Decision Support Methodologies

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

Lectures combining theoretical explanations with exercise solving and with conceptual and real-case discussions.

Learning Outcomes

Make students aware of the meaning and usability of data analysis and decision support quantitative methods. Provide students with knowledge regarding the application of the most important methods and techniques.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1 - Data analysis techniques. Revision of basic probability and statistics techniques. Multiple regression – model estimation (least squares, maximum likelihood) and testing. Analysis of variance (ANOVA). Spatial regression (point and areal data). Structural equations modeling. Software. Applications to spatial planning.

2 - Formal decision support methods. Introduction to the particularities and complexity in urban and regional planning decision problems. Classical analysis of cost-benefits: quantitative evaluation methods and critique. Multidimensional approaches: the explicit consideration of multiple criteria simultaneously. Multi-attribute techniques: compensatory and non-compensatory methods. Topics of multiobjective modeling: construction of models, generation and analysis of solutions.

3 - Simulation techniques. Discrete-event models. Systems dynamics models. Cellular automata models. Multiagent models.

Head Lecturer(s)

António José Pais Antunes

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Participation in classroom activities; home assignments; and written final exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Bouysson, D.; Marchant, T.; Pirlot, M.; Perny, P.; Tsoukias, A.; Vincke, P. - Evaluation and Decision Models - A Critical Perspective, Kluwer, 2000.

Cohon, J., Multiobjective Programming and Planning, Orlando, FL, Academic Press, 1978.

Klosterman, R. and Brail R., Planning Support Systems, ESRI Press, 2001.

Nijkamp, P., Rietveld, P., and Voogd, H., Multicriteria Evaluation in Physical Planning, North-Holland, 1990.

Rietveld, P., Multiple Objective Decision Methods and Regional Planning, North-Holland, 1980.

Roy, B., Bouyssou, D. - Aide Multicritère à la Décision: Méthodes et Cas, Economica, 1993.

Steuer, R., Multiple Criteria Optimization: Theory, Computation and Application, John Wiley & Sons, 1986.

Timmermans, H., Decision Support Systems in Urban Planning, E&FN Spon, 1997.