Applications of Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision Making Methods in Civil Engineering: A State-of-the-Art Survey

Abstract

A variety of fuzzy multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) models have been proposed to solve complicated decision-making problems. Many applications have been achieved, especially in the field of civil engineering. To analyze the developments about the fuzzy MCDM methods and their applications in civil engineering in recent years and further explore the future research directions, this study conducts a state of the art survey in which 52 journal papers focusing on the applications of fuzzy MCDM models in civil engineering from 2016 to 2020 are reviewed. We respectively classify these articles according to research problems and research methods. Through the literature review, we get findings in terms of the most concerned decision-making problem, the most widely-used evaluation criterion and the most popular fuzzy MCDM model. Furthermore, we present four aspects of research challenges and corresponding future research directions in the field of civil engineering, which may be helpful for researchers and practitioners to further investigate.

A process-based guide for international entrepreneurs while investing in the agrifood sector of an emerging economy: a multi-layer decision-making approach

“…Thus using this number of experts in decision-making articles is famous among scholars (e.g. Wen et al. , 2021; Amiri et al.…”

“…Thus using this number of experts in decision-making articles is famous among scholars (e.g. Wen et al, 2021;Amiri et al, 2021). The expert profiles who took part in this study are included in Table 2.…”

Investigation and Optimization of Air Pollution Risk by a Multi-criteria Decision Making Method Using Fuzzy TOPSIS: A Case Study of Construction Workers

“…Accordingly, the higher the understanding of the workers from the health of the environment, the higher the safety during the work can be [16,17]. If the workers know the health risk precisely, they could treat it more efficiently and take the proper measures to handle it [18]. Such safety can be achieved through different means, including the proper instruction of the workers, their higher knowledge (sub-criteria) of the work and the environment surrounding them, and the proper use of modern technology and facilities (sub-criteria) [19,20].…”

A New Approach to the Viable Ranking of Zero-Carbon Construction Materials with Generalized Fuzzy Information

“…Balali et al [93] applied the PROMETHEE method to the selection of materials and building techniques for the Kashkhan bridge, in Iran; Safa et al [94] developed an integrated construction materials management (ICMM) model through implementation on the TOPSIS (technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution); Jiang et al [95] proposed to support the choice of various wireless technologies for tracking construction materials, using fuzzy decision making; Zavadskas et al [96] and Zavadskas et al [97] wrote pioneer papers regarding the use of the decision-making methods in the choice of building materials; Flórez et al [98] explored the impact of sustainability in an optimization model that can help decision makers to select materials; Jadid and Badrah [99] implemented a decision support system for materials information management for projects under construction by owners; Sefair et al [100] offered a multiple-criteria decision method to rank candidate materials in building construction, on the basis of their environmental impact, design, and cost; Littidej et al [101] applied an integrated multi-objective decision analysis (MODA) and a GIS method to choose the possible sites for building material delivery centers (DCs) in a municipality of Thailand; Primova et al [102] suggested an approach for optimizing the choice of construction material using nonlinear regression equations; Mathiyazhagan et al [103] selected materials on the basis of a sustainability concept using best-worst methodology (BWM) and a fuzzy TOPSIS approach; Krivogina et al [104] proposed a multi-criteria approach for the optimal control of the production of building materials. The applications of crisp and fuzzy multiple-criteria decision-making methods in construction, including the domain of building material selection, were reviewed by Wen et al [105].…”