scholarly journals Communicating Science for Informed Decision-Making

Author(s):  
Birendra Bajracharya ◽  
Utsav Maden ◽  
Devrin Weiss ◽  
Leah Kucera

AbstractSERVIR’s primary objective is to use Earth observation (EO) information and geospatial information technologies (GIT) to address challenges in areas of societal concern such as food security, land use and land cover, water resources, weather, and natural disasters. With a tagline of “connecting space to village”, SERVIR-HKH aims to build the capacities of people and institutions in the HKH region to integrate science and technology into the decision-making processes. To achieve these broad and ambitious objectives, SERVIR-HKH provides scientific information to a wide range of audiences with different societal contexts (Chap. 10.1007/978-3-030-73569-2_1). A picture is worth a thousand words, they say; EO satellites provide pictures of the Earth surface which help scientists to understand the dynamics of natural and anthropogenic processes. Similarly, GIT tools enable analysis and visualization of data, not only for scientific exploration but also to help communicate the information to the intended users in the form of maps and charts. The cartographic principles applied during the map-making process ensure that the scientific information undergoes minimum distortion while communicating to the target audiences.

Author(s):  
Jitka Machalová ◽  
Ida Vajčnerová ◽  
Kateřina Ryglová

The aim of this article is to show the possibilities of spatial modelling and analysing of assumptions of tourism development in the Czech Republic with the objective to make decision-making processes in tourism easier and more efficient (for companies, clients as well as destination managements). The development and placement of tourism depend on the factors (conditions) that influence its application in specific areas. These factors are usually divided into three groups: selective, localization and realization. Tourism is inseparably connected with space – countryside. The countryside can be modelled and consecutively analysed by the means of geographical information technologies. With the help of spatial modelling and following analyses the localization and realization conditions in the regions of the Czech Republic have been evaluated. The best localization conditions have been found in the Liberecký region. The capital city of Prague has negligible natural conditions; however, those social ones are on a high level. Next, the spatial analyses have shown that the best realization conditions are provided by the capital city of Prague. Then the Central-Bohemian, South-Moravian, Moravian-Silesian and Karlovarský regions follow. The development of tourism destination is depended not only on the localization and realization factors but it is basically affected by the level of local destination management. Spatial modelling can help destination managers in decision-making processes in order to optimal use of destination potential and efficient targeting their marketing activities.


Author(s):  
Francesca Panzironi

A network may refer to “a group of interdependent actors and the relationships among them,” or to a set of nodes linked by a web of interdependencies. The concept of networks has its origins in earlier philosophical and sociological ideas such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s “general will” and Émile Durkheim’s “social facts”, which adressed social and political communities and how decisions are mediated and ideas are structured within them. Networks encompass a wide range of theoretical interpretations and critical applications across different disciplines, including governance networks, policy networks, public administration networks, social movement networks, intergovernmental networks, social networks, trade networks, computer networks, information networks, and neural networks. Governance networks have been proposed as alternative pluricentric governance models representing a new form of negotiated governance based on interdependence, negotiation and trust. Such networks differ from the competitive market regulation and state hierarchical control in three aspects: the relationship between the actors, decision-making processes, and compliance. The decision-making processes within governance networks are founded on a reflexive rationality rather than the “procedural rationality” which characterizes the competitive market regulation and the “substantial rationality” which underpins authoritative state regulation. Network theory has proved especially useful for scholars in positing the existence of loosely defined and informal webs of experts or advocates that can have a real and substantial influence on international relations discourse and policy. Two examples of the use of network theory in action are transnational advocacy networks and epistemic communities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9321
Author(s):  
Olgica Grcheva ◽  
Beser Oktay Vehbi

According to the ongoing discussions of researchers, practitioners, and international legislation, the prioritization of top-down decision-making processes in public participation is questionable due to their ambiguous outcomes in various contexts associated with the management of cultural heritage. The main aim of this paper is to highlight and identify co-creation as a sustainable and significant bottom-up methodology that has a wide range of applications, especially in the domain of Cultural Heritage Management (CHM). It is presented as an alternative to the already existing, less democratic, and passive public participation decision-making processes. Examining the evolution of the terms and the processes, together with the common aspects and differences between public participation and co-creation is another goal of this paper. Based on these aims and goals, after conducting case study analyses in various contexts and comprehensive theoretical reviews of the international charters and ongoing practices associated with both key terms, “public participation” and “co-creation”, this paper introduces results that have the potential to solve the existing problems in public participation models and frameworks and successfully integrate communities into the CHM decision-making process through the implementation of the co-creation methodology.


2009 ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dusan Skakic ◽  
Igor Dzincic

Both the scientific experience and the engineering practice indicate that the decision making processes in the course of solving complex designing problems require an analysis of a great number of different construction variants. These types of decision-making processes are time consuming and do not always result in the selection of an optimal solution. That is why the methods of numerical optimization are applied in a wide range of technical sciences to assist in the selection of the best solution. The first step in solving the problem by using the Finite element method is to determine the type of chair earmarked for modeling, and to determine the dimensions of the chair elements.


Author(s):  
Bolanle A. Olaniran

Networked communication is proliferating our world. The fact that global information communication technologies (ICTs) are becoming increasingly available is facilitating human computer interaction, which permeates the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in various organizations, groups, and interpersonal contexts. As a result, the issue facing today’s organizations is not whether to use global information technologies (GITs) in networked communication, but rather how to use them for effective functioning and as efficient coordination tool; especially how to incorporate GITs into the decision-making process. Consequently, this chapter examines the issues in designing CMC into group interactions and decision-making processes.


2008 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gail K. Hammond ◽  
Gwen E. Chapman

Purpose: To gain insight into the decision-making processes used by women when selecting dairy and dairy alternative foods, including examination of the role of bone health concerns. Methods: Semi-structured, point-of-purchase interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 30 female grocery shoppers. Constant comparative data analysis was used to generate themes on shoppers’ decision-making processes. Results: Women considered multiple issues in their dairy and dairy alternative food choice strategies: taste was most often associated with the fat and sugar content of foods; health concerns were centred on achieving an acceptable body weight and preventing osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, and women chose foods to satisfy other family members’ needs and preferences and to obtain “good food value.” Women prioritized their food choices by weighing the value of each issue, which led to a strategic process for “maximizing the value” of their food choices. The availability of a wide range of dairy and dairy alternative foods meant that in most instances, it was unnecessary for women to “trade off” one area of concern for another. Conclusions: Dietitians and nutrition educators can help women make dietary changes by helping them identify foods that they perceive as meeting a variety of needs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gogas ◽  
Konstantinos Papoutsis ◽  
Eftihia Nathanail

Abstract The management models pursued in logistics terminals determine their performance to a great extent. Terminals managed by public actors usually incorporate more social criteria into their decision-making processes. In addition, private management focuses on economic viability of the initiative. Decision-making is a complex process regardless the structure of management or the decision models useddue to the fact that a wide range of diverse criteria are embedded into this process. The objective of this paper it to determine a prioritization of a set of alternative options for investment projects which were suggested by port executives taking into account criteria and evaluation that have already validated by them. In order to perform the analysis a multi-criteria decision-making model was used: the Analytic Hierachy Process. The outcomes support a low-biased and efficient strategic planning through a balanced decision-making framework.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 73-94
Author(s):  
Kamil Mroczka ◽  

In recent months, the COVID-19 virus has become a key challenge for all countries, regardless of their geographical location, economic situation or system of government. As stated by Grzegorz Rydlewski, the crisis has become a condition for balancing and targeting the activities of supranational structures, states, various intermediate structures, and individual people (Rydlewski, 2020). The main aim of the present article is to discuss the trends and changes to public decision-making processes introduced by the lawmaker in connection with the epidemic threat to local government administration. Unquestionably, one of the negative effects of the pandemic is the fact that holding meetings of local government bodies in physical form has been unsafe since the outbreak. Legal and technical solutions have been introduced which partly transfer the decision-making process to the digital world by allowing remote meetings for a wide range of statutory bodies. In this context, it is important to examine the usefulness, practicality and efficiency of the solutions adopted, and also to identify key obstacles and challenges to local government decision-making processes. Additionally, examples of ICT tools supporting decision making in local government units will be duly provided. Finally, key problems identified in the course of the analysis in question, e.g., issues related to the area of cyber security, will be also highlighted.


2009 ◽  
pp. 1849-1863
Author(s):  
Bolanle A. Olaniran

Networked communication is proliferating our world. The fact that global information communication technologies (ICTs) are becoming increasingly available is facilitating human computer interaction, which permeates the use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) in various organizations, groups, and interpersonal contexts. As a result, the issue facing today’s organizations is not whether to use global information technologies (GITs) in networked communication, but rather how to use them for effective functioning and as efficient coordination tool; especially how to incorporate GITs into the decision-making process. Consequently, this chapter examines the issues in designing CMC into group interactions and decision-making processes.


Author(s):  
Tan Yigitcanlar

The first use of computing technologies and the development of land use models in order to support decision-making processes in urban planning date back to as early as mid 20th century. The main thrust of computing applications in urban planning is their contribution to sound decision-making and planning practices. During the last couple of decades many new computing tools and technologies, including geospatial technologies, are designed to enhance planners’ capability in dealing with complex urban environments and planning for prosperous and healthy communities. This chapter, therefore, examines the role of information technologies, particularly internet-based geographic information systems, as decision support systems to aid public participatory planning. The chapter discusses challenges and opportunities for the use of internet-based mapping application and tools in collaborative decision-making, and introduces a prototype internet-based geographic information system that is developed to integrate public-oriented interactive decision mechanisms into urban planning practice. This system, referred as the ‘Community-based Internet GIS’ model, incorporates advanced information technologies, distance learning, sustainable urban development principles and community involvement techniques in decision-making processes, and piloted in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document