R2 PM Evaluating Short- and Long- Term Effectiveness In Sediment Remediation
Thursday, 17 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in Ballroom 2

(LIN-1117-824482) Multi Criteria Decision Analysis Tools for Evaluating Effectiveness of Sediment Remedial Alternatives.

Linkov, I¹, Satterstrom, K¹, Yatsalo, B², Kiker, G³, Bridges, T⁴, ¹ Cambridge Environmental Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA² Obninsk State University, Russia, Russia³ University of Florida, USA⁴ US Army Corps of Engineers, USA

ABSTRACT- Environmental decision-making strategies for sediment management over the last several decades have evolved into increasingly more sophisticated, information-intensive, and complex approaches including expert judgment, cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, comparative risk assessment, and a number of methods for incorporating public and stakeholder values. Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) tools offer a scientifically sound decision analytical framework for comparison of sediment management alternatives. This work illustrates application of different MCDA methods (Multi Attribute Utility theory (MAUT), outranking, and Analytic Hierarchy Processing (AHP) for two case studies involving management of contaminated sediments (NY/NJ Harbor and Cocheco Site in NH.). These case studies were based on real but simplified sediment management problems experienced by the Army Corps of Engineers and other stakeholders. The decision model was developed based on stakeholder surveys and implemented in Decision Lab (Poutranking method), Expert Choice (AHP method), Criterium Decision Plus (MAUT/SMART approach), PRIME Decision (MAUT/SMART with intervals), and WINPRE (interval AHP). Our objective was to rank multiple sediment disposal options available in each case. Our analysis shows that even though each MCDA method and associated tools may use a unique theoretical background and calculation algorithms, they may be consistent in clustering alternatives available for environmental managers. The overall utility of this consideration is the ability to focus on the top few alternatives and eliminate underperforming alternatives from consideration. A cross-platform analysis of a multicriteria problem may be important tool for verification of robustness of crucial decision and their sensitivity.

Key words: sediment management, decision analysis, MCDA, risk assessment