Closure to “Hybrid decision-making method for assessing interdependency and priority of critical infrastructure”

This paper constitutes the authors’ reply to the comments on the original article, “Hybrid decision-making method for assessing interdependency and priority of critical infrastructure” by Chou and Ongkowijoyo (2019). First, we respond regarding the issues of questionable critical infrastructures (CIs) and their definitions. Second, we clarify the influential network-relation map, which was presented within a comprehensive model flowchart in the original publication. Third, we confirm that the inclusion of fuzzy and grey theories in the conventional method provides more robust outputs rather than redundancy. Finally, we describe the rationality of input data, which influence the analytical process and its results, in terms of the characteristic relationship of CI network between each sector and sub-sector. We verify the reliability and accuracy of the FDANP model with reference to an empirical case and the results of the analysis in the original publication. The FDANP method thus developed is demonstrated to contribute to the theoretical framework of multiple decision-making environment and the relevant literature, as a superior practical technique.