Decision support tools for oil spill response (OSR-DSTs): Approaches, challenges, and future research perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 167 ◽  
pp. 112313
Author(s):  
Zhaoyang Yang ◽  
Zhi Chen ◽  
Kenneth Lee ◽  
Edward Owens ◽  
Michel C. Boufadel ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 5744
Author(s):  
Innocent K. Tumwebaze ◽  
Joan B. Rose ◽  
Nynke Hofstra ◽  
Matthew E. Verbyla ◽  
Daniel A. Okaali ◽  
...  

User-friendly, evidence-based scientific tools to support sanitation decisions are still limited in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector. This commentary provides lessons learned from the development of two sanitation decision support tools developed in collaboration with stakeholders in Uganda. We engaged with stakeholders in a variety of ways to effectively obtain their input in the development of the decision support tools. Key lessons learned included: tailoring tools to stakeholder decision-making needs; simplifying the tools as much as possible for ease of application and use; creating an enabling environment that allows active stakeholder participation; having a dedicated and responsive team to plan and execute stakeholder engagement activities; involving stakeholders early in the process; having funding sources that are flexible and long-term; and including resources for the acquisition of local data. This reflection provides benchmarks for future research and the development of tools that utilize scientific data and emphasizes the importance of engaging with stakeholders in the development process.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-76
Author(s):  
Matt Tonkin ◽  
Martin Joseph Weeks

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand (i) how crime linkage is currently performed with residential burglaries in New Zealand, (ii) the factors that promote/hinder accurate crime linkage and (iii)whether computerised decision-support tools might assist crime linkage practice. Design/methodology/approach A total of 39 New Zealand Police staff completed a questionnaire/interview/focus group relating to the process, challenges, products and uses of crime linkage with residential burglary in New Zealand. These data (alongside four redacted crime linkage reports) were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings The data clearly indicated wide variation in crime linkage process, methods and products (Theme 1). Furthermore, a number of factors were identified that impacted on crime linkage practice (Theme 2). Research limitations/implications Future research should develop computerised crime linkage decision-support tools and evaluate their ability to enhance crime linkage practice. Also, researchers should explore the use of crime linkage in court proceedings. Practical implications To overcome the barriers identified in the current study, greater training in and understanding of crime linkage is needed. Moreover, efforts to enhance the quality of crime data recorded by the police will only serve to enhance crime linkage practice. Social implications By enhancing crime linkage practice, opportunities to reduce crime, protect the public and deliver justice for victims will be maximised. Originality/value The practice of crime linkage is under-researched, which makes it difficult to determine if/how existing empirical research can be used to support ongoing police investigations. The current project fills that gap by providing a national overview of crime linkage practice in New Zealand, a country where crime linkage is regularly conducted by the police, but no published linkage research exists.


CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S119-S119
Author(s):  
K.E. Smith ◽  
K. Lobay ◽  
M. Bullard

Introduction: The Prehospital Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (Pre-CTAS) is based upon, and is consistent with, the CTAS (Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale). Paramedic-assigned Pre-CTAS scores using memory compared to Triage Nurse CTAS scores have previously demonstrated moderate inter-rater reliability. This is the first study to measure the effect of two different point-of-care decision support tools on the inter-rater reliability of paramedic assigned Pre-CTAS and Triage nurse CTAS scores. Methods: Paramedics were randomized to Pre-CTAS booklet or CTAS smartphone app during the one-year study period. Pre-CTAS scores assigned on arrival at hospital (AH) were compared with Triage Nurse CTAS scores and analyzed using Cohen’s Kappa. Paramedics were then surveyed to assess the perceived utility and satisfaction with the decision support tools. Results: For 1663 patient transports, the weighted kappa score for Paramedic AH vs. Triage Nurse CTAS was fair at 0.38 (95% CI 0.35-0.41). For patients whose initial on-scene and AH Pre-CTAS scores did not change (n= 1405, 85%), Paramedic-Triage Nurse agreement was moderate at 0.43 (95% CI 0.39-0.46). The survey revealed that tools, when employed, helped assign scores; however accessing the additional resource was cumbersome or time consuming, and scores were occasionally assigned post clinical encounter. Conclusion: Point-of-care external decision support tools did not affect Pre-CTAS and ED CTAS agreement. These tools may add complexity or be perceived to add time to documentation within the delivery of clinical care if not implemented with adequate support. Future research needs to evaluate the impact of clinical decision support embedded within an electronic patient care record consistent with many ED information systems.


1999 ◽  
Vol 1999 (1) ◽  
pp. 849-853
Author(s):  
Ann Hayward Walker ◽  
Don Costanzo ◽  
Marc Heard ◽  
David McLain

ABSTRACT In the fast-paced environment of oil spill response, management decisions often must be made rapidly for situations that are complex. Researchers previously identified six factors that are critical to achieving a successful oil spill response, one of which specifically concerns information management: “The response system must be able to communicate and manage information internally and externally.” Effective information flow is critical to spill management and expectation management of the public. This paper describes information flow, as it relates to all levels of organizational support during an oil spill response, that is critical to making timely and appropriate decisions. Given the United States' policy to use Incident Command System (ICS) as the preferred management system for oil spill response, the focus of the discussion is on ICS-based management systems. In addition, needs and opportunities for using automated decision support tools in the emergency environment are discussed.


2020 ◽  
pp. 323
Author(s):  
Nour Elislam Djedaa ◽  
Abderrezak Moulay Lakhdar

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
D. Inman ◽  
D. Simidchiev ◽  
P. Jeffrey

This paper examines the use of influence diagrams (IDs) in water demand management (WDM) strategy planning with the specific objective of exploring how IDs can be used in developing computer-based decision support tools (DSTs) to complement and support existing WDM decision processes. We report the results of an expert consultation carried out in collaboration with water industry specialists in Sofia, Bulgaria. The elicited information is presented as influence diagrams and the discussion looks at their usefulness in WDM strategy design and the specification of suitable modelling techniques. The paper concludes that IDs themselves are useful in developing model structures for use in evidence-based reasoning models such as Bayesian Networks, and this is in keeping with the objectives set out in the introduction of integrating DSTs into existing decision processes. The paper will be of interest to modellers, decision-makers and scientists involved in designing tools to support resource conservation strategy implementation.


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