Graphical illustrations of the results of the baseline and sensitivity tests are shown
in Fig. 15.1(a) and (b). Site 1 and site 4 are virtually inseparable. Although site 1 is
very marginally better within the baseline test, the sensitivity tests show the two
running very close. These two are well ahead of the other four. Site 3 is ranked third,
marginally ahead of site 6, which is itself marginally better than site 5. Site 2 is
definitely sixth and last. In overall terms, the data indicate that sites 1 and 4 are the
best options, well ahead of sites 3, 5 and 6. Site 2 is definitely the worst. These
relative positions are reinforced by use of Borda’s Sum of Ranks Method. It sums the
individual ranking positions of each option for each of the sensitivity tests and
calculates the average, placing the lowest score in first position and so on. Sites
1 and 4 have equal scores (1.83) with sites 3, 5 and 6 all clustered together between
3.5 and 4. Site 2 is last with a score of 6.0. The average rank for each option is given
in Table 15.7.
Final result
Sites 1, 4 ! 4 Sites 3, 6, 5 ! Site 2
Table 15.7 Results of sensitivity tests
Sensitivity tests
Option ST 1
ST 2
ST 3
ST 4
ST 5
ST 6
Average
rank
Site 1
8.13 (1st) 7.52 (3rd) 8.00 (1st) 7.68 (3rd) 7.91
(2nd
)
7.80 (1st) 1.83
Site 2
4.11 (6th) 2.55 (6th) 3.01 (6th) 4.00 (6th) 3.05
(6th)
3.93 (6th) 6.00
Site 3
7.50 (3rd) 7.04 (4th) 7.08 (4th) 7.60 (4th) 7.52
(3rd)
7.02 (3rd) 3.50
Site 4
7.99 (2nd) 7.69 (2nd) 7.82 (2nd) 7.92 (2nd) 8.02
(1st)
7.66 (2nd) 1.83
Site 5
6.05 (5th) 8.02 (1st) 7.28 (3rd) 6.39 (5th) 7.18
(5th)
6.52 (5th) 4.00
Site 6
7.39 (4th) 6.63 (5th) 6.31 (5th) 8.07 (1st) 7.39
(4th)
6.64 (4th) 3.83
Table 15.6 Criterion
weightings within the six sensitivity tests
Normalised criterion weightings
Criterion
ST 1
ST 2
ST 3
ST 4
ST 5
ST 6
Land
0.369 0.163 0.246 0.326 0.163 0.320
Building
0.246 0.326 0.369 0.163 0.326 0.320
Labour
0.219 0.291 0.219 0.291 0.291 0.143
Transport 0.105 0.139 0.105 0.139 0.139 0.137
Climate
0.061 0.081 0.061 0.081 0.081 0.080
15.4 Sensitivity Testing
421
in Fig. 15.1(a) and (b). Site 1 and site 4 are virtually inseparable. Although site 1 is
very marginally better within the baseline test, the sensitivity tests show the two
running very close. These two are well ahead of the other four. Site 3 is ranked third,
marginally ahead of site 6, which is itself marginally better than site 5. Site 2 is
definitely sixth and last. In overall terms, the data indicate that sites 1 and 4 are the
best options, well ahead of sites 3, 5 and 6. Site 2 is definitely the worst. These
relative positions are reinforced by use of Borda’s Sum of Ranks Method. It sums the
individual ranking positions of each option for each of the sensitivity tests and
calculates the average, placing the lowest score in first position and so on. Sites
1 and 4 have equal scores (1.83) with sites 3, 5 and 6 all clustered together between
3.5 and 4. Site 2 is last with a score of 6.0. The average rank for each option is given
in Table 15.7.
Final result
Sites 1, 4 ! 4 Sites 3, 6, 5 ! Site 2
Table 15.7 Results of sensitivity tests
Sensitivity tests
Option ST 1
ST 2
ST 3
ST 4
ST 5
ST 6
Average
rank
Site 1
8.13 (1st) 7.52 (3rd) 8.00 (1st) 7.68 (3rd) 7.91
(2nd
)
7.80 (1st) 1.83
Site 2
4.11 (6th) 2.55 (6th) 3.01 (6th) 4.00 (6th) 3.05
(6th)
3.93 (6th) 6.00
Site 3
7.50 (3rd) 7.04 (4th) 7.08 (4th) 7.60 (4th) 7.52
(3rd)
7.02 (3rd) 3.50
Site 4
7.99 (2nd) 7.69 (2nd) 7.82 (2nd) 7.92 (2nd) 8.02
(1st)
7.66 (2nd) 1.83
Site 5
6.05 (5th) 8.02 (1st) 7.28 (3rd) 6.39 (5th) 7.18
(5th)
6.52 (5th) 4.00
Site 6
7.39 (4th) 6.63 (5th) 6.31 (5th) 8.07 (1st) 7.39
(4th)
6.64 (4th) 3.83
Table 15.6 Criterion
weightings within the six sensitivity tests
Normalised criterion weightings
Criterion
ST 1
ST 2
ST 3
ST 4
ST 5
ST 6
Land
0.369 0.163 0.246 0.326 0.163 0.320
Building
0.246 0.326 0.369 0.163 0.326 0.320
Labour
0.219 0.291 0.219 0.291 0.291 0.143
Transport 0.105 0.139 0.105 0.139 0.139 0.137
Climate
0.061 0.081 0.061 0.081 0.081 0.080
15.4 Sensitivity Testing
421