Robust Ordinal Regression (ROR) supports Multiple Criteria Decision Process by considering all sets of parameters of an assumed preference model, that are compatible with preference information elicited set of parameters, respectively. In this paper, we propose an extension of ELECTRE and PROMETHEE methods to the case of the hierarchy of criteria, which was never considered before. Then, we ada...

In this paper we extend the PROMETHEE methods to the case of interacting criteria on a bipolar scale, introducing the bipolar PROMETHEE method based on the bipolar Choquet integral. In order to elicit parameters compatible with preference information provided by the Decision Maker (DM), we propose to apply the Robust Ordinal Regression (ROR). ROR takes into account simultaneously all the sets o...

Promethee II is a prominent method for multicriteria decision aid (MCDA) that builds a complete ranking on a set of potential actions by assigning each of them a so-called net flow score. However, to calculate these scores, each pair of actions has to be compared, causing the computational load to increase quadratically with the number of actions, eventually leading to prohibitive execution tim...

In Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problems dealing with qualitative criteria and uncertain information the use of linguistic values is suitable for the experts in order to express their judgments. It is common that the group of experts involved in such problems have different degrees of knowledge about the criteria, so we propose a multi-granular linguistic framework such that each exper...

It is generally believed that the preference ranking method PROMETHEE has a quadratic time complexity. In this paper, however, we present an exact algorithm that computes PROMETHEE’s net flow scores in time O(qn log(n)), where q represents the number of criteria and n the number of alternatives. The method is based on first sorting the alternatives after which the unicriterion flow scores of al...

This article presents Gaia: a methodology for agent-oriented analysis and design. The Gaia methodology is both general, in that it is applicable to a wide range of multi-agent systems, and comprehensive, in that it deals with both the macro-level (societal) and the micro-level (agent) aspects of systems. Gaia is founded on the view of a multi-agent system as a computational organisation consist...

The paper discusses the strategy followed in a digital cities project named Gaia Digital. This project is an ongoing threeyear project sponsored by the Portugal Digital Initiative, within the Information Society operation program framework. It provides a digital city counterpart for Vila Nova de Gaia, a Portuguese town with around 288.000 inhabitants, considering 2001 figures. The Gaia Digital ...

This paper introduces Gaia theory to the general reader. It provides the necessary background to follow the development of James Lovelock's thinking as he originated the Gaia theory by comparison of the atmospheres around Mars and other planets during his sojourn at NASA. Lynn Margulis' contributions to Gaia are also presented and the bases for her collaboration with Lovelock explored. In addit...

Gaia is a satellite mission of the ESA, aiming at absolute astrometric measurements of about one billion stars (all stars down to 20 magnitude, with unprecedented accuracy. Additionally, magnitudes and colors will be obtained for all these stars, while radial-velocities and spectral properties will be determined only for bright objects (V < 17.5). At 15 magnitude Gaia aims at an angular accurac...