Modeling landfill site selection using an integrated fuzzy MCDM approach

Landfill site selection is a complex process, which requires the evaluation of multiple criteria. Decision-makers often face difficulties in taking the right decision in a multiple attribute environment. In this paper, an integrated fuzzy-analytical hierarchy process (AHP)–the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)-based methodology was applied to the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill site selection problem. To demonstrate the approach taken, a real case of Mumbai city is taken. The model was developed to suit the socio-economic and regulatory set-up. The fuzzy-analytic hierarchy process was used to make pairwise comparisons of criteria to assign weights and rank them, while F-TOPSIS was employed to rank the alternatives. It was found that the fuzzy-AHP–TOPSIS-based methodology can be a powerful guiding tool for MSW management planners. With this modeling approach, the accuracy of landfill site selection procedure can be significantly enhanced as compared to the traditional methods, thereby reducing the cost and time required. The developed methodology helps in representing and analyzing the uncertainty and error in the decision making process of landfill site selection. © 2016, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.