Oper Res Int J (2008) 8:3–4 DOI 10.1007/s12351-008-0002-x EDITORIAL

Special issue on ‘‘Multicriteria Decision Support Systems’’ Nikolaos F. Matsatsinis Æ Pantelis Ipsilantis Æ George Samaras

Published online: 19 February 2008 Ó Springer-Verlag 2008

As the complexity of practical decision problems increases, decision makers acknowledge the existence of conflicting goals and criteria. Multiple criteria decision aid (MCDA) is a scientific field which provides the methodological framework to approach complex decision problems. The advances in MCDA since the 1970s kept pace with the development of information technology and computer science. The integration of the two scientific fields led to the development of multicriteria decision support systems (LCDSS) which constitute a powerful tool for analysing complex and ill-structured problems in order to provide integrated support in deriving effective decisions in real time. LCDSS share the same main characteristics with a ‘‘traditional’’ DSS, but at least one of their supported models stems from the field of multicriteria decision analysis. LCDSS is one of frontier topics in theoretical and applied science. This special issue of ORIJ bring together original research, techniques, state-of-the-art surveys, and advanced applications of MCDSS. This special issue includes papers presented during the 64th Meeting of the European Working Group on Multi-Criteria Decision Aiding. After a reviewing process, 12 papers were finally accepted for publication in the special issue. The papers are organized in two issues.

N. F. Matsatsinis (&) Department of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, University Campus, 73100 Hania, Crete, Greece e-mail: [email protected] P. Ipsilantis
G. Samaras Department of Project Management, Technological Education Institute of Larissa, 41110 Larissa, Greece e-mail: [email protected] G. Samaras e-mail: [email protected]

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Editorial

The current issue begins with the paper of S. Labbouz, B. Roy, Y. Diab and M. Christen deals with the implementation of a public transport line using multicriteria decision-making methods. The second paper by Y. Marinakis, M. Marinaki, M. Doumpos, N. Matsatsinis, and C. Zopounidis presents a new stochastic methodology, which is based on the concepts of genetic algorithms (GAs) and greedy randomized adaptive search procedure (GRASP), for optimally clustering problems. J-C. L. Lo´pez, L. D. Sa´nchez, M. A. A. Contreras present a new version of the SADAGE system for solving ranking problems using the ELECTRE III method and a GA or a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA). F. Thomaidis, P. Konidari and D. Mavrakis propose a methodology to rank the nine Energy Community countries, according to their prospects for integration into a regional competitive wholesale gas market, using the TOPSIS method. The paper by N. Bojovic and M. Milenkovic deals with the problem of determining an optimal rail fleet mix. The authors use the Analytic Hierarchical Process for solving this problem. W. K. M. Brauers proposes another approach of multi-objective decision making by the reference point theory for a Wellbeing economy. The second issue begins with the paper by D. E. Koulouriotis and A. Xanthopoulos, who present a comparative study of ad hoc techniques and evolutionary methods for multi-armed bandit problems. C. Gaganis, F. Pasiouras, S. Tanna and C. Zopounidis investigate the efficiency of four classification techniques, namely discriminant analysis, logit analysis, UTADIS multicriteria decision aid, and nearest neighbours, in the development of classification models that could assist auditors during the examination of Asian commercial banks. L. Dimos proposes the use of correspondence analysis to a stochastic multicriteria problem in order to provide solutions that can support the descriptive problematic. I. Blecic, A. Cecchini and C. Pusceddu present a multi-objective evaluation model for project selection and prioritization. The proposed model tries to take into account the complexity of urban and territorial policy-making, yet allowing decision-makers to understand how the model works and to explore interactively the space of solutions. N. Belgasmi, L. B. Saı¨d and K. Ghe´dira propose an evolutionary multiobjective optimization model in order to solve the multi-location transhipment problem. Finaly, N. F. Matsatsinis and K-D. Tzoannopoulos present an overview of the multiple criteria group decision support through the usage of argumentationbased multi-agent systems. Sincere thanks must be expressed to the authors whose contributions have been essential in creating this issue. Finally, we would like to thank those who worked hard to review these papers and contributed to the achievement of this special issue’s high standard.

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