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Given the rapid development of dehazing image algorithms, selecting the optimal algorithm based on multiple criteria is crucial in determining the efficiency of an algorithm. However, a sufficient number of criteria must be considered when selecting an algorithm in multiple foggy scenes, including inhomogeneous, homogenous and dark foggy scenes. However, the selection of an optimal real-time image dehazing algorithm based on standardised criteria presents a challenge. According to previous studies, a standardisation and selection framework for real-time image dehazing algorithms based on multi-foggy scenes is not yet available. To address this gap, this study proposes a new standardisation and selection framework based on fuzzy Delphi (FDM) and hybrid multi-criteria analysis methods. Experiments are also conducted in three phases. Firstly, the image dehazing criteria are standardised based on FDM. Secondly, an evaluation experiment is conducted based on standardised criteria and nine r.....

950 hits

The problem complexity of multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) has been raised in the distribution of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, which required solid and robust MCDM methods. Compared with other MCDM methods, the fuzzy-weighted zero-inconsistency (FWZIC) method and fuzzy decision by opinion score method (FDOSM) have demonstrated their solidity in solving different MCDM challenges. However, the fuzzy sets used in these methods have neglected the refusal concept and limited the restrictions on their constants. To end this, considering the advantage of the T-spherical fuzzy sets (T-SFSs) in handling the uncertainty in the data and obtaining information with more degree of freedom, this study has extended FWZIC and FDOSM methods into the T-SFSs environment (called T-SFWZIC and T-SFDOSM) to be used in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The methodology was formulated on the basis of decision matrix adoption and development phases. The first phase described the adopted.....

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This paper aims to propose a grouping framework for benchmarking the active queue management (AQM) methods of network congestion control based on multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques to assist developers of AQM methods in selecting the best AQM method. Given the current rapid development of the AQM techniques, determining which of these algorithms is better than the other is difficult because each algorithm performs better in a specific metric(s). Current benchmarking studies benchmark the AQM methods from a single incomplete prospective. In each proposed AQM method, the benchmarking was achieved with reference to some evaluation measures that are relatively close to the desired goal being followed during the development of the AQM methods. Furthermore, the benchmarking frameworks of AQM methods are complicated and challenging because of the following reasons: (1) the technical details of the AQM methods are adapted and the input parameters are selected according to the sens.....

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This study evaluated the benchmarking process of active queue management (AQM) methods, which consider a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) problem using multidimensional criteria. Academic studies have benchmarked the AQM methods using MCDM techniques. However, these studies have used existing MCDM techniques, which face considerable theoretical challenges. The latest MCDM method called fuzzy decision by opinion score (FDOSM) was published in the Journal of Applied Soft Computing in 2020 to address the theoretical challenges of the existing MCDM methods. However, FDOSM continues�to encounter serious issues. That is, it exclusively depends on the direct aggregation MCDM approach based on arithmetic mean (AM) operator. However, performing other operators (i.e., geometric mean, harmonic mean, and root mean square), in addition to applying other MCDM approaches (i.e., distance measurement and compromise rank), may result in different ranking results. Hence, this study mainly proposes .....

521 hits

Ranking the strengths and weaknesses of software engineering students in software development life cycle (SDLC) process level is a challenging task owing to (1) data variation, (2) multievaluation criteria, (3) criterion importance and (4) alternative member importance. According to the existing literature, no specified procedure can rank the ability of software engineering students based on SDLC process levels to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of each student. This study aims to present a novel triplex procedure for ranking the ability of software engineering students to address the literature gap. The methodology of the proposed work is presented on the basis of three phases. In the identification phase, four steps are implemented, namely, processing dataset, identifying the criteria, distributing the courses to the software engineering body of knowledge and proposing the pre-decision matrix (DM). The data comprise the GPA and soft skills from 60 software engineering student.....

801 hits

Secure updating and sharing for large amounts of healthcare information (such as medical data on coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19]) in efficient and secure transmission are important but challenging in communication channels amongst hospitals. In particular, in addressing the above challenges, two issues are faced, namely, those related to confidentiality and integrity of their health data and to network failure that may cause concerns about data availability. To the authors? knowledge, no study provides secure updating and sharing solution for large amounts of healthcare information in communication channels amongst hospitals. Therefore, this study proposes and discusses a novel steganography-based blockchain method in the spatial domain as a solution. The novelty of the proposed method is the removal and addition of new particles in the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm. In addition, hash function can hide secret medical COVID-19 data in hospital databases whilst providin.....

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Context: A plethora of models are available for open-source software (OSS) usability evaluation. However, these models lack consensus between scholars as well as standard bodies on a specific set of usability evaluation criteria. Retaining irrelevant criteria and omitting essential ones will mislead the direction of the usability evaluation. Objective: This study introduces a three-step method to develop a usability evaluation model in the context of OSS. Method: The fuzzy Delphi method has been employed to unify the usability evaluation criteria in the context of OSS. The first step in the method is the usability criteria analysis, which involves redefining and restructuring all collected usability criteria reported in the literature. The second step is fuzzy Delphi analysis, which includes the design and validates the fuzzy Delphi instrument and the utilisation of the fuzzy Delphi method to analyse the fuzziness consensus of experts' opinions on the usability evaluation criteria. The.....

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