Multi‐objective seaport planning by MOORA decision making

An approach is needed to localize in an optimal way a seaport facing different indicators, criteria or objectives sometimes from different groups or individuals. The internal mechanical solution of a Ratio System, producing dimensionless numbers, is preferred to Cost‐Benefit or to Weights which most of the time are used to equalize the different units. The ratio system creates the opportunity to use a second approach: a non‐subjective Reference Point Theory based on the found ratios. The two approaches form a control on each other. This theory is called MOORA (Multi‐Objective Optimization by Ratio Analysis). As an application a ranking is made for the best location of a new seaport or for the expansion of an existing one given a set of objectives to be fulfilled.