Measuring systems sustainability with multi-criteria methods: A critical review

Dı́az-Balteiro, Luis; González-Pachón, Jacinto; Romero, Carlos

doi:10.1016/j.ejor.2016.08.075

Cited by 260 publications

(177 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…Additionally, in recent years a percentual increase in studies using MCDM techniques has been observed. This tendency has been seen in other studies reviewed on the employment of MCDM techniques in diverse spheres (Diaz-Balteiro and Romero, 2008;Diaz-Balteiro et al, 2017). However, unlike the work of Diaz-Balteiro and Romero (2008), the number of studies which can be included under the heading "harvest scheduling" or "extended harvest scheduling" is clearly on the rise.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

A critical survey of optimization methods in industrial forest plantations management

Belavenutti

Romero

Dı́az-Balteiro

2018

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

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ABSTRACT:The application of optimization methods to forest management has given rise to a successful line of investigation in recent decades. However, there have been few publications associated with the application of these techniques to the management of industrial forest plantations (those with short or medium rotations, always less than 50 years), which consider the important role played by these forest systems in the supply of diverse goods and services.This study presents an overview of this literature which, by analyzing 67 articles published in journals contained in the ISI Web of Science, highlight, among other aspects, the techniques employed, their evolution, their planning type (strategic, tactical or operational), the functional objectives and constraints considered, or the type of software deployed in these studies. The results show how Model I has been the one most frequently used in these studies, and how the spatial component is increasing in importance. However, classic optimization methods, such as mixed integer programming, have been those most commonly resorted to, although the employment of multi-criteria techniques such as goal programming and analytic hierarchical process have strongly emerged in recent years.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 83%

A critical survey of optimization methods in industrial forest plantations management

Belavenutti

Romero

Dı́az-Balteiro

2018

Sci. agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.)

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“…Unlike goal programming, the methodology based on the ideal point seeks to find a set of solutions, which are not necessarily restricted by parameters imposed by the researcher, but are the most suitable for the problem [33]. In distance-based methods, the idea of maximizing a utility function, as in classic optimization methods, is replaced by the minimization of the distance between an alternative and a target point enjoying better preferential characteristics [35]. Regardless of the methods used, it should be noted that these are only supporting tools, and their function is not to replace the role of researchers in any decision-making process [34].…”

Section: The Theory Of Ideal Point and The Compromise Programming Appmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the Multi-Functionality of Forest Ecosystems in Northern Mexico

Pérez-Verdín

Monarrez-Gonzalez

Tecle

et al. 2018

Forests

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Abstract:Managing multiple ecosystem services is a complex task that involves special interactions among different resources, services, and stakeholders. Mexican forests have been traditionally managed for the single purpose of obtaining wood, benefiting a small sector of society. In this study, we evaluated the interactions among various ecosystem services, namely carbon content, tree diversity, surface water runoff, and the net present value of timber production. We also attempted to determine the most suitable basal area level that best satisfies the management of these services combined. Bivariate correlations, non-linear regression models, and a multiobjective decision-making technique are used to analyze the data in the study. Results indicate that trade-offs exist between surface water runoff and tree basal area. A synergistic relationship, between net present value and carbon content with basal area, was also observed. Tree diversity has a synergistic relationship with basal area in open forests, but a trade-off relationship in denser forests. The most preferred forest management level that satisfies the desired ecosystem services is between 17 and 21 m 2 /ha of residual basal area. We hope that adopting this multiobjective study can cement collaborative strategies among Mexican resource managers, landowners, environmental groups, and others interested in forest management.

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“…Many studies end up with outlining or quantifying indicators for predefined AoPs, with possible aggregation through multicriteria analysis (Vazquez‐Rowe and Iribarren ; Diaz‐Balteiro et al. ; Onat et al. ; Finkbeiner et al.…”

Section: Interconnectedness Among Areas Of Protectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is a clear lack of understanding on the mutual dependencies and complex interactions among entities in the cause-effect chain (Onat et al 2016a;Zamagni et al 2013). Many studies end up with outlining or quantifying indicators for predefined AoPs, with possible aggregation through multicriteria analysis (Vazquez-Rowe and Iribarren 2015;Diaz-Balteiro et al 2017;Onat et al 2016b;Finkbeiner et al 2010;UNEP-SETAC 2011). These offer practical solutions, but do not take the next needed step of considering cause-effect pathways between AoPs.…”

Section: Interconnectedness Among Areas Of Protectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Revision of What Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Should Entail: Towards Modeling the Net Impact on Human Well‐Being

Schaubroeck

Rugani

2017

J of Industrial Ecology

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Summary The main goal of a sustainability assessment is to evaluate the impact of systems (e.g., human or natural ones) on areas sought to be protected and maintained over time (e.g., human well‐being, ecosystems, etc.). These are called areas of protection (AoPs). Life cycle sustainability assessment is a type of sustainability assessment that focuses on the impact of industrial production systems on AoPs. To further this field, three conceptual challenges should be tackled: (1) framing which areas should primarily be sustained and hence on which the impact should be assessed, that is, (re)defining of the AoPs; (2) accounting for the interconnectedness among AoPs (e.g., influence of ecosystems on human well‐being); and (3) the assessment of both benefit and damage to the AoPs (e.g., benefit of industrial products and damage of their production). The aim of this study is to provide a first roadmap to address these three issues and to suggest potential solutions. Regarding the first issue, our conclusion is that human well‐being, encompassing health and happiness, is the primary AoP. This is based on the argument that the sustainability concept is inherently anthropocentric. In this regard, other entities such as ecosystems as a whole are sustained in light of human well‐being. The well‐being adjusted life years, interpreted as years of perfect well‐being, is pinpointed as the most promising holistic indicator. To conduct a respective sustainability assessment that tackles the remaining two issues—integrated system modeling of the earth and its support to well‐being—is argued as the most suitable approach.

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Measuring systems sustainability with multi-criteria methods: A critical review

Cited by 260 publications

References 81 publications

A critical survey of optimization methods in industrial forest plantations management

A critical survey of optimization methods in industrial forest plantations management

Evaluating the Multi-Functionality of Forest Ecosystems in Northern Mexico

A Revision of What Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Should Entail: Towards Modeling the Net Impact on Human Well‐Being

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