# An Optimization Model for a Desert Railway Route Scheme Based on Interval Number and TOPSIS
###### Abstract  
The construction of desert railways inevitably destructs the environment and aggravates the wind-sand damage along the line. A reasonable railway route is an effective measure to avoid blown sand hazards, save construction costs, and reduce environmental damage. Currently, the selection methods for the railway route scheme are to analyze the qualitative indicators and quantitative indicators separately, and there are few decision-making models for the desert railway scheme. Therefore, this study aims to propose a comprehensive quantitative optimization model of the route scheme for the desert railway. Based on the design principles of hazard reduction, the evaluation index system of the desert railway route is first constructed, including railway design factors, wind-blown sand hazard factors, environmental impact factors, and operation condition factors. Subsequently, the subjective weights and objective weights are combined to obtain the comprehensive weights of the index by utilizing the principle of minimum discrimination information. Finally, the interval number is employed to quantify the linguistic fuzzy number of qualitative indicators, and the optimization model of the route scheme for the desert railway is constructed based on the technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS). The model is verified using the Minfeng-Yuhu section in the Hotan-Ruoqiang railway as the case study. The achieved results reveal that this model enhances the accuracy and efficiency of the railway scheme decision-making and provides a theoretical basis for the optimal design and sand damage control of the desert railway. osernal railway; route scheme; optimization model; interval number; TOPSIS; sand hazard prevention Article  
Y. [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON], X., [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON] An Optimization Model for a Desert Railway Route Scheme Based on Interval Number and TOPSIS  
- paid attention to in the engineering design. Commonly, blown sand hazard is the leading factor influencing the railway design in the desert region. Scientifically and reasonably designed railway routes can minimize wind-sand hazards, save construction costs, and lessen environmental damage. This kind of design represents the most economical and effective measure to reduce the damages caused by the wind-sand along the line. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the evaluation method of the desert railway route scheme and propose an optimization model to improve the levels of sand hazard prevention and ecological environment protection. The railway route scheme selection is a complex multi-attribute decision-making problem involving qualitative and quantitative indicators. [PERSON] et al. [5] constructed a decision-making model of the railway alignment scheme in complicated and difficult mountainous areas via cloud model-cumulative prospect theory. [PERSON] et al. [6] determined the design scheme of the Erzincan Trabzon section in the Turkiye high-speed railway by implementing a tomographic analysis and geographic information system. [PERSON] et al. [7] introduced the application of the multi-criteria decision-making method in a railway line scheme design. Based on the comprehensive route selection index and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, [PERSON] et al. [8] established an evaluation model for the route scheme in karst areas and then optimized the route scheme of the Guiyang-Guangzhou high-speed railway as a case study. [PERSON] et al. [9] developed an evaluation model of the railway route scheme in earthquake-risky zones by combining the earthquake risk calculation with the traditional scheme evaluation method. The comparison and selection for railway realignment schemes are essentially concentrated in difficult and dangerous mountain areas, karst regions, and earthquake zones [10].