scholarly journals Water resources data, models and decisions: international expert opinion on knowledge management for an uncertain but resilient future

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Ward ◽  
D. Scott Borden ◽  
Amos Kabo-bah ◽  
Abdul Nasirudeen Fatawu ◽  
Xavier Francis Mwinkom
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Capacity Planning ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Data Models ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Planning Under Uncertainty ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract Assessing the resilience of water resources systems requires knowledge of properties and performance, which depends on data availability and use within models and decision making. Connections between data, models and decision making are crucial to plan for uncertainty and invest in interventions. To explore international perceptions of these connections, we conducted a three-round Delphi survey with an expert panel (see Supplementary material, available with the online version of this paper). Consensus and divergence existed within and between countries on ability to manage data, modelling and decision making, with the most consensus seen on use of hydrometric databases. There was a wide range of models and tools utilised by participants and a shift occurred between first and second rounds to a preference for trying new modelling. There was consensus between and within all countries that every data type was important. River flow data consistently scored highest. Access to data and models primarily impacted evaluating future capacity, planning under uncertainty, policy implementation and conflict resolution. The panel called for reviewing existing and developing new policy, collaborative research and available funding all focusing on water resources data-model-decision integration. Findings offer a strategic view on knowledge management regarding connections between data, models and decision making through identification of consensus areas for future focus and dissensus areas for reprioritisation.

Knowledge Management: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE

2012 ◽  
Vol 01 (11) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Kamran Nazari ◽  
Mostafa Emami
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Critical Points ◽  
Organization Performance ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Dynamic Learning ◽  
Collective Wisdom ◽  
Theory To Practice ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Peter Drucker

Knowledge management is a process that helps organizations to find important information, select, organize and publish them; and it’s a proficiency that will be necessary for actions like solving problems, dynamic learning, decision making. Knowledge management can improve a wide range of organization performance properties by enabling company to more intelligent performance, but it’s not enough alone; because knowledge management to be useful needs undertaking staff to organization and their job, that accept the knowledge management process with spirit and heart and perform it (Wiig, 1999:14).Knowledge management is the leveraging of collective wisdom to increase responsiveness and innovation. It is important that you discern from this definition three critical points. This definition implies that three criteria must be met before information can be considered knowledge. » Knowledge is connected. It exists in a collection (collective wisdom) of multiple experiences and perspectives Knowledge management is a catalyst. It is an action – leveraging. Knowledge is always relevant to environmental conditions, and stimulates action in response to these conditions. Information that does not precipitate action of some kind is not knowledge. In the words of Peter Drucker, ‘‘Knowledge for the most part exists only in application.’’ » Knowledge is applicable in un-encountered environments. Information becomes knowledge when it is used to address novel situations for which no direct precedent exists. Information that is merely ‘‘plugged in’’ to a previously encountered model is not knowledge and lacks innovation.

Comparison of fuzzy set ranking methods for implementation in water resources decision-making

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 692-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Predrag Prodanovic ◽  
Slobodan P Simonovic
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Fuzzy Sets ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Fuzzy Set ◽  
Ranking Methods ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Uncertain Variables ◽  
Ranking Of Alternatives ◽  
Risk Acceptance

A new multicriteria technique, fuzzy compromise programming (FCP), is used to evaluate discrete alternatives in the context of water resources decision-making. All uncertain variables (subjective and objective) are modeled by way of fuzzy sets. Fuzzy set ranking methods are employed to compare, rank, and (or) sort the fuzzy output produced by FCP. The literature suggests that many ranking methods are available; however, not all may be appropriate for water resources decision-making. The objective of this paper is to compare fuzzy set ranking methods that can be implemented with FCP. Nine such ranking methods are considered in this research, two of which are fully tested using case studies from the literature. It was found that for all case studies, the ranking of alternatives was not very sensitive to changes in the degree of risk acceptance by experts or changes in the ranking methods themselves.Key words: fuzzy set ranking methods, risk preferences, compromise decision, water resources systems.

scholarly journals Modeling and analysis of collective management of water resources

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 711-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Tilmant ◽  
P. van der Zaag ◽  
P. Fortemps
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Collective Choice ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Operating Policies ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) recommends, among other things, that the management of water resources systems be carried out at the lowest appropriate level in order to increase the transparency, acceptability and efficiency of the decision-making process. Empowering water users and stakeholders transforms the decision-making process by enlarging the number of point of views that must be considered as well as the set of rules through which decisions are taken. This paper investigates the impact of different group decision-making approaches on the operating policies of a water resource. To achieve this, the water resource allocation problem is formulated as an optimization problem which seeks to maximize the aggregated satisfaction of various water users corresponding to different approaches to collective choice, namely the utilitarian and the egalitarian ones. The optimal operating policies are then used in simulation and compared. The concepts are illustrated with a multipurpose reservoir in Chile. The analysis of simulation results reveals that if this reservoir were to be managed by its water users, both approaches to collective choice would yield significantly different operating policies. The paper concludes that the transfer of management to water users must be carefully implemented if a reasonable trade-off between equity and efficiency is to be achieved.

Contaminants of emerging concern in urban Aquifers: are they a pRoblem for groundwater usE? (CARE)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Jurado ◽  
Enric Vázquez-Suñé
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Urban Groundwater ◽  
Contaminants Of Emerging Concern ◽  
Field Scale ◽  
Groundwater Environment ◽  
Wide Range

<p>This abstract aims to present the project CARE. Often, urban areas must pump water resources to cover various aspects of the growing urban water demand and as a strategic resource at specific times (e.g., droughts). These considerations lead one to wonder whether urban groundwater can be safely used, including its potential use as drinking water because urban aquifers usually contain a wide range of pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, nutrients, pathogens, and organic contaminants). Currently, there is a growing interest for the contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) (i.e., pharmaceuticals, personal care products, illicit drugs, etc.,) because most of them are not included in the watch lists of priority pollutants due to existing regulatory gap. Moreover, even detected at trace levels (ng/L-µg/L), they might pose ecological risk such as interference with the endocrine system of high organisms, microbiological resistance, accumulation in soil, plants and animals and, the effects of CEC mixtures are assumed to have unforeseen consequences on ecosystems.</p><p>Since CECs reach groundwater environment, their attenuation occurs mainly through microbial degradation because adsorption is reversible and only retards the contaminants’ transport. Moreover, although the long residence time of water in aquifers might result in strong attenuation of some CECs, others are persistent in urban groundwater. This requires appropriate understanding of all the processes that control the fate of CECs at field scale but, so far, most research is conducted at the laboratory scale, which misses potential synergetic effects associated with the heterogeneous and complex hydrochemical conditions that are inherent in urban aquifers. Considering the raising demand of secure freshwater and the concurrent increase of CECs use, understanding the factors that most influence their efficient removal in urban aquifers are of paramount importance to assure adequate protection of human health and the environment.</p><p>In this context, the main objectives of CARE are to: (1) identify the most suitable conditions that contribute to the natural bioremediation of selected CECs in urban groundwater at field scale and (2) propose and develop solutions for the sustainable management of urban groundwater resources by means of numerical modelling facilitating the decision making and improving its management. A suitable area for CARE is the pilot zone of Sant Adria del Besòs (Barcelona, Spain) because there is a huge amount of urban groundwater is routinely pumped (6 Hm<sup>3</sup>/y) and discharged into the sewage system. Moreover, our previous investigations have demonstrated the presence of a wide range of CECs in this aquifer reaching concentrations up to 2 µg/L. The main outcome of CARE  will be an integrated method for urban groundwater management using monitoring, measuring and modelling approaches that will support improved decision-making to ensure the long-term availability of water resources to the water authorities. This method can be applied in other urban aquifers.</p>

Operational hydrology with forecasting for a multireservoir water resources system

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-364
Author(s):  
Robert M. Thompstone
Keyword(s):  
Parameter Estimation ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Stochastic Modelling ◽  
Water Resources System ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Operating Strategies

One of the tools used by the water resources engineer in developing operating strategies for water resources systems is operational hydrology—the stochastic modelling of a hydrologic phenomenon such as river flow in order to generate a large number of possible future occurrences of the phenomenon. This paper describes the selection and parameter estimation of a multisite multiseason model for application to five sites of a hydroelectric system operated by Alcan Smelters and Chemicals Limited in the Saguenay – Lac St-Jean region of Quebec. The model is used to generate synthetic inflow data and compute corresponding forecasts. The model is evaluated with respect to its ability to both generate realistic synthetic data and produce meaningful forecasts.

scholarly journals Water Security in a Changing Environment: Concept, Challenges and Solutions

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 490
Author(s):  
Binaya Kumar Mishra ◽  
Pankaj Kumar ◽  
Chitresh Saraswat ◽  
Shamik Chakraborty ◽  
Arjun Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Dissemination And Implementation ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Wide Range

Water is of vital and critical importance to ecosystems and human societies. The effects of human activities on land and water are now large and extensive. These reflect physical changes to the environment. Global change such as urbanization, population growth, socioeconomic change, evolving energy needs, and climate change have put unprecedented pressure on water resources systems. It is argued that achieving water security throughout the world is the key to sustainable development. Studies on holistic view with persistently changing dimensions is in its infancy. This study focuses on narrative review work for giving a comprehensive insight on the concept of water security, its evolution with recent environmental changes (e.g., urbanization, socioeconomic, etc.) and various implications. Finally, it presents different sustainable solutions to achieve water security. Broadly, water security evolves from ensuring reliable access of enough safe water for every person (at an affordable price where market mechanisms are involved) to lead a healthy and productive life, including that of future generations. The constraints on water availability and water quality threaten secured access to water resources for different uses. Despite recent progress in developing new strategies, practices and technologies for water resource management, their dissemination and implementation has been limited. A comprehensive sustainable approach to address water security challenges requires connecting social, economic, and environmental systems at multiple scales. This paper captures the persistently changing dimensions and new paradigms of water security providing a holistic view including a wide range of sustainable solutions to address the water challenges.

scholarly journals Screening for nonstationary analysis

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (S1) ◽  
pp. 144-155
Author(s):  
Paul H. Kirshen
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Detailed Analysis ◽  
Sequential Analysis ◽  
Adaptation Strategy ◽  
Deep Uncertainty ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Additional Information

Abstract Adjustments in the designs of water resources systems due to climate change and other nonstationarities are warranted because the benefits of effective adaptation are well recognized. Therefore, the time and resources invested in these analyses are well worth the effort. Before a major investment in an effort is made, however, it is reasonable to determine if the problem is of sufficient complexity or the value of additional information is high enough to warrant the inclusion of complex, sophisticated methods that explicitly include nonstationarity and associated decision-making under deep uncertainty. There exist several planning level conditions such as the lifetime of the project, its criticality, and its reversibility that may indicate detailed analysis is not needed. There are also sequential analysis and screening steps that can be applied to determine the complexity of the methodology needed. Finally, the use of decision analysis can also help determine if additional, detailed analysis, or data collection are necessary. The use of one or several of these methods should be considered as initial steps before undertaking a vulnerability assessment and developing an adaptation strategy for a water resources system.

scholarly journals A Knowledge Management Challenges for Start-Ups: A Framework Proposal

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-260
Author(s):  
Theocharis Stylianos Spyropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Technical Information ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Start Ups

The study reviews the knowledge management challenges faced by innovative start-ups founders and entrepreneurs. Knowledge management is critical for innovation, since both organisations and individuals face very specific needs: collection of a wide variety of information and data, such as market data and technical information, and a wide range of transformation of these data into applicable knowledge, in the forms of required product specifications, business model, and business strategy. In addition, the business financing and investment ecosystem (especially Banks & Venture Capitals) uses a traditional “business plan” approach for evaluating innovation companies. Furthermore, a wide range of tools (databases, online information, Collaboration Systems, Business Intelligence Systems, ERP & CRM Systems) enable information flow and supports decision making process. To this respect, both academic literature and business experience highlight the need to improve Knowledge Management process both for individuals and organisations engaged in Innovation management. The proposed framework provides academics, entrepreneurs and venture capital companies a new approach for identifying critical success factors knowledge management and further improves decision making in a changing and challenging business environment. Finally the study highlights key areas for further research.

Building Capacity for Better Water Decision Making through Internet-Based Decision Support Systems

2010 ◽  
pp. 54-80
Author(s):  
Kazimierz A. Salewicz ◽  
Mikiyasu Nakayama ◽  
Carl Bruch
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Public Participation ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Comprehensive Information ◽  
Operational Policies ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Access To Knowledge

Decision making processes for developing water resources systems infrastructure and operational policies have ceased to be the exclusive domain of just a few, privileged persons making decisions. Now, more and more groups of the society at both the international and national levels are demanding opportunities to participate in decision making, as well as information about potential consequences of policy decisions. In some countries, public participation in the decision making process has been already sanctioned by law, for example through Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), public permitting processes, and notice and comment rulemaking procedures. However, in many developing countries, public participation remains unfulfilled despite growing awareness and pressure exercised by various interest groups. To be effective, public participation – either active or passive (through access to knowledge and information concerning the decisions and their impact) – needs appropriate political and legal regulations, in addition to technical means to disseminate objective, complete, and comprehensive information about nature of the decisions to be made, potential alternatives, feasibility of solutions, impact of the potential decisions, etc. Among plethora of the available methods and means for providing the information to the broad circles of the society, the Internet already plays a special and powerful role. This chapter presents the concepts and notions underlying formal approaches to decision making processes, as well as providing a review of the possibilities offered by the Internet to enable access to various sources and types of information that can directly or indirectly support the decision making processes in complex water resources systems.

scholarly journals Info-Gap Models for Optimal Multi-Year Management of Regional Water Resources Systems under Uncertainty

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3152
Author(s):  
Mashor Housh ◽  
Tomer Aharon
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Global Climate Change ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Change Processes ◽  
Deep Uncertainty ◽  
Water Resources Systems ◽  
Uncertain Future

The common practices for the planning and management of Water Resources Systems (WSSs) have been challenged in the last few decades by global climate change processes, which are observed around the world in increasing frequencies. Climate change is manifested by climate variability, temperature increase, and extreme events such as droughts and floods, which have a decisive effect on natural resource availability and in turn on water quality. Historical records may not be sufficient to reliably account for uncertain future predictions under climate change conditions. While such highly uncertain situations become the “normal” case worldwide, the traditional practices of probabilistic risk measures cannot be used to appropriately quantify the uncertain phenomena under non-stationarity conditions. To better account for uncertain future conditions, the objective of this study is to develop a water management model based on Info-Gap Decision Theory (IGDT) using optimization under deep uncertainty conditions. The Info-Gap theory is a framework that measures the confidence in the operational decisions by quantifying the robustness to uncertainty without accounting for any probabilistic data. To demonstrate the method as a tool to better guide the long-term sustainable operation of the water supply system under uncertain future conditions, we applied the Info-Gap model to the Sea of Galilee (SoG) regional WSS, which is a significant part of the Israeli National Water System (INWS). For Israel, which is, like other Middle East semi-arid regions, prone to dry conditions and limited water availability, there are well-founded concerns that prolonged periods of drought lie ahead, as a consequence of the global climate change processes. This study contributes a management tool for decision making under deep uncertainty to improve the decision-making process and better adapt to unpredictable uncertain future conditions. We demonstrate how the IGDT could be formulated and used to analyze WSSs under different settings and demonstrate how decisions could be derived from the IGDT formulation. We also show a sensitivity analysis for the obtained solutions.

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