Fuzzy set approaches to planning in the Grand River basin

Fuzzy set approaches are used to analyze alternative solutions to a water resources planning problem in the Grand River basin in Ontario, Canada. The output from questionnaires which were answered by local politicians and other interested parties, provide input data to fuzzy set analyses. The fuzzy set techniques are designed such that non-quantitative and quantitative factors, and the viewpoints of the interest groups, can be readily incorporated into the decision-making process. Ranking of the alternatives is achieved through the use of a dominance matrix which is designed for this purpose. By comparing the ratings of each alternative in the fuzzy set analyses to the cost of the alternative, a comparison is made among the alternatives based upon cost effectiveness. The reasonable results obtained for the Grand River basin application confirm the efficacy of the fuzzy set procedures.