Coupling Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis, Life-Cycle Assessment, and Risk Assessment for Emerging Threats

Abstract

Emerging environmental threats such as novel chemical compounds, biological agents, and nanomaterials present serious challenges to traditional models of risk analysis and regulatory risk management processes. Even a massive expansion of risk and life-cycle assessment research efforts is unlikely to keep pace with rapid technological change resulting in new and modified materials with changing properties. Therefore, it is essential to have a framework for interpreting available information in the context of high uncertainty and a strategy for prioritizing research efforts to reduce those uncertainties that are most critical. We discuss how integrating the three analytic approaches of risk assessment, life-cycle assessment, and multicriteria decision analysis into a framework permits understanding uncertainty and prioritizes needs for scientific research. Our approach is illustrated with two separate cases: nanomaterials and contaminated sediment remediation.

Combined application of multi-criteria optimization and life-cycle sustainability assessment for optimal distribution of alternative passenger cars in U.S.

“…In another paper, MCDM was integrated into LCA to select the best composite material alternative (Milani and Eskicioglu, 2011). Linkov and Seager (2011) presented a MCDM approach and integrated uncertain information collected from risk analysis and LCA for nano-manufacturing and for the management of contaminated sediments. You et al (2012) used a joint application of MCDA and LCA for a case study of biomass production chains, and Liu et al (2012) applied a combination of risk assessment, LCA, and MCDM to a case study in a waste recycling facility.…”

Reactive Aggregate Model Protecting Against Real-Time Threats

“…For the latter, it is essential for users and stakeholders of a new, innovative technology to properly define and structure the problem, in order to accurately evaluate multiple criteria and make informed decisions. The National Research Council (NRC) codifies MCDA as "a deliberative process for bringing together disparate public and stakeholder views to help generate decision criteria, rank-order alternatives, deal with uncertainty in regard to competing objectives, and formulate management trade-offs between objectives in the context of risk" [35]. MCDA is a consolidation of methods employed to better comprehend, structure, and enhance decision processes.…”

“…MCDA is a consolidation of methods employed to better comprehend, structure, and enhance decision processes. According to Linkov and Seager, conventionally, the MCDA process consists of the following four steps [35]:…”

Review of the Literature on Multicriteria Methods Applied in the Field of Public Security

“…The literature indicates that the MCDA methods are used and applied to solve decision problems in many areas, as [2,11,19]: information and communication technologies [22]; business intelligence [23]; environmental risk analysis [24,25]; environmental impact assessment and environmental sciences [26]; water resources management [27][28][29]; solid waste management [30,31]; remote sensing [32,33]; flood risk management [34,35]; health technology assessment [36,37]; health care [38]; transportation [39]; nanotechnology research [40]; climate change [41]; energy [42,43]; international politics and laws [44]; Human resources [45]; Investment decisions [46]; performance and benchmarking [47]; Supplier selection [48]; E-commerce and m-commerce [49]; Agriculture and horticulture [50]; Chemical and biochemical engineering [51]; Software evaluation [52]; Network selection [53]; Policy, social and education [54]; HVAC systems and small scale energy management [55].…”