Applications of ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operators in environmental problems

Abstract

This paper presents an application of a prioritized weighted aggregation operator based on ordered weighted averaging (OWA) to deal with stakeholders' constructive participation in water resources projects. They have different degree of acceptance or preference regarding the measures and policies to be carried out, which lead to different environmental and socio-economic outcomes, and hence, to different levels of stakeholders’ satisfaction. The methodology establishes a prioritization relationship upon the stakeholders, which preferences are aggregated by means of weights depending on the satisfaction of the higher priority policy maker. The methodology establishes a prioritization relationship upon the stakeholders, which preferences are aggregated by means of weights depending on the satisfaction of the higher priority policy maker. The methodology has been successfully applied to a Public Participation Project (PPP) in watershed management, thus obtaining efficient environmental measures in conflict resolution problems under actors’ preference uncertainties.