Choquet integral-based hesitant fuzzy decision-making to prevent soil erosion

Abstract

In this study, a novel fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making method based on hesitant fuzzy sets combined with the Choquet integral (HFSCI) is proposed to prevent soil erosion in Turkey. Owing to the hierarchical structure of the problem, the main criteria accounted for in this work are the topography of the area, land usage and cover, climate effects, soil characteristics, and human activities, which are accompanied by appropriate sub-criteria. According to the soil structure and potential risk factors, four preventive methods are determined: land reforestation, agricultural terracing, windbreak construction, and the application of suitable farming techniques. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that the proposed approach enables decision makers to select the appropriate method to prevent soil erosion. Additionally, a comparison of the proposed approach and another hesitant-based approach is provided to demonstrate the validity of the recommended approach.