Multi-criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) is a process that allows complex qualitative and quantitative information to be evaluated and assessed in a systematic and consistent way while taking account of subjective views of the data and their relative importance. The key features of an MCDA are (Diakoulaki and Grafakos, 2004):
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It involves the stakeholders in the decision making process.
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It acts as an interactive learning process allowing stakeholders to take account of the points of view of other stakeholders.
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It takes a multidisciplinary approach allowing full account to be taken of the complexity of natural systems.
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It allows many criteria to be taken into account, both quantitative and qualitative.