Multiobjective Optimization for Project Selection in Network-Level Bridge Management Incorporating Decision-Maker’s Preference Using the Concept of Holism
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 18, Issue 9
Abstract
Multiattribute utility functions are widely used for multiobjective optimization of project selection problems in network-level bridge management, based on their capability of incorporating multiple performance measures and decision-makers’ preferences. However, the existing way of using them needs to be improved. First, the addition of individual projects’ utility values to obtain a total utility score for a candidate project portfolio may lead to biased solutions because such additivity property is not always valid. In addition, there is an increasing need to express the network-level performance of bridges in terms of raw performance measures, which are most meaningful to decision makers, to reflect the impacts of systemwide investment. To address these issues, the paper presents a method that first evaluates the network performance of each candidate project portfolio using network-level performance measures prior to employing a multiattribute utility function and then identifies the optimal portfolio with the best network performance. This method effectively incorporates decision-makers’ preferences into decision making, avoids possible bias from nonassumption of additivity, and interprets investment performance directly in terms of raw performance measures.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Bai, Q., and Labi, S. (2009). Uncertainty-based tradeoff analysis methodology for integrated transportation investment decision-making, Nextrans: Region V Regional Univ. Transportation Center, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN.
Bai, Q., Labi, S., and Li, Z. (2009). Trade-off analysis methodology for asset management, Joint Transportation Research Program, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN.
Bai, Q., Labi, S., and Sinha, K. C. (2012a). “Tradeoff analysis for multiobjective optimization in transportation asset management by generating Pareto frontiers using Extreme Points Nondenominated Sorting Geometry Algorithm II.” J. Transp. Eng., 138(6), 798–808.
Bai, Q., Labi, S., Sinha, K. C., and Thompson, P. D. (2012b). “Bridge user cost estimation—A synthesis of existing methods and addressing the issues of multiple counting, workzones, and traffic capacity limitation.” Struct. Infrastruct. Eng., 9(9), 849–859.
Clemen, R. T. (2004). Making hard decisions: An introduction to decision analysis, Cole-Thomson Learning, Pacific Grove, CA.
Cope, A., Bai, Q., Samdariya, A., and Labi, S. (2012). “Assessing the efficacy of stainless steel for bridge deck reinforcement under uncertainty using Monte Carlo simulation.” Struct. Infrastruct. Eng., 9(7), 634–647.
Frangopol, D. M., and Liu, M. (2007). “Bridge network maintenance optimization using stochastic dynamic programming.” J. Struct. Eng., 133(12), 1772–1782.
Golabi, K., Kirkwood, C. W., and Sicherman, A. (1981). “Selecting a portfolio of solar energy projects using multiattribute preference theory.” Manage. Sci., 27(2), 174–188.
Golabi, K., and Shepard, R. (1997). “Pontis: A system for maintenance optimization and improvement of U.S. bridge networks.” Interfaces, 27(1), 71–88.
Henig, M., and Katz, H. (1996). “R&D project selection: A decision process approach.” J. Multi-Crit. Dec. Anal. 5(3), 169–177.
Hwang, C. L., and Masud, A. S. M. (1979). “Multiple objective decision making—Methods and applications: A state-of-the-art survey.” Lecture notes in economics and mathematical systems, Springer, Berlin, 164.
Irfan, M., Khurshid, M. B., Bai, Q., Morin, T. L., and Labi, S. (2012). “Establishing optimal project-level strategies for pavement maintenance and rehabilitation—A framework and case study.” Eng. Optim., 44(5), 565–589.
Johnson, M. B. (2008). “Project prioritization using multiobjective utility functions.” Transportation Research Circular E-C127, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 189–194.
Keeney, R. L., and Raiffa, H. (1976). Decisions with multiple objectives: Preferences and value trade-offs, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Kleinmuntz, D. (2007). “Resource allocation decisions.” Advances in decision analysis: From foundations to applications, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K.
Li, Z., and Sinha, K. C. (2004). “Methodology for multicriteria decision making in highway asset management.” Transportation Research Record 1885, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 79–87.
Liu, C. (2005). “Evolutionary multiobjective optimization in engineering management: An empirical study on bridge deck rehabilitation.” Proc., 6th Int. Conf. on Parallel and Distributed Computing, Applications and Technologies (PDCAT), IEEE Computer Society, Los Alamitos, CA, 773–777.
Liu, C., Hammad, A., and Itoh, Y. (1997). “Multiobjective optimization of bridge deck rehabilitation using a genetic algorithm.” Comput.-Aided Civ. Infrastructure Eng., 12(6), 431–443.
Liu, M., and Frangopol, D. M. (2006). “Optimizing bridge network maintenance management under uncertainty with conflicting criteria: Life-cycle maintenance, failure, and user costs.” J. Struct. Eng., 132(11), 1835–1845.
Miettinen, K. M. (1999). Nonlinear multiobjective optimization, Kluwer Academic, Norwell, MA.
Morcous, G. (2007). “Pareto analysis for multicriteria optimization of bridge preservation decisions.” Transportation Research Record 1991, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 62–68.
Morin, T., and Marsten, R. (1976). “An algorithm for nonlinear knapsack problems.” Manage. Sci., 22(10), 1147–1158.
Patidar, V., Labi, S., Morin, T., Thompson, P. D., and Sinha, K. C. (2011). “Evaluating methods and algorithms for multicriteria bridge management at the network level.” Transportation Research Record 2220, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 38–47.
Patidar, V., Sinha, K. C., Labi, S., and Thompson, P. D. (2007). “Multi-objective optimization for bridge management systems.” Rep. NCHRP 590, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington, DC.
Proll, L. G., Salhi, A., and Insua, R. D. (2001). “Improving an optimization-based framework for sensitivity analysis in multi-criteria decision making.” J. Multi-Crit. Dec. Anal., 10(1), 1–9.
Rashid, M. M., and Herabat, P. (2008). “Multiattribute prioritization framework for bridges, roadside elements, and traffic control devices maintenance.” Transportation Research Circular E-C128, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 175–188.
Ravirala, V., Grivas, D. A., Madan, A., and Schultz, B. C. (1996). “Multicriteria optimization method for network-level bridge management.” Transportation Research Record 1561, Transportation Research Board, Washington, DC, 37–43.
Rosenthal, R. E. (2010). “GAMS—A user’s guide.” 〈http://www.gams.com/docs/document〉 (May 16, 2010).
Saito, M., and Sinha, K. C. (1989). “The development of optimal strategies for maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement of highway bridges.” Final Rep., Vol. 5: Priority ranking method, Joint Highway Research Project, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN.
Sinha, K. C., Labi, S., McCullouch, B. G., Bhargava, A., and Bai, Q. (2009). Updating and enhancing the Indiana Bridge Management System (IBMS), Vol. I (technical manual), Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN.
Winston, W. L., Venkataramanan, M., and Goldberg, J. B. (2002). Introduction to mathematical programming, Cole-Thomson Learning, Pacific Grove, CA.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 18 • Issue 9 • September 2013
Pages: 879 - 889
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 12, 2012
Accepted: Jul 24, 2012
Published online: Jul 27, 2012
Published in print: Sep 1, 2013
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.