according to the project being considered is discussed. A database system and a procedural language linked to the hypertext system are added to automatically store relevant information about contractors for future reference and to calculate user's input, respectively.     

地下空间规划的决策支持系统

在大城市的发展进程中，中心区地下行人和商业系统变得日渐重要地下系统的增长引起了人们对于稳定性、长期经济价值和协调发展等问题的关注。虽然我们有可能对发展地区的大部分地下工程进行预测．但要确定这些工程的建设时序和各自精确的特征还非常困难。本文建议推行一个决策系统，而不要试图制定长远性的总体规划。通过这种逐步推进的方法．评估单体项目对整个地下系统和地面发展的影响，由于项目的使用程度、最终的经济价值和公共用途的有效性可以通过最新的研究方法得到预测，因此就有可能对单项提案进行评估。在评估中，审批、成本分摊和系统的连接费用都可以落实到单个项目上。这种方法不仅能够激发开发者的革新和创造力，也能确保系统的长期发展和稳定。     

A Methodology for Surveying Domestic Water Consumption

This paper describes the experimental design and engineering of the largest contemporary survey of domestic water consumption in the UK. Results are presented for the first full year of data collection and are discussed in terms of explanatory variables, reliability and usefulness. Significant findings include (a) the range of per capita consumption, (b) relationships to explanatory variables, (c) components of consumption including legitimate night flows, and (d) the contributions of specific domestic appliances.     

A Fuzzy Expert System for Prioritizing Rehabilitation of Sewer Networks

Abstract: Rehabilitation of sewer networks is a huge and very costly global problem that has often been treated on a crisis‐based approach. The development of a rehabilitation program requires models and tools for assessing the condition and performance of sewers. The original contribution of this study is the development of a ranking scheme for sewer rehabilitation priorities. A fuzzy expert system was applied with inputs from a combined assessment of hydraulic, structural performance and potential failure consequences. The fuzzy structural system computes the global structural performance index for each pipe using internal condition, surrounding condition, and site vulnerability (SV) as inputs. The fuzzy hydraulic system uses hydraulic performance index (HPI), hydraulic performance impact, and SV to compute the global HPI. Finally, the fuzzy global system uses all these factors to compute the global performance index for each pipe. This methodology was successfully applied to the sewer system of the City of Laval in Canada. The results show how the fuzzy inference system may be used to establish rehabilitation priorities for each pipe section. The fuzzy expert system provides more realistic results than the intuitive approaches that use structural and hydraulic performance maximum and mean.     

Development of a Decision Support System for Drought Management within North West Water

Whilst droughts, by their nature, are not frequently occurring events, it is essential, for prudent management of water-resources systems, to have analytical tools available for the effective management of the risks to water supplies when such events do occur.
Within North West Water Limited, modelling techniques have been developed and applied over a number of years, which allow water-supply managers to be provided with information concerning risks to supply within the Company's water-resources systems.
The paper describes how these modelling techniques have been integrated within a decision support system for drought management. Two different approaches have been used. Firstly, enhancement by the implementation of a user-friendly interface and, secondly, the development of a knowledge-based system. The problems and benefits of each approach are discussed.     

A Decision Support Model for Construction Cash Flow Management

Abstract: The excessive level of construction business failures and their association with financial difficulties has placed financial management in the forefront of many business imperatives. This has highlighted the importance of cash flow forecasting and management that has given rise to the development of several forecasting models. The traditional approach to the use of project financial models has been largely a project‐oriented perspective. However, the dominating role of “project economics” in shaping “corporate economics” tends to place the corporate strategy at the mercy of the projects. This article approaches the concept of cash flow forecasting and management from a fresh perspective. Here, the use of forecasting models is extended beyond their traditional role as a guideline for monitoring and control of progress. They are regarded as tools for driving the project in the direction of corporate goals. The work is based on the premise that the main parties could negotiate the terms and attempt to complement their priorities. As part of this approach, a model is proposed for forecasting and management of project cash flow. The mathematical component of the model integrates three modules: an exponential and two fourth‐degree polynomials. The model generates a forecast by potentially combining the outcome of data analysis with the experience and knowledge of the forecaster/organization. In light of corporate objectives, the generated forecast is then manipulated and replaced by a range of favorable but realistic cash flow profiles. Finally, through a negotiation with other parties, a compromised favorable cash flow is achieved. This article will describe the novel way the model is used as a decision support tool. Although the structure of the model and its mathematical components are described in detail, the data processing and analysis parts are briefly described and referenced accordingly. The viability of the model and the approach are demonstrated by means of a scenario.     

A Decision Support System for Flexible Pavement Treatment Selection

The current decision–making process of the Thailand Department of Highways (DOH) for pavement treatment selection is based on the engineering judgment of DOH practitioners, which causes inconsistency and ineffectiveness in treatment selections. In order to address these problems, Thailand Pavement Maintenance Decision Support System (TPMDSS) is developed in this study to help provide an effective guideline for flexible pavement treatment selection. TPMDSS integrates both the database management systems (DBMS) and the treatment decision model. A treatment decision model employs the causebased strategy, which follows a logical progression by synthesizing relevant pavement–related data to help identify pavement problems and recommend feasible treatments. The main components of TPMDSS are: (1) TPMS inventory module, (2) field inspection module, (3) pavement section analysis module, (4) distress explanation facility, and (5) reporting module. The developed system is verified and validated against the experts' judgment and actual test cases.     

Functional Networks: A New Network-Based Methodology

In this article we give a general methodology to build and work with functional networks, a network-based alternative to the neural networks paradigm. In functional networks, neural functions are allowed to be not only multivariate but also truly multiargument and different for all neurons. Thus neural functions instead of weights are learned. In addition, outputs coming from different neurons can be connected, that is, forced to output the same values. The topology and neuron functions of functional networks can be selected based on data, domain knowledge, or a combination of the two. Functional equations play an important role in functional networks, since the preceding types of connections lead to functional equations that impose a substantial reduction in the degrees of freedom of the initial neural functions. Some methods are given to obtain equivalent functional and differential equations, and they are applied to approximating the solutions of differential equations problems. The examples of an associative operator, a cantilever beam, and a mass supported by two springs and a viscous damper are given to illustrate the methods and show their power.     

多水源供水优化调度决策支持系统开发与实践

为实现多水源供水系统的优化调度,确保供水系统的安全、可靠、经济运行,建立了多水源供水优化调度决策支持系统。该系统以供水管网微观模型为基础,以多水厂出厂流量和压力为变量,寻求各泵站水泵的最优组合,建立了供水系统二级优化调度模型,并用遗传算法求解。其相应软件在东北某市应用效果良好,效益明显,证明该系统切实可行。     

基于GIS的管网事故状态调度决策系统

结合我国城市供水运行管理现状，将计算机技术、信息技术和决策支持系统理论引入城市供水运行优化调度中，建立了基于GIS的供水管网事故状态决策支持系统，详述了其结构与功能。     

An Open Architecture for Environmental Decision Support

Abstract: A class of environmental information systems, called environmental decision support systems, is defined. The requirements for such systems are elaborated, and a software architecture that supports these requirements is developed. This architecture is then illustrated through the example of the Sandia Environmental Decision Support System (SEDSS). The SEDSS is a family of workstation applications based on the architecture developed by AT&T Bell Laboratories and prototyped in collaboration with the Environmental Restoration Organization of Sandia National Laboratories. Sharing a common user interface philosophy and software architecture, the members of the SEDSS family are designed to facilitate human decision making with respect to the hydrologic aspects of hazardous waste management. In order to achieve these objectives, the SEDSS family integrates geographic information systems, hydrologic models, Monte Carlo simulation, and a highly interactive graphical user interface, into a coherent software system based on the X Window System.
This architecture is currently being applied to such similar environmental management problems as well-head protection area analysis, in addition to nongroundwater problems such as coastal fisheries management. Applied research in environmental decision support systems continues in the areas of uncertainty management, treatment of qualitative parameters, and the human factors of environmental decision making.     

Decision Support System for Waterproofing of Below-Grade Structures

Abstract:   This study focused on the development of a decision support system (DSS) for waterproofing of below-grade structures. The objective was to formulate an optimal solution for waterproofing of below-grade structures according to their parameters and based upon engineering and economic criteria. The model examines the environmental, structural, economic, and service life planning aspects of waterproofing in an integrated manner. The decision support model was based on the following four phases: input interface, preliminary classification, advanced classification, and output interface. The output phase consists of an interactive accessory that provides design details and quality assurance guidelines for each particular case, as well as economic parameters such as life cycle costs and risk of failure. The major contribution of this DSS is its development of a methodological application of integrated decision process, achieved by the use of engineering, economic, and service life criteria. Application of the DSS to several case studies revealed that a number of near-optimal alternatives exist, which differ from one another in terms of constructability, capital costs, and labor inputs. Cost of failure plays a major role in life cycle assessment, and may be a salient factor in the selection of the optimal solution.     

Development of A Decision Support System Using Fuzzy Sets

This paper presents the theoretical basis for the development of a fuzzy decision support system and its implementation on microcomputers. The system utilizes a fuzzy set arithmetic, called fuzzy weighted average (FWA), to evaluate a group of alternatives. The system allows the user to select the criteria (and sub-criteria if needed) on which the evaluation is to be based. Once the criteria are selected, the user is prompted for ratings (in terms of natural language) of each alternative. The ratings are represented by fuzzy sets in the system. The FWA operation is used to combine all ratings in different stages. For each alternative a final fuzzy set that represents an overall evaluation would be obtained. A simple ranking index model is adopted in the system to select the best alternative. The process is implemented in FORTRAN 77 on a microcomputer. The solution to a selected example problem is presented and discussed.     

Estimating Small Area Demand for Water: A New Methodology

The estimation of water demand is fundamental to effective water resource management. Water supply is measured at district level but true demand is not, and therefore studies of water-pricing relations are limited and mass-balance based assessment of leakage, illegal use, meter inaccuracies etc., are compromised. This paper describes the value and limitations of existing geodemographic methods, and an alternative technique widely used in other fields, microsimulation, is proposed. It is shown that geographic stability in demand relations is not found in all consumer commodities and cannot be assumed for water. Sampled data for Leeds, West Yorkshire, are used to construct a microsimulation model, and the results of that model are applied to the city of Leeds at ward level. Applicability is also demonstrated at enumeration district level.     

城市供水运行调度决策支持系统的开发与应用

通过把计算机技术、信息技术和决策支持系统理论引入城市供水运行优化调度中，成功地建立了城市供水运行调度决策支持系统，科学地提出了实现城市供水运行管理的新途径，大大提高了城市供水运行管理的效率。