The selection of the best subsurface exploration methods corresponding to geotechnical, topographical and economic circumstances of the project is one of the most effective factors in the success of a tunneling project. On the other hand, the development of a decision model and consequently choosing the most suitable alternatives are complex tasks. Therefore, prioritizing and selecting the best subsurface exploration methods, as the main aim of this study, can reduce the economic and social costs associated with the execution of a tunneling project. For this purpose, ten experts from tunneling community have been asked to weigh the chosen criteria of the problem in this research. A methodology utilized in this study is the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) which proved useful in engineering decision-making problems. The other method is TOPSIS, one that has continuously been used in decision making in the recent decades. These two techniques have been combined and utilized in this work to rank the aforementioned exploration methods.
Material and The study area is located about 109 km far from Shahrekord city amid the Zagros mountains. The Sabzkooh tunnel development plan has been under evaluation in the time that this research was being done. The geology of the area majorly encompasses sedimentary rocks which have been outcropped as folds, faults, and fractured and altered zones. However, the variety of the lithological units in the tunnel route is high, and units of limestone and shales also exist over the path.
In the first step, geological and topographic maps were produced for the study area, and general information from the tunnel path was collected and examined. Suitable exploration methods were evaluated, and six main methods were chosen to be considered as the alternatives of the study including (a) discontinuities study, (b) Lugeon tests, (c) RQD, (d) Geo-electric, (e) Gravimetry, and (f) Seismic methods. Moreover, nine criteria ranging from “volume of the available information” and “environmental impact” to “cost” and “accuracy” of the employed methods were taken into account. A pairwise comparison matrix was then developed, and the experts were asked to fill it out. The importance of each criterion was then simply calculated through this matrix. Alternatives pairwise comparison matrices were also filled out and, in this manner, the alternatives could be ranked using the AHP technique. Next, the TOPSIS technique was employed for the same purpose using a rather different process.
Both AHP and TOPSIS techniques show very close results for ranking of the alternatives in this study. They rank the three Seismic, Geo-electric and Discontinuities studies methods as the best ones for the considered tunneling project. The only difference between these two techniques is how they determine the worst method. The AHP ranks the Lugeon as the last rank among the six methods whereas the TOPSIS determines the RQD as the least reliable method of exploration for the Sabzkooh tunnel project.
The prioritization and the subsequent selection of the most reliable exploration methods for an underground excavation project is a crucial task amid technical decisions. In this research, two major multi-criteria decision-making methods including AHP and TOPSIS were considered and applied for the Sabzkooh tunnel in Iran. The results indicate a high agreement between the two methodologies even though these two approaches decide differently on the least reliable methods to be applied.

The multi-criteria decision making model is an important tool for decision making in water resource management. In this paper، the TOPSIS model was used to rank seven flood management options in the Gorganrood river flood management project، including conservation of natural condition، Golestan reservoir management، levee construction، diversions-channel construction، flood forecasting and warning system، flood insurance، and integration of flood warning system and flood insurance. Economical، technical، social and environmental qualitative values and criteria weights were determined by expert judgment and used to evaluate options. Due to limitations in the TOPSIS model، the M-TOPSIS model was used and obtained results were compared with the TOPSIS model outputs. The results showed that the M-TOPSIS model would produce better results for ranking options and sensitivity analysis of criteria weights. Therefore، given the significance of social and environmental criteria، this model is recommended for ranking flood management options.

Appropriate drill bit selection can lead to enhance remarkable drilling operation efficiency and cost-saving. There are several factors affecting the bit selection process. Among these parameters, some factors such as specific energy (SE), cost per foot (CPF), formation drillability (FD), and rate of penetration (ROP) are considered the most important ones. One of the best approaches to select the optimum drill bit is to apply Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques. In this research work, Fuzzy Technique for Order-Preference by similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) is used to choose the optimum bit for drilling operations in Sarvak and Asmari formations due to higher accuracy and validity of findings achieved from the FTOPSIS. With this respect, three types of bits (i.e. 517, 527, and 537) were considered as available candidates and were then ranked through the FTOPSIS, resulting in the best option (bit). In Asmari formation, similarity factors for bit types of 517, 527, and 537 bits were obtained as 0.479, 0.438, and 0.382, respectively indicating bit type 517 can be chosen as a proper option compared to other ones. Similarly, in Sarvak formation, results showed 0.5405, 0.5019, and 0.5622 values for 517, 527, and 537 bit types respectively, demonstrating the bit-type 537 is the most appropriate alternative in such formation.

In this research، strategies of agricultural water demand management in arid regions was ranked by the proposed hybrid model (MTAHP) of Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Modified Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (MTOPSIS) methods. The proposed hybrid model (MTAHP) uses the strengths of the AHP and TOPSIS and avoids their weaknesses. For this purpose، the AHP model was used for determining relative weights and consistency ratio assessment and، finally، M-TOPSIS model was used for ranking the strategies. To apply the MTAHP model، 35 Iranian experts in the field of agricultural water management participated in the survey. Model results showed that the best strategy for agricultural water demand management in arid regions was training the farmers. The next ranks of strategies in order were: improvement of cropping pattern، land leveling، modernization of irrigation systems in the region، and using recovered water. The lowest ranks belonged to the trade water strategy and virtual water imports. The results of this research showed that the hybrid model of AHP and MTOPSIS can be used in evaluating and prioritizing the strategies for agricultural water demand management.

One of the requirements for sustainable operation of soil, water and environment resources in agricultural sector is addressing the sustainable development criteria in dam construction projects. In current research, multi-criteria decision making methods (MCDM) including ELimination Et Choice Translating REality (ELECTRE), as a non-compensatory model, and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), as a compensatory model, were applied to select proper site for Kandoleh dam in Kermanshah province. For this porpose, after determining the suitable criteria with the help of studies and experts' opinions, group decision making was applied to identify the weight of the criteria by measuring the decision-makers' agreement. Then, the four selected sites for the Kondoleh dam were ranked based on technical, economic, social, environmental criteria and the relevant sub-criteria. At the end, the results were compared togeather. In order to reach a consecsus in the rankings of the two mentioned models, integration methods such as grade average, Copeland and Borda were employed and finally the average method was employed to finalize the results of the integrated methods. Also, 17 sub-criteria were ranked for choosing the dam's site. Based on the results, alternatives ranking for the two models; ELECTRE and TOPSIS, was different. However, the results of the ELECTRE model are more consistent with the final result of the integration methods. The results presented in this study are applicable for selecting storage reservoirs based on sustainable development criteria in soil and water resources development projects.

Prioritising mines for investment is one of the major issues in mining economic. In this kind of problem, mines are ranked according to the conditions and characteristics of mines like value of mine reserve, production capacity of mines etc.. Based on this ranking, investment priority for each mines determined. In this study, priority investment for oxidized copper mines in Semnan province has been found using the TOPSIS method, a multi-criteria decision-making methods. TOPSIS method is based on the concept that the chosen alternative should have the shortest geometric distance from the positive ideal solution and the longest geometric distance from the negative ideal solution. In this study, 12 different criteria, and 33 copper mines in Semnan province were considered for prioritization. The decision criteria were weighed by surveying of experts in the field and then the importance of each factor have been determined using AHP method. Finally, using TOPSIS method, Chah Mosa, Kolut and Chah Farakh copper mines are ranked as first, second and third priority for investment, respectively. Also, sensitivity analysis is done to find the weight of criteria which are the most effective in prioritizing mines.

Municipal is a public institution that independent, non-governmental, to the nature of the state and local performance that has the duty of the city and serve the citizens and tourists to be responsible, and as one of the principles of management, use of local resources to its task-focused. Effective accountability and improve the efficient activities of a variety of municipal needs assessment. Evaluating the performance of the corporate sector is usually synonymous with the effectiveness of activities. One of the methods used to assess is fast evaluate. And other quantitative performance Assessment methods, data is envelopment analysis that relative to assessment of performance pay. Given the importance of evaluating the performance of municipalities, this study provides a combination of performance assessment using data envelopment analysis and rapid assessment are discussed. For this purpose, in the first chapter the words of the issue has been discussed and explained the objectives and research questions. In the second chapter the research literature and research methods described in Chapter III. In the fourth chapter the index has been developed for the rapid assessment to evaluate areas of the municipality. And by providing rapid assessment of tick box of municipalities was discussed. Which formed DEA model to evaluate the relative performance of municipalities and the number of performance in each region were determined. Then by sensitivity analysis on the model input data envelopment analysis to prioritize rapid assessment indicators, and then use the same method to determine the priority region of the municipality was the ideal option. After the above steps, in the rapid assessment survey regions 6, 11 and 12, respectively ranked first and the third & in evaluating the performance of the municipal regions of the DEA BCC using the input, the number of functional regions, including six regions units 4, 5, 8, 13, 14 and 15 were identified and in combination with problem solving method returns to scale the number of functional regions, including four units, the regions 4, 5, 8, 13, 14 and 15 were determined. After sensitivity analysis of the input variables in BCC, The effect of varying complexity and diversity management practices and continuous improvement and effective management also vary in SBM 's been more than others. The results of the rapid assessment approach by prioritizing organizational units similar to the ideal option indicated that the municipal zone 11 has a minimum distance with the ideal option and has earned first place and then in the region 6 won the second prize.

The aim of this study is to select the optimal transport system in urban metro mechanized excavation projects. For this purpose, three options have been examined: complete railway systems, hybrid conveyor - railway systems, and hybrid conveyor-rubber wheel vehicles (or Multi-Service vehicle MSV) systems. Different criteria investigated for comparing the options include: economic, safety & environmental, technical and operational management criteria. For each of these main-criteria, one or more sub-criteria are considered. In order to evaluate the economic sub-criteria, the costs and the benefits of each option are analyzed. The interviews with professional experts are used to prioritize criteria and sub-criteria. Expert opinions are analyzed using a multi-criteria technique called "procedure similar to the ideal option» based on fuzzy logic. Analytical results show that the hybrid conveyor-rubber wheel vehicles (MSV) system has highest rating compared to the other systems. Using the results of this study, we will be able to minimize the various transportation financial and non-financial costs for metro tunnel excavation.

Jiroft dam is one of the most important Kerman dams providing water for different sections. The recent shortfall makes difficulty in management of water resources in this area. Therefore, it is necessary to optimize a plan for water resources allocation considering critical conditions in the region. So, this research main purpose is to prioritize allocation of Jiroft dam water resources. We used a technique similar to fuzzy ideal (FTOPSIS) under 8 management indexes in order to achieve this goal. We also collect required information from library studies and survey the related experts’ ideas. The results showed that agricultural area is in the first grade with index of 0.51 in terms of water resources allocation. The second grade for hydropower with index of 0.44 . Finally, there are applied suggestions based on the results obtained..

Different defensive methods are usually available to improve the resistance of existing critical buildings against catastrophic effects of explosion loads to ensure continuing services and protection of lives. The optimum retrofitting method is the one that through technical and economic considerations reduces the rate of damage to equipment, existing buildings and the possible human casualties. This paper presents a procedure to determine the best defensive retrofitting alternative using AHP and TOPSIS techniques. Application of developed procedure in retrofitting a group of critical concrete buildings identifies the specific method of "Adding Wall" as the best alternative against explosion loads of this type of buildings.