Intermodal Transport Terminal Location Selection Using a Novel Hybrid MCDM Model

Abstract

Intermodal Transport (IT) allows savings in energy, time and costs, improves the quality of services and supports sustainable development of the transport system. In order to make IT more competitive it is necessary to support the development of intermodal transport terminal (ITT), whereby it is very important to make adequate decision on its location. This paper proposes a framework for the selection of the ITT location which would be most appropriate for the various stakeholders (investors, users, administration and residents). They often have conflicting goals and interests, so it is necessary to define a large number of criteria for the evaluation. A novel hybrid MCDM model that combines fuzzy Delphi, fuzzy Delphi based fuzzy ANP (fuzzy DANP) and fuzzy Delphi based fuzzy Višekriterijumska Optimizacija i kompromisno Rešenje (fuzzy DVIKOR) methods is developed in this paper with the aim of providing support to decision makers. The model is developed in the fuzzy environment in order to overcome the ambiguity and uncertainty of the decision makers’ evaluations of the criteria, sub-criteria and alternatives. The validity and applicability of the model is demonstrated by successfully resolving the problem of selecting the location of the ITT in the City of Belgrade.