The Selection of Dry Port Location by a Hybrid CFA-MACBETH-PROMETHEE Method: A Case Study of Southern Thailand

An intermodal transport could be the potential solution for reduction of logistics cost, including an acceleration of product flow, by way of dry port, where is regarded as a key component of combined transport. To promote a dry port in southern Thailand, the aim of this study is to propose an integrated method based on multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) for selecting its best location. Thus, a new hybrid CFA-MACBETH-PROMETHEE model is presented. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is applied to determine loads for sorting out the importance of criteria and also investigate the relationship of logistic policy and geographical determination of dry port establishment. Later, measuring attractiveness by a categorical based evaluation technique (MACBETH) is utilized to build weights of those criteria. Eventually, preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations (PROMETHEE) is engaged to rank from the most to least attractive alternatives of dry port. In this study, results indicate that Phatthalung railway station is the most attractive location for being a new dry port.