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.