scholarly journals Development of a Decision Support System for Sustainable Environmental Management and Stakeholder Engagement

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Angelos Alamanos ◽  
Alec Rolston ◽  
George Papaioannou
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Support System ◽  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Landscape Management ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Integrated Monitoring ◽  
Sustainable Water Resources Management ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

Undertaking integrated and sustainable water resources management (ISWRM) and providing socially acceptable solutions with scientifically solid bases is a dynamic and challenging process. Two basic pillars–umbrellas can be identified in the literature: stakeholder engagement and analysis; and integrated monitoring–modelling in the form of a decision support system (DSS) that can assess, evaluate and rank the management options. This study presents a framework that can be used as a good-practice example of successful stakeholder engagement (public engagement and collaboration with local communities towards shared visions) and an integrated DSS for ISWRM (including characterisation at catchment and local scales, programmes of measures and their evaluation): the Framework for Integrated Land and Landscape Management (FILLM), developed by an Irish multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform, the Water Forum. The fundamental theoretical principles and practical aspects of the FILLM are analysed. A step-by-step guide is proposed for its application, bridging the above pillars, using examples, reviewing methods and software, and analysing challenges and trends. It can help both socio-economic and environmental scientists (modellers) understand each other’s roles and find reviews of useful tools and methods for their work. This work can be a reference point for future ISWRM and environment management and can contribute to holistic education on such topics.

Analysing urban resilience through alternative stormwater management options: application of the conceptual Spatial Decision Support System model at the neighbourhood scale

2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (11) ◽  
pp. 2448-2457 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Balsells ◽  
B. Barroca ◽  
J. R. Amdal ◽  
Y. Diab ◽  
V. Becue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Support System ◽  
Stormwater Management ◽  
Spatial Decision Support System ◽  
Urban Resilience ◽  
Spatial Decision Support ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Neighbourhood Scale

Recent changes in cities and their environments, caused by rapid urbanisation and climate change, have increased both flood probability and the severity of flooding. Consequently, there is a need for all cities to adapt to climate and socio-economic changes by developing new strategies for flood risk management. Following a risk paradigm shift from traditional to more integrated approaches, and considering the uncertainties of future urban development, one of the main emerging tasks for city managers becomes the development of resilient cities. However, the meaning of the resilience concept and its operability is still not clear. The goal of this research is to study how urban engineering and design disciplines can improve resilience to floods in urban neighbourhoods. This paper presents the conceptual Spatial Decision Support System (DS3) model which we consider a relevant tool to analyse and then implement resilience into neighbourhood design. Using this model, we analyse and discuss alternative stormwater management options at the neighbourhood scale in two specific areas: Rotterdam and New Orleans. The results obtained demonstrate that the DS3 model confirmed in its framework analysis that stormwater management systems can positively contribute to the improved flood resilience of a neighbourhood.

Water Decision Support System for Urban Water Security under Uncertain Future: A Case Study of Upper Yamuna River Basin, India

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinesh Kumar ◽  
Chandrika Thulaseedharan Dhanya ◽  
Ashvani Gosain
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Support System ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Future Scenarios ◽  
Yamuna River ◽  
Management Options

<p>Ensuring water security considering the near- and far-future climatic and socio-economic uncertainties, is one of the grand global challenges. In developing countries, supply-side management like the construction of new dams, rehabilitation and augmentation of the existing water resources and supply infrastructure are the widely adopted solutions. Often, the importance of the requirement of water for environmental well-being is neglected. Here, we develop a modelling framework using Water Evaluation and Planning and Qual2K models, considering ‘environment’ also as a stakeholder. This water decision support system is demonstrated on the Upper Yamuna River Basin, a complex and polluted river system in India. Further, to raise risk awareness among stakeholders about the extreme plausible future conditions, the storyline-based approach is adopted to develop future scenarios. The developed framework is deployed to explore the National Capital Territory of Delhi's urban water security for different plausible future scenarios. Based on this, reliability of different policy management options and strategies are explored. The simulated results show that the localized (urban level) management strategies are more reliable than the basin level management strategies, especially under a prolonged plausible warmer climate and better standard of living based socio-economic development conditions. The model building, scenario development, and analysis demonstrate the importance of incorporating the local system knowledge to build an effective decision support system for physically and legally complex river basins.</p>

A multicomponent decision support system to manage Fusarium head blight and mycotoxins in durum wheat

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 629-640 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Rossi ◽  
V. Manstretta ◽  
M. Ruggeri
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support System ◽  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Fusarium Head Blight ◽  
Support System ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Soil Tillage ◽  
Head Blight ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Mycotoxin Contamination

Mycotoxin contamination is of great concern in durum wheat and pasta production in Italy. A long-term project was conducted to improve mycotoxin management, and this project had six stages, from basic research to large-scale application. In stage 1, research was conducted on the biology and epidemiology of the fungal species involved in the Fusarium head blight (FHB) complex. The results were used in stage 2 to develop a multispecies, mechanistic model that included the effect of host and weather on: (1) inoculum production and dispersal; (2) infection and disease onset; and (3) mycotoxin accumulation. The weather-driven model was then validated under different epidemiological conditions. In stage 3, the model was expanded to include those crop management options that influence the risk of FHB and mycotoxin contamination, i.e. growing area, host species and resistance level of the cultivar, previous crop, and soil tillage. In stage 4, the complete model was included in a web-based decision support system (DSS) named granoduro.net®. The DSS provides plot-specific and up-to-date decision supports about weather, fertilisation, crop growth, weed control, and disease and mycotoxin risk. In stage 5, the DSS, together with Good Agricultural Practices, was applied for 2 years in 25 pilot farms across Italy. DSS use reduced external inputs (i.e. seeds, fungicides, and fertilisers) and costs, maintained or increased crop yield and quality, and kept mycotoxin contamination below the legal limit. Thus, the DSS significantly increased farmer income and reduced emission of greenhouse gasses. In stage 6, in an agreement with Barilla (a pasta producing company), the DSS was successfully used to manage 18,000 ha of durum wheat across Italy during 2013-2014. The DSS is currently being improved to include additional Fusarium species and related toxins, and the sexual stage of Fusarium graminearum. DSSs for common wheat and barley are also under development.

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