This paper presents an application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) by integrating a Delphi process for selecting the best sustainable disinfection technique for wastewater reuse projects. The proposed methodology provides project managers a tool to evaluate problems with multiple criteria and multiple alternatives which involve non-commeasurable decision criteria, with expert opinions playing a major role in the selection of these treatment technologies. Five disinfection techniques for wastewater reuse have been evaluated for each of the nine criteria weighted according to the opinions of consulted experts. Finally, the VIKOR method has been applied to determine a compromise solution, and to establish the stability of the results. Therefore, the expert system proposed to select the optimal disinfection alternative is a hybrid method combining the AHP with the Delphi method and the VIKOR technique, which is shown to be appropriate in realistic scenarios where multiple stakeholders are involved in the selection of a sustainable disinfection technique for wastewater reuse projects.

ElsevierCantó Perelló, J.; Curiel Esparza, J.; Calvo Peña, V. (2013). Criticality and threat analysis on utility tunnels for planning security policies of utilities in urban underground space. Expert Systems with Applications. 40 (11) AbstractA utility tunnel is defined as an underground structure containing one or more utilities, permitting the installation, maintenance and removal of the systems without the necessity of making street cuts or excavations. These underground facilities contain all essential utilities serving large urban areas collected together in a tunnel; therefore they are an inviting target for sabotage or vandalism. This paper proposes an expert system combining color-coded scales, Delphi and AHP methods to analyze criticality and threats on utility tunnels to support planning of security policies for utilities in urban subsurface.

This work aims at studying of electrochemical oxidation of porous silicon (PSi) and its behaviour in simulated body fluid (SBF). Continuing electrochemical oxidation of PSi introduces gradual changes in morphology of the porous structure and composition of PSi. As a result, interaction between this material and SBF is changed. As more oxidized is the PSi sample, slower is the dissolution process (biodegradability) and more easily it becomes covered by the calcium-phosphorous deposits from SBF (bioactivity). We observed that crystalline hydroxyapatite HA phase could be deposited in a very homogeneous manner onto OxPSi layers immersed in SBF at 36.5 o C during 30 days.

ElsevierCuriel Esparza, J.; Mazario-Diez, JL.; Canto-Perello, J.; Martín Utrillas, MG. (2016). Prioritization by consensus of enhancements for sustainable mobility in urban areas. Environmental Science and Policy. 55 (1) ABSTRACTNowadays the European cities usually present important problems at economic, social and environmental levels. The European Union has published policies to ease this issue, and several European cities are creating sustainable mobility urban plans with the measures which can be taken to improve the mobility system. Transport decisions have direct impact on transit times, urban connectivity, and have also effects in the environment, public health and society. Choosing the best enhancement to implement is a complex decision, depending on tangible and intangible criteria, which have to be taken into account together. A compromise solution that weighs travel quality, cost and sustainability inputs has to be achieved. This research work presents a decision support system to select the optimal sustainability enhancement integrating the Delphi technique with the Analytic Hierarchy Process and the VIKOR method. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT HIGHLIGHTSSelect optimal strategies in achieving sustainable mobility.Analytic Hierarchy Process combined with a Delphi technique and the VIKOR method.Framework to achieve consensus decision-making in urban mobility.Applying tangible and intangible criteria in sustainable urban transport.

Future sustainable underground strategies will consist of the ability to reduce overcrowding subsurface space in our cities. To this end, utility tunnels become a key factor in urban underground planning. These facilities improve joint-use of urban underground space (UUS) that may contain multiple utilities such as water, sewerage, gas, electrical power, telephone, and central heating in several combinations or in some cases all together. However, implementing these subsurface tunnels is retarded most by first-cost, compatibility, security and liability problems. All these drawbacks should be addressed in early planning stages taking into account the uniqueness of each city. Therefore, expert consensus panels from public and private organizations should determine appropriate policies for developing utility tunnels network. This research work applies A'WOT hybrid method combining SWOT analysis and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to study utility tunnel planning in urban areas. The hybrid method takes account of internal resources and capabilities (strengths and weakness) and external factors (opportunities and threats). SWOT analysis is a structured way to analyze these four factors, while AHP technique achieves pairwise comparisons among factors in order to prioritize them using the eigenvector method. The quantitative strategic analysis obtained from the decision support system should be used as a preliminary step in urban planning of future utility tunnel networks.