# Quantitative Analysis of Influencing Factors on Changzhou Ship Lock Capacity
## 4 Results and Discussion
### Comparison with the AHP  
To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, it was compared with the commonly used AHP [17,18]. The specific steps for establishing the hierarchical structure model and calculating the index weights are not elaborated upon here.  
Qualitatively, the AHP method determines its relative importance by designing a survey questionnaire and experts scoring. Although experts have rich experience and can ensure the authority of statistical results, the determination of factor weights has a certain degree of subjectivity. The AHP identified the significant factors affecting ship lock capacity as lock operation water level, the level and sill of locks, effective lock dimensions, ship  
Figure 6: The correlation analysis of the influencing factors.  
Figure 7: The scree plot of influencing factors.  
dimensions, and loading coefficient. This is largely consistent with the results obtained by the principal component analysis method.  
Quantitatively, the AHP calculated the comprehensive weights of influencing factors, providing a comparison of their importance. It highlighted the need to focus on the lock operation water level, ship dimensions, and loading coefficient when enhancing the existing ship lock capacity. In contrast, the PCA provided the contribution rates of influencing factors, emphasizing the importance of ship lock still, operation direction, ship dimensions, and ship draft.  
Upon analysis, the primary reason for the differences in the research results is that the two methods were applied to different research subjects. AHP was applied to the Three Gorges ship lock, while the PCA was applied to the Changzhou ship lock. The specific manifestations are as follows:  
1. The Changzhou ship lock is a four-lane ship lock with significant differences in the designed single-way capacity of each lane, while the Three Gorges ship lock is a double-lane ship lock with the same designed single-way capacity. This is why the lock sill is the primary influencing factor for the Changzhou ship lock capacity.
2. Comparing the briefing on the Three Gorges ship lock's navigation situation, issued by the Yangtze River Three Gorges Navigation Administration, with the briefing on the Changzhou ship lock's navigation conditions, issued by the Pearl River Administration of Navigational Affairs. MOT, it was found that the cargo volume through the Three Gorges ship lock was nearly balanced between upstream and downstream, whereas the Changzhou ship lock had a significantly lower upstream cargo volume compared to downstream. This is why operation direction became a primary influencing factor for the Changzhou ship lock capacity.
3. The AHP focuses on analyzing the factors affecting ship lock capacity under comprehensive navigation conditions, with the lock operation water level being the primary factor. The PCA focuses on analyzing the factors affecting ship lock capacity under saturated operation conditions and eliminates the impact of abnormal navigation data, such as insufficient operation water level.  
It is evident that although there are differences in the analysis results between the two methods, these differences are in line with the actual conditions of different ship locks, indirectly verifying the effectiveness of the methods.