An indicator-based integrated methodology for evaluating sustainability in transportation systems using multivariate statistics and fuzzy logic
Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management
ISSN: 2053-4620
Article publication date: 1 March 2021
Issue publication date: 2 February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to quantify and evaluate transport sustainability from an integrated perspective. It is argued that transportation systems being interdisciplinary and complex, the integrated approach towards quantification and evaluation would present its sustainability goals’ attainment in a much better way.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed integrated methodology is divided into five major steps that are sub-divided. It adopts a three-tier classification system i.e. pillar, sub-division and indicator. In total, 116 sustainable transportation indicators (STIs) were classified into 10 subdivisions corresponding to three sustainability pillars. The weighting and aggregation of STIs were done using a combination of a statistical tool called principal component analysis/factor analysis, a machine learning tool called fuzzy logic and equal weighting method. The final output that the proposed integrated methodology generates is a new composite index called the integrated sustainable transportation index (IIST).
Findings
To check the credibility of the proposed integrated methodology, it was applied to 26 states and the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, India. Based on the computed IIST, 27 study zones were ranked and mapped. The results showed that while Tamil Nadu (0.643), Telangana (0.574) and Maharashtra (0.564) were the best-performing states, Goa (0.347), Chhattisgarh (0.436) and Meghalaya (0.439) were the worst-performing states, as far as the relative transportation sustainability is concerned.
Practical implications
The proposed integrated methodology could be useful for transportation evaluators, planners and policymakers who can recognize, track and improve the strengths and overcome the weaknesses within a transportation system.
Originality/value
The novelty of this research work is that it uses a multi-stage multi-tool approach to quantify and evaluate transport sustainability that minimizes the demerits of single-stage individual tools while maximizing their merits.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper presents part of the research work carried out by the author*, who receives a Doctoral Fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The authors would like to thank and acknowledge the Transportation Engineering and Planning (TE&P) Division, institute administration and Civil Engineering Department at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar for providing the necessary facilities and support for this research.
The authors would like to thank and acknowledge the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India for providing the necessary funding and support for this research.
Citation
Illahi, U. and Mir, M.S. (2022), "An indicator-based integrated methodology for evaluating sustainability in transportation systems using multivariate statistics and fuzzy logic", Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 43-72. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-12-2019-0116
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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