A Multi-Criteria Model of Determining the Best Available Technology Under Fuzzy Input Data

One of the key elements in solving environment-protection problems is introducing the principles of the best available technologies, which are effective in evaluating and regulating the negative impact industrial plants have on the environment. The term "best available technologies" (BAT) are defined as the production technologies, processes and services, determined on the basis of modern science and technology, with the best combination of criteria to achieve environmental objectives subject to availability of technical possibilities being taken into account. The problem of selecting the best available technologies is based on the valuation of pollution and counter-pollution measures and the regulation of the negative impact of industrial production on the environment. Comparing alternative technological options is a complex task in which many environmental, technological, economic and social criteria should be taken into account. One of the main conditions for the correct selection of tools for decision making on BAT is to adequately address uncertain input data. For the correct assessment of alternative technologies including comparison of the levels of negative impacts on the environment, we propose a model of multi-criteria decision making with fuzzy parameters which is a variant of the fuzzy multicriteria decision making methodology called TOPSIS. A stepwise algorithm for multi-criteria decision-making is developed that allows us to operate with uncertain, fuzzy input data using subjective expert evaluations. The proposed method is illustrated with a real-life example which verifies and justifies the method, and illustrates its effectiveness and ability to provide an objective decision-making solution.

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