Assessing the Environmental Impact Caused by Power Grid Projects in High Altitude Areas Based on BWM and Vague Sets Techniques

• Main Authors: Yuanxin Liu, FengYun Li, Yi Wang, Xinhua Yu, Jiahai Yuan, Yuwei Wang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-05-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: high altitude area; power grid projects; environmental impact assessment; BWM-Vague set model
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/6/1768

This study constructed a hybrid model for assessing the environmental impact caused by power grid projects (PGP) in high altitude area (HAA). Firstly, this study analyzed the characteristics of the environment in HAA and the possible environmental impacts caused by the PGP in HAA. On this basis, an evaluation indicator system reflecting the particularity of HAA was established, including three perspectives named natural, social and ecological environment. Next, considering the availability of evaluation index data and the scarcity of evaluation samples, the best and worst method (BWM) was employed to obtain the objective and credible indicator weights. Furthermore, the Vague set theory was introduced into the comprehensive evaluation model, overcoming the shortcomings of comprehensive evaluation model based on fuzzy sets. Finally, the practicability and effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model was validated via a practical PGP in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Overall, the results of this paper can play an important supporting role in promoting green construction and sustainable development of PGP. Besides, the proposed hybrid evaluation framework requires fewer index values and evaluation samples, having good applicability and promotion value in handling the evaluation issues with uncertain and incomplete information.