scholarly journals Modeling Non-Cooperative Water Use in River Basins

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8269
Author(s):  
Tesfaye Woldeyohanes ◽  
Arnim Kuhn ◽  
Thomas Heckelei ◽  
Lalisa Duguma
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Solution Procedure ◽  
Simultaneous Solution ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Modeling Approaches ◽  
Solution Algorithms ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Independent Decision

Conventional water use and management models have mostly emulated purposefully designed water use systems where centralized governance and rule-based cooperation of agents are assumed. However, water use systems, whether actively governed or not, involve multiple, independent decision makers with diverse and often conflicting interests. In the absence of adequate water management institutions to effectively coordinate decision processes on water use, water users’ behaviors are rather likely to be non-cooperative, meaning that actions by individual users generate externalities and lead to sub-optimal water use efficiency. The objective of this review is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of recently proposed modeling systems dealing with non-cooperative water use regarding their ability to realistically represent the features of complex hydrological and socioeconomic processes and their tractability in terms of modeling tools and computational efficiency. For that purpose, we conducted a systematic review of 47 studies that address non-cooperative water use in decentralized modeling approaches. Even though such a decentralized approach should aim to model decisions by individual water users in non-cooperative water use, we find that most studies assumed the presence of a coordinating agency or market in their model. It also turns out that most of these models employed a solution procedure that sequentially solved independent economic decisions based on pre-defined conditions and heuristics, while only few modeling approaches offered simultaneous solution algorithms. We argue that this approach cannot adequately capture economic trade-offs in resource allocation, in contrast to models with simultaneous solution procedures.

scholarly journals Understanding Water Use Conflicts to Advance Collaborative Planning: Lessons Learned from Lake Diefenbaker, Canada

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1756
Author(s):  
Jania Chilima ◽  
Jill Blakley ◽  
Harry Diaz ◽  
Lalita Bharadwaj
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Flood Control ◽  
Collaborative Planning ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Canadian Prairie ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Lake Diefenbaker ◽  
Regulatory Instruments ◽  
Water Uses

Conflicts around the multi-purpose water uses of Lake Diefenbaker (LD) in Saskatchewan, Canada need to be addressed to meet rapidly expanding water demands in the arid Canadian prairie region. This study explores these conflicts to advance collaborative planning as a means for improving the current water governance and management of this lake. Qualitative methodology that employed a wide participatory approach was used to collect focus group data from 92 individuals, who formed a community of water users. Results indicate that the community of water users is unified in wanting to maintain water quality and quantity, preserving the lake’s aesthetics, and reducing water source vulnerability. Results also show these users are faced with water resource conflicts resulting from lack of coherence of regulatory instruments in the current governance regime, and acceptable management procedures of both consumptive and contemporary water uses that are interlinked in seven areas of: irrigation, industrial, and recreational water uses; reservoir water level for flood control and hydroelectricity production; wastewater and lagoon management; fish farm operations; and regional water development projects. As a means of advancing collaborative planning, improvements in water allocation and regulatory instruments could be made to dissipate consumptive use conflicts and fill the under-regulation void that exists for contemporary water uses. Additionally, a comprehensive LD water use master plan, as a shared vision to improve participation in governance, could be developed to direct the water uses that have emerged over time. This study suggests that these three areas are practical starting conditions that would enable successful collaborative planning for the seven areas of water uses. Focusing on these three areas would ensure the current and future needs of the community of water users are met, while avoiding reactive ways of solving water problems in the LD region, especially as the water crisis in the Canadian Prairie region where LD is located is expected to intensify.

scholarly journals A STELLA-Based Model to Simultaneously Predict Hydrological Processes, N Uptake and Biomass Production in a Eucalyptus Plantation

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 515
Author(s):  
Ying Ouyang ◽  
Gary Feng ◽  
Heidi Renninger ◽  
Theodor D. Leininger ◽  
Prem Parajuli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Net Primary Production ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Hydrological Processes ◽  
Modeling Tools ◽  
Eucalyptus Plantation ◽  
Simulation Scenario ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Use

Eucalyptus is one of the fastest growing hardwoods for bioenergy production. Currently, few modeling tools exist to simultaneously estimate soil hydrological processes, nitrogen (N) uptake, and biomass production in a eucalyptus plantation. In this study, a STELLA (Structural Thinking and Experiential Learning Laboratory with Animation)-based model was developed to meet this need. After the model calibration and validation, a simulation scenario was developed to assess eucalyptus (E. grandis × urophylla) annual net primary production (ANPP), woody biomass production (WBP), water use efficiency (WUE), and N use efficiency (NUE) for a simulation period of 20 years. Simulation results showed that a typical annual variation pattern was predicted for water use, N uptake, and ANPP, increasing from spring to fall and decreasing from fall to the following winter. Overall, the average NUE during the growth stage was 700 kg/kg. To produce 1000 kg eucalyptus biomass, it required 114.84 m3 of water and 0.92 kg of N. This study suggests that the STELLA-based model is a useful tool to estimate ANPP, WBP, WUE, and NUE in a eucalyptus plantation.

The importance of operating rules and assessments of beneficial use in water resource allocation policy and management

Water Policy ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 731-741 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Hughes ◽  
S. J. L. Mallory
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Allocation Policy ◽  
Beneficial Use ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Operating Rules ◽  
Hypothetical Data ◽  
The Future

The future management of water resources must take into account the levels of beneficial use that apply to various water use sectors. Competition for water during periods of low natural availability (droughts) suggests that users may not have access to their full supply requirement all of the time. This is particularly true of regions such as South Africa where natural water availability is highly variable and possibly will be even more so in the future. Socioeconomic evaluations of water allocation strategies should therefore account for the impacts of periodic restrictions (or shortfalls) in supply across different water use sectors. This paper presents an approach to designing water allocation operating rules that can account for restrictions and their impacts on individual water users, as well as on the community as a whole. The approach is illustrated using hypothetical data, as real data are not generally available. The paper maintains that it is important for socioeconomic evaluation methods to account for the possible effects of supply restrictions as well as the relative benefits of the normal supply volume. If they do not, they will not provide the information required by water resource engineers to design and operate water allocation systems.

scholarly journals Avoiding Conflicts between Future Freshwater Algae Production and Water Scarcity in the United States at the Energy-Water Nexus

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henriette I. Jager ◽  
Rebecca A. Efroymson ◽  
Latha M. Baskaran
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
The United States ◽  
Sustainable Production ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Freshwater Algae ◽  
Algal Biofuels ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Water Surplus

Sustainable production of algae will depend on understanding trade-offs at the energy-water nexus. Algal biofuels promise to improve the environmental sustainability profile of renewable energy along most dimensions. In this assessment of potential US freshwater production, we assumed sustainable production along the carbon dimension by simulating placement of open ponds away from high-carbon-stock lands (forest, grassland, and wetland) and near sources of waste CO 2 . Along the water dimension, we quantified trade-offs between water scarcity and production for an ‘upstream’ indicator (measuring minimum water supply) and a ‘downstream’ indicator (measuring impacts on rivers). For the upstream indicator, we developed a visualization tool to evaluate algae production for different thresholds for water surplus. We hypothesized that maintaining a minimum seasonal water surplus would also protect river habitat for aquatic biota. Our study confirmed that ensuring surplus water also reduced the duration of low-flow events, but only above a threshold. We also observed a trade-off between algal production and the duration of low-flow events in streams. These results can help to guide the choice of basin-specific sustainability targets to avoid conflicts with competing water users at this energy-water nexus. Where conflicts emerge, alternative water sources or enclosed photobioreactors may be needed for algae cultivation.

scholarly journals Using smart meters to identify social and technological impacts on residential water consumption

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 527-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara Beal ◽  
Rodney A. Stewart ◽  
Anneliese Spinks ◽  
Kelly Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Community Education ◽  
Demand Management ◽  
High Water ◽  
Management Policy ◽  
Smart Meters ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Residential Water Consumption ◽  
End Use ◽  
Demographic Surveys

Studies have shown that householders' perceptions of their water use are often not well matched with their actual water use. There has been less research, however, investigating whether this bias is related to specific types of end use and/or specific types of socio-demographic and socio-demographic household profiles. A high resolution smart metering study producing a detailed end use event registry as well as psycho-social and socio-demographic surveys, stock inventory audits and self-reported water diaries was completed for 250 households located in South-east Queensland, Australia. The study examined the contributions of end uses to total water use for each group identified as ‘low’, ‘medium’ or ‘high’ water users. Analyses were conducted to examine the socio-demographic variables such as income, percentage of water efficient stock, family size and composition, that characterise each self-identified water usage group. The paper concludes with a discussion of the general characteristics of groups that overestimate and underestimate their water use and how this knowledge can be used to inform demand management policy such as targeted community education programmes.

Bioenergy potentials from recently abandoned cropland under the land-energy-water nexus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Sandstad Næss ◽  
Otavio Cavalett ◽  
Francesco Cherubini
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Soil Characteristics ◽  
Agricultural Management ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Bioenergy Production ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Land Availability ◽  
Abandoned Cropland

<p>Bioenergy plays a key role in scenarios limiting global warming below 2°C in 2100 relative to pre-industrial times. Land availability for bioenergy production is constrained due to competition with agriculture, nature conservation and other land uses. Utilizing recently abandoned cropland to produce bioenergy is a promising option for gradual bioenergy deployment with lower risks of potential trade-offs on food security and the environment. Up until now, the global extent of abandoned cropland has been unclear. Furthermore, there is a need to better map bioenergy potentials, taking into account site-specific conditions such as local climate, soil characteristics, agricultural management and water use.</p><p>Our study spatially quantify global bioenergy potentials from recently abandoned cropland under the land-energy-water nexus. We integrate a recently developed high-resolution satellite-derived land cover product (European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative Land Cover) with an agro-ecological crop yield model (Global Agro-Ecological Zones 3.0). Abandoned cropland is mapped as pixels transitioning from cropland to non-urban classes. We further identify candidate areas for nature conservation and areas with increased pressure on water resources. Based on climatic conditions, soil characteristics and agricultural management levels, we spatially model bioenergy yields and irrigation water use on abandoned cropland for three perennial grasses. We compute and analyze bioenergy potentials for 296 different variants of management factors and land and water use constraints. By assessing key energy, water and land indicators, we identify optimal bioenergy production strategies and site-specific trade-offs.</p><p>We found 83 million hectares of abandoned cropland between 1992 and 2015, equivalent of 5% of today’s cropland area. Bioenergy potentials range between 6-39 exajoules per year (EJ yr<sup>-1</sup>) (11-68% of today’s bioenergy demand), depending on agricultural management, land availability and irrigation water use. We further show and extensively discuss site-specific trade-offs between increased bioenergy production, land-use and water-use. Our high-end estimate (39 EJ yr<sup>-1</sup>) relies on complete irrigation and land availability. When acknowledging site-specific trade-offs on water resources and nature conservation, a potential of 20 EJ yr<sup>-1</sup> is achievable without production in biodiversity hotspots or irrigation in water scarce areas. This is equal to 8-23% of median projected bioenergy demand in 2050 for 1.5°C scenarios across different Shared Socio-economic Pathways. The associated land and water requirements are equal to 3% of current global cropland extent and 8% of today’s global agricultural water use, respectively.</p>

scholarly journals Can You Pay for Peace?

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 152-175
Author(s):  
Lila Wade
Keyword(s):  
Peace Operations ◽  
Current Analysis ◽  
Peace Agreement ◽  
Transitional State ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Peace Operation ◽  
Operational Efficacy

Financing mechanisms are central to the operational efficacy of peace operations, yet current analysis of peacebuilding finance is atomistic, focusing on one domain, such as coordination or financing. To address the need for deeper understanding of how financing modalities affect peacebuilding outcomes, this paper identifies the trade-offs and opportunities of different financing schema across the lifespan of a peace operation. In order to parse the linkages between financing and outcomes, this paper examines: (1) control of donor funds within a transitional state; (2) budgeting for coordination and alignment; (3) promoting partnerships and participation through funding modalities; and (4) funding ‘quick impact’ projects to bridge the periods of immediate relief and long-term development. With reference to peacebuilding operations in Liberia after the 2003 Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, this analysis highlights numerous innovations and experiments in the financing of peace operations, examining the advantages and disadvantages inherent in different approaches.

scholarly journals Increased water use efficiency and water productivity of arabidopsis by abscisic acid receptors from Populus canescens

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 581-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Papacek ◽  
Alexander Christmann ◽  
Erwin Grill
Keyword(s):  
Abscisic Acid ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Enhanced Expression ◽  
Physiological Analysis ◽  
Specific Receptors ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Aba Receptors

Abstract Background and Aims Water deficit is the single most important factor limiting plant productivity in the field. Poplar is a crop used for second-generation bioenergy production that can be cultivated on marginal land without competing for land use in food production. Poplar has a high demand for water, which makes improving its water use efficiency (WUE) an attractive goal. Recently, we showed that enhanced expression of specific receptors of arabidopsis for the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) can improve WUE in arabidopsis and water productivity, i.e. more biomass is formed per unit of water over time. In this study, we examined whether ABA receptors from poplar can enhance WUE and water productivity in arabidopsis. Methods ABA receptors from poplar were stably introduced into arabidopsis for analysis of their effect on water use efficiency. Physiological analysis included growth assessment and gas exchange measurements. Key Results The data presented here are in agreement with the functionality of poplar ABA receptors in arabidopsis, which led to ABA-hypersensitive seed germination and root growth. In addition, arabidopsis lines expressing poplar RCAR10, but not RCAR9, showed increased WUE by up to 26 % compared with the wild type with few trade-offs in growth that also resulted in higher water productivity during drought. The improved WUE was mediated by reduced stomatal conductance, a steeper CO2 gradient at the leaf boundary and sustained photosynthesis resulting in an increased intrinsic WUE (iWUE). Conclusions The analysis is a case study supporting the use of poplar ABA receptors for improving WUE and showing the feasibility of using a heterologous expression strategy for generating plants with improved water productivity.

The Influence of Muscle Model Complexity in Musculoskeletal Motion Modeling

1985 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Audu ◽  
D. T. Davy
Keyword(s):  
Control Algorithm ◽  
Complex Model ◽  
Model Complexity ◽  
Model Choice ◽  
Motion Modeling ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Motion Problem ◽  
Motion Studies ◽  
Muscle Models

A comparative study of four different muscle models in a musculoskeletal motion problem is made. The models vary in complexity from the simple input-output model to the more complex model of Hatze [I]. These models are used to solve a minimum time kicking problem using an optimal control algorithm. The results demonstrate the strong influence of the model choice on the various predicted kinematic and kinetic parameters in the problem. The study illustrates some of the advantages and disadvantages involved in trade-offs between model complexity and practicability in musculoskeletal motion studies. The results also illustrate the importance of appropriate detailed parameter estimation studies in the mathematical modeling of the musculoskeletal system.

Generating Policies for Sustainable Water Use in Complex Scenarios: An Integrated Land-Use and Water-Use Model of Monroe County, Michigan

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 664-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moira L Zellner
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Analytical Framework ◽  
Monroe County ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Groundwater Levels ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Water Users

Rapidly declining groundwater levels since the early 1990s have raised serious concern in Monroe County, Michigan. Hydrological studies suggest that land-use changes have caused this decline. The mechanisms linking land-use and groundwater dynamics are not clear, however. In this paper I present WULUM, the Water-Use and Land-Use Model, an agent-based model that serves as an analytical framework to understand how these processes interact to create the observed patterns of resource depletion, and to suggest policies to reverse the process. The land-use component includes the main groundwater extractors in the county—stone quarries, golf courses, farms, and households. The groundwater component includes the glacial deposits and the underlying bedrock acquifer. The behavior of water users is defined by simple rules that determine their location and consumption. The dynamics of groundwater are represented through infiltration and diffusion rules between each cell and its immediate neighbors. Initial explorations with the model showed that land-use patterns contributed significantly to groundwater declines, while eliminating quarry dewatering did not entirely solve the problem. Both low-density and high-density zoning restrictions improved aquifer conditions over medium-density development, suggesting a nonlinear relationship between intensity of residential use and groundwater levels. Moreover, of all the natural and policy variables, zoning had the greatest influence on urban settlement and therefore on resource consumption.

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