scholarly journals Investigating Tradeoffs of Green to Grey Stormwater Infrastructure Using a Planning-Level Decision Support Tool

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Gallo ◽  
Colin D. Bell ◽  
Chelsea L. Panos ◽  
Steven M. Smith ◽  
Terri S. Hogue
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Stormwater Treatment ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Support Tools ◽  
And Function ◽  
Stormwater Control Measures ◽  
Stormwater Control

Integrated decision support tools are needed to investigate the tradeoffs of stormwater control measures (SCMs) and determine the optimal suite of SCMs based on the needs of watersheds. In this study, an urbanized watershed undergoing infill development (the Berkeley neighborhood located in Denver, CO, USA) was modeled using a modified version of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) System for Urban Stormwater Treatment and Analysis IntegratioN (SUSTAIN). The primary goal was to compare the relative performance between green and grey SCMs, use optimizations and a planning-level approach to assist in decision-making, and discuss how stakeholder and community preferences can shift which SCMs are optimal for the watershed. Green and grey SCMs have variable hydrologic performance based on design and function, and both offer benefits that may be important to decision makers. Our results showed that infiltration trenches and underground infiltration were optimal for reducing flow volumes while vegetated swales and underground detention were optimal for pollutant concentration reduction. Stakeholders value both of these benefits and so the optimal stormwater solution in the Berkeley neighborhood included a mix of green and grey SCMs. Determining the optimal SCMs while considering tradeoffs in costs and associated benefits was complex and multifaceted. Modeling results such as those presented here are critical for informing stakeholders’ decision-making process.

scholarly journals Video decision support tool promoting values conversations in advanced care planning in cancer: protocol of a randomised controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Michael ◽  
Clare O’Callaghan ◽  
Ekavi Georgousopoulou ◽  
Adelaide Melia ◽  
Merlina Sulistio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Personal Values ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Trial Registration ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Advanced Directives ◽  
Support Tool

Abstract Background Views on advance care planning (ACP) has shifted from a focus solely on treatment decisions at the end-of-life and medically orientated advanced directives to encouraging conversations on personal values and life goals, patient-caregiver communication and decision making, and family preparation. This study will evaluate the potential utility of a video decision support tool (VDST) that models values-based ACP discussions between cancer patients and their nominated caregivers to enable patients and families to achieve shared-decisions when completing ACP’s. Methods This open-label, parallel-arm, phase II randomised control trial will recruit cancer patient-caregiver dyads across a large health network. Previously used written vignettes will be converted to video vignettes using the recommended methodology. Participants will be ≥18 years and be able to complete questionnaires. Dyads will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to a usual care (UC) or VDST group. The VDST group will watch a video of several patient-caregiver dyads communicating personal values across different cancer trajectory stages and will receive verbal and written ACP information. The UC group will receive verbal and written ACP information. Patient and caregiver data will be collected individually via an anonymous questionnaire developed for the study, pre and post the UC and VDST intervention. Our primary outcome will be ACP completion rates. Secondarily, we will compare patient-caregiver (i) attitudes towards ACP, (ii) congruence in communication, and (iii) preparation for decision-making. Conclusion We need to continue to explore innovative ways to engage cancer patients in ACP. This study will be the first VDST study to attempt to integrate values-based conversations into an ACP intervention. This pilot study’s findings will assist with further refinement of the VDST and planning for a future multisite study. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry No: ACTRN12620001035910. Registered 12 October 2020. Retrospectively registered.

Creation of a Community-Driven Decision Support Tool for Caregivers of Children With Developmental Concerns

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Dawn M. Magnusson ◽  
Irena Shwayder ◽  
Natalie J. Murphy ◽  
Lindsay Ollerenshaw ◽  
Michele Ebendick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Cultural Humility ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Plain Language ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Key Aspects

Purpose Despite increasing standardization of developmental screening and referral processes, significant early intervention service disparities exist. The aims of this article are to: (a) describe methods used to develop a decision support tool for caregivers of children with developmental concerns, (b) summarize key aspects of the tool, and (c) share preliminary results regarding the tool's acceptability and usability among key stakeholders. Method Content and design of the decision support tool was guided by a systematic process outlined by the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) Collaborative. Three focus group interviews were conducted with caregivers ( n = 7), early childhood professionals ( n = 28), and a mix of caregivers and professionals ( N = 20) to assess caregiver decisional needs. In accordance with the IPDAS, a prototype of the decision support tool was iteratively cocreated by a subset of caregivers ( n = 7) and early child health professionals ( n = 5). Results The decision support tool leverages images and plain language text to guide caregivers and professionals along key steps of the early identification to service use pathway. Participants identified four themes central to shared decision making: trust, cultural humility and respect, strength-based conversations, and information-sharing. End-users found the tool to be acceptable and useful. Conclusions The decision support tool described offers an individualized approach for exploring beliefs about child development and developmental delay, considering service options within the context of the family's values, priorities, and preferences, and outlining next steps. Additional research regarding the tool's effectiveness in optimizing shared decision-making and reducing service use disparities is warranted.

Multivariable Automatisierungsentscheidungen*/Multivariate automation decisions – A tool for cost-benefit assessments as a basis for decision-making

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (03) ◽  
pp. 134-139
Author(s):  
P. Burggräf ◽  
J. Wagner ◽  
M. Dannapfel ◽  
K. Müller ◽  
B. Koke
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Cost And Benefit ◽  
Benefit Evaluation ◽  
Level Of Automation

Der wachsende Bedarf an Wandlungsfähigkeit führt zu einer höheren Frequenz in der Umplanung von Montagesystemen und erfordert eine kontinuierliche Überprüfung und Anpassung des Automatisierungsgrades. Um auch die komplexen Umgebungsbedingungen abzubilden, sollen nicht-monetäre Faktoren in den Entscheidungsprozess eingebunden werden. Um die Entscheidung zu unterstützen, stellt dieser Beitrag ein Tool zur Identifizierung und Bewertung von Automatisierungsszenarien mittels einer Nutzwert-Aufwand-Analyse vor.   The increasing need for adaptability in assembly leads to a higher planning frequency of the system and requires continuous checks and adaptations of the appropriate level of automation. To account for the complex environmental conditions, non-monetary factors are included in the decision-making process. This paper presents a decision support tool to identify and evaluate automation scenarios by means of cost and benefit evaluation.

Spreadsheets as Knowledge Documents

2011 ◽  
pp. 521-537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Burgess ◽  
Don Schauder
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Information Management ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Decision Support Tools ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Applied Model ◽  
Support Tools

How should a small business decide whether and in what ways to use Web technology for interactions with customers? This case describes the creation of a practical decision support tool (using a spreadsheet) for the initiation and development of small business Web sites. Decisions arise from both explicit and tacit knowledge. Using selected literature from a structuration theory, information management and knowledge management, decision support tools are characterized as knowledge documents (communication agents for explicit knowledge). Understanding decision support tools as knowledge documents sheds light on their potentialities and limitations for knowledge transfer, and assists in maximizing their potentialities. The case study deploys three levels of modeling: a high-level structuration model of the interplay between information management and knowledge management, a conceptual model of small-business decision-making, and an applied model the practical decision support tool, itself. An action-research methodology involving experts and stakeholders validated the development of conceptual categories and their instantiation in the practical tool.

Predictive data analytics for contract renewals: a decision support tool for managerial decision-making

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Serhat Simsek ◽  
Abdullah Albizri ◽  
Marina Johnson ◽  
Tyler Custis ◽  
Stephan Weikert
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Predictive Analytics ◽  
Design Science ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Managerial Decision Making ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tool

PurposePredictive analytics and artificial intelligence are perceived as significant drivers to improve organizational performance and managerial decision-making. Hiring employees and contract renewals are instances of managerial decision-making problems that can incur high financial costs and long-term impacts on organizational performance. The primary goal of this study is to identify the Major League Baseball (MLB) free agents who are likely to receive a contract.Design/methodology/approachThis study used the design science research paradigm and the cognitive analytics management (CAM) theory to develop the research framework. A dataset on MLB's free agents between 2013 and 2017 was collected. A decision support tool was built using artificial neural networks.FindingsThere are clear links between a player's statistical performance and the decision of the player to sign a new offered contract. “Age,” “Wins above Replacement” and “the team on which a player last played” are the most significant factors in determining if a player signs a new contract.Originality/valueThis paper applied analytical modeling to personnel decision-making using the design science paradigm and guided by CAM as the kernel theory. The study employed machine learning techniques, producing a model that predicts the probability of free agents signing a new contract. Also, a web-based tool was developed to help decision-makers in baseball front offices so they can determine which available free agents to offer contracts.

scholarly journals Model-Based Decision Support Tools at Jugos S.A. Concentrated Fruit Juice Plant

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-268
Author(s):  
Aníbal M. Blanco ◽  
M. Susana Moreno ◽  
Carolina Taraborelli ◽  
Flavio D’Angelo ◽  
Facundo Iturmendi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
User Interfaces ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Support Tools ◽  
Optimal Target ◽  
And Storage

We describe the development of a decision-support tool to assist in the operations of a large concentrated apple and pear juice plant. The tool’s objective is to generate detailed schedules of clarified juice batches to be produced in the following weeks considering incoming fruit forecasts, commercial commitments, and infrastructural constraints. The tool is based on two interactive modules, PLANNER and SIMOPT, with different and complementary purposes. Each module is based on mixed-integer models with specific inputs, outputs, and user interfaces. PLANNER consists of three submodules: (i) planning assigns a batch of concentrated juice to be produced on a specific day, taking into account cleaning activities, rest days, raw material availability, and production and storage constraints; (ii) preprocessing organizes juice orders in batches; and (iii) pooling provides a detailed monitoring of semielaborated juice in storage pools in terms of inventories and sugar and acid content. Finally, SIMOPT provides a detailed optimal operative condition of the plant together with a thorough calculation of specific costs. This information is used by PLANNER to evaluate the corresponding economic objective functions. Besides providing optimal target conditions to the plant and feasible production schedules, the developed tools generate production guidelines in the long term and allow performing scenario studies.

scholarly journals Development of Decision Support Tool for Evaluation of Urban Water System Metabolism Efficiency

10.29007/r6xs ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Nikolic ◽  
Darko Joksimovic
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Sustainable Solutions

The revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront presents the largest urban redevelopment project currently underway in North America. With respect to planning the waterfront’s urban water systems (UWS), a number of studies considered a range of criteria in search for sustainable alternatives. However, a comprehensive assessment of the integrated source-drinking-wastewater-stormwater systems over their life cycles has not been developed. According to the main postulates of the integrated approach, hybrid water systems can offer potentially more sustainable solutions than traditional centralized systems. This paper discusses the development process of a decision support tool designed to facilitate evaluation of alternatives based on UWS metabolism concept while addressing some typical challenges of hydroinformatics. This decision-making support tool analyses and compares the sustainability performance of alternative decentralized solutions against a baseline conventional approach on a neighbourhood level. The tool uses a set of criteria, adopted by the large group of stakeholders involved in the development process, that are not typically considered in the decision-making process, such as energy savings, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate change resiliency, chemical use, and nutrient recovery.

Developing Training Tools for Clinicians in LICs: Using Hidden Markov Modeling to Study the Decision-Making Strategies of Expert and Novice Prosthetists

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratima Saravanan ◽  
Michael Walker ◽  
Jessica Menold
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Controlled Study ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Expert And Novice

Abstract Approximately, 40 million amputees reside in the rural parts of Low-Income Countries (LICs), and 95% of this population do not have proper access to prosthetic devices and rehabilitation services. A proper prosthetic prescription requires a clear understanding of the patient’s ambulation, goals, cultural and societal norms, locally available prosthetic materials, etc., which can be accomplished only by a local prosthetist. However, due to the lack of prosthetic schools and training centers in LICs, the rural parts lack well-trained amputee care providers. Hence there is a need to educate the prosthetists and prosthetic technicians in the LIC, specifically in the rural regions. To accomplish this, the current research proposes a decision-support tool to aid decision-making during prescription and educate prosthetists. A controlled study was conducted with expert and novice prosthetists to compare effective decision-making strategies. Results suggest that experts leverage distinct decision-making strategies when prescribing prosthetic and orthotic devices; in comparison, novices exhibited less consistent patterns of decision-making tendencies. By modeling the decision-making strategies of expert prosthetists, this work lays the foundation to develop an automated decision support tool to support decision-making for prosthetists in LICs, improving overall amputee care.

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