Determining the value of the port transport waters: Based on improved TOPSIS model by multiple regression weighting

• The originality of our paper is that TOPSIS is first time used in the sea valuated.
• This method has avoided the weakness of the old method, the result is reliable.
• All indexes show different impacts on the value of the port transport sea area.
• The research results of are adopted by Zhejiang Provincial Oceanic Administration.

The determination of the value of sea area used for port transportation involves the distribution of economic interests between the Chinese government and the users of sea areas. This paper builds an evaluation index system for the value of port transport sea areas. It is the first of its type to introduce the multiple regression weighting TOPSIS method (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) to study the value of a port transport sea area. This method was applied in the determination and calculation of the value of port transport sea areas in coastal counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang province.The results show that various influencing and impact factors significantly affect the value of the sea area. These factors differ in their level of effect; the value and grade of the sea area for port transportation are closely linked with the order of quality relating to the sea area. The multiple regression weighting TOPSIS method has superior advantages with regard to the adaptability of its evaluation method and the accuracy of evaluation results, with calculated results showing growth at different levels compared with the criteria for the sea area use fee.This research will play a very important role in these three fields: valuation system construction for government marine resources, ocean development and ocean management by the government.