A fuzzy multicriteria evaluation system for the assessment of tunnels vis-a-vis surface roads: theoretical aspects - part I

In current practice, the most frequently used quantitative parameter for the selection between a road tunnel and a surface road, is the construction cost. Other parameters that could be of interest to a decision-maker are either absent or existing in a purely qualitative form that does not lend itself for comparisons between alternative solutions. For this reason, a tailor-made methodology was developed, aiming to facilitate the comparative assessment of road tunnels against surface roads on an overall basis. This methodology is based upon the principles of MultiCriteria (MCA) and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), incorporating the full range of cost, technical, operational, environmental and spatial criteria required for the proper evaluation of the two alternatives. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.