FAT tool: A decision support tool for disaster risk reduction in the Alpine Space

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Poratelli ◽  
Cristopher D'Amboise ◽  
Michael Neuhauser ◽  
Cristian Accastello ◽  
Filippo Brun
Keyword(s):  
Forest Cover ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Building Evacuation ◽  
Avoidance Measures ◽  
Snow Fences ◽  
Road Closure

<p>The last decades have seen a higher attention payed to natural hazards due to the increasing losses and economic damages caused by them. Researchers, practitioners and local administrations studied the best way to mitigate and prevent them, using both structural and non-structural  defense techniques. Even though there are now several possible solutions to be used, it is not always easy for decision makers to choose the best option from both a technical and an economical point of view.</p><p>With the FAT tool we aimed at providing a useful mean for practitioners to help them choose between various protection options. The FAT tool is an online platform where the user, inserting a limited number of input data (e.g. slope profile, slope width, forest cover), is provided with an easily understandable output, that being a comparison of the costs and the benefits generated by different protection solutions.</p><p>The tool is built on an empirical, profile-based hazard model and deals with avalanches, rockfall and shallow landslides. The outputs of the hazard models are used to dimension and calculate the costs and benefits of several protection options and the damages avoided by those. The possible solutions considered are: ecosystem based solutions (e.g. protection forest), technical measures (e.g. snow fences, catching dams, rockfall nets), avoidance measures (e.g. road closure, building evacuation) and a combination of these. The most innovative part of the tool is the importance given to the role of the forest, and generally to the Eco-DRR solutions, on the hazard track, where a forest protection effect indicator is calculated to assess the effectiveness of a stand in mitigating the risk on the chosen profile. The outputs of the FAT tool, consisting in the index and the economic values of different alternative protection measures, can help the user identify the areas where the forests have the highest mitigation effect and choose where to allocate forest management resources.</p>

Simulation in food catering industry. A dashboard of performance indicators

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Tufano ◽  
Riccardo Accorsi ◽  
Andrea Gallo ◽  
Riccardo Manzini
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
High Price ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Safety Control ◽  
Catering Industry ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Single Production

"Contract catering industry is concerned with the production of ready-to-eat meals for schools, hospitals and private companies. The structure of this market is highly competitive, and customers are rarely willing to pay a high price for this catering service. A single production sites may be demanded up to 10.000 meals per day and these operations can hardly be managed via rule of thumbs without any quantitative decision support tool. This situation is common at several stages of a food supply chain and the methodologies presented in this paper are addressed to any food batch production system with similar complexity and trade-offs. This paper proposes an original KPI dashboard, designed to control costs, time and quality efficiency and helping managers to identify criticalities. Special emphasis is given on food safety control which is the management’s main concern and must be carefully monitored in each stage of the production. To calculate the value of KPIs a Montecarlo simulation approach is used to deal with production complexity and uncertainty. A case study showcases the potential of simulation in this complex industrial field. The case study illustrates an application of the methodology on an Italian company suffering local recipe contamination. The company aims at defining the best standard for production, identifying cycles being sustainable from an economic and environmental point of view."

scholarly journals TOWARDS A DECISION SUPPORT TOOL FOR 3D VISUALISATION: APPLICATION TO SELECTIVITY PURPOSE OF SINGLE OBJECT IN A 3D CITY SCENE

2017 ◽  
Vol IV-4/W5 ◽  
pp. 91-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Neuville ◽  
J. Pouliot ◽  
F. Poux ◽  
P. Hallot ◽  
L. De Rudder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Decision Table ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
3D Visualisation ◽  
3D Environment ◽  
Environment Parameters

This paper deals with the establishment of a comprehensive methodological framework that defines 3D visualisation rules and its application in a decision support tool. Whilst the use of 3D models grows in many application fields, their visualisation remains challenging from the point of view of mapping and rendering aspects to be applied to suitability support the decision making process. Indeed, there exists a great number of 3D visualisation techniques but as far as we know, a decision support tool that facilitates the production of an efficient 3D visualisation is still missing. This is why a comprehensive methodological framework is proposed in order to build decision tables for specific data, tasks and contexts. Based on the second-order logic formalism, we define a set of functions and propositions among and between two collections of entities: on one hand static retinal variables (hue, size, shape…) and 3D environment parameters (directional lighting, shadow, haze…) and on the other hand their effect(s) regarding specific visual tasks. It enables to define 3D visualisation rules according to four categories: consequence, compatibility, potential incompatibility and incompatibility. In this paper, the application of the methodological framework is demonstrated for an urban visualisation at high density considering a specific set of entities. On the basis of our analysis and the results of many studies conducted in the 3D semiotics, which refers to the study of symbols and how they relay information, the truth values of propositions are determined. 3D visualisation rules are then extracted for the considered context and set of entities and are presented into a decision table with a colour coding. Finally, the decision table is implemented into a plugin developed with three.js, a cross-browser JavaScript library. The plugin consists of a sidebar and warning windows that help the designer in the use of a set of static retinal variables and 3D environment parameters.

The forest protection service: a risk management decision support tool

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Bruzzese ◽  
Simone Blanc ◽  
Filippo Brun
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Natural Hazards ◽  
Stated Preference ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Target Market ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Large Spatial Scale ◽  
Support Tool

<p>In recent years in mountain areas, natural hazards such as rockfalls, avalanches and mudflows, triggered by ongoing climate change have increased in both frequency and magnitude. Hazards that, accompanied by increasing demographic pressure, socio-economic and land-use changes, especially in the Alpine region, have called for a greater need for human protection. This demand can be met with artificial structures, such as rockfall nets and avalanche fences, or with natural solutions, such as forests if properly managed. However, the protection service provided by forests, against natural hazards is difficult to value because it has no target market. Therefore, providing a value for this service would allow it to be integrated into risk management plans and programs. In this work, we analyzed from a qualitative and quantitative point of view the most widely used economic methods for estimating the protection service provided by forests against natural hazards, providing a decision support tool for stakeholders involved in risk management. The main results indicate that, depending on the resources and time available, as well as the spatial and temporal scale required, some methods are preferable to others. The Replacement Cost method is well suited to most operational contexts in which stakeholders may find themselves, as it is replicable, cost-effective and results are reliable and easily communicated. Although the Avoided Damages method refers to market data and is also capable of estimating indirect costs, it has the limitation of being site-specific. While the stated preference methods are suited for long-term evaluations on a large spatial scale, they require a high level of expertise and are costly in terms of both time and resources. From our analysis, we can conclude that the provided decision support tool should not replace the human ability to analyze complex situations, but rather be an aid to this process. The combination of this tool with others, such as frameworks and guidelines, provides a flexible support system aimed at improving the design and implementation of future ecosystem service assessments and management, as well as related decision-making.</p>

scholarly journals WATER SAFETY PLANS FROM THE ENGINEER’S PERSPECTIVE

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-12
Author(s):  
Gábor Dombay
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Water Safety ◽  
Water Utility ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Water Safety Plans

Abstract Water safety plans are public health related risk management plans, covering the entire water supply system, based on the theorem of prevention. Risk evaluation is fundamental for setting up a risk management system. A modified risk assessment equation is shown which takes into account the severity of consequences of the hazard an accentuated way. This method was used successfully n a number of practical water safety system applications. Water safety plans are practical tools for water utility operators which can be applied in different fields of operation, from water quality improvement of decision support tool of developments. The role of the distribution system and its operation is clarified from water quality deterioration and risk mitigation point of view.

Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM) as a New Branch of Decision Making Support Technologies in the Field of Facility Management

2011 ◽  
pp. 84-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Madritsch ◽  
Michael May ◽  
Herwig Ostermann ◽  
Roland Staudinger
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Facility Management ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Information And Communications Technology ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Recent Developments

Nowadays facility management (FM) and real estate activities contribute to about 5-10% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of advanced industrialized countries. For example the total value of FM activity including support services is about 8.2% UK GDP (Harris, 2002). Computer aided facility management (CAFM) software is a new class of information and communications technology (ICT) tools to support management in the preparation of relevant data in the decision making process especially in the area of illustration, evaluation, and control of relevant FM structures and processes. Recently, CAFM tools are developing from simple information systems to multifunctional decision support systems (DSSs) for private as well as public organizations. Until now however, little attention has been given to this relevant change in business and academic communities. At the same time numerous software systems with various systematic approaches, functions, and varying success have been established on the market. Despite the multitude of suppliers and users in the different branches uncertainty concerning the procedures and achievable effects still prevails. This is closely related to the lack of well-documented, transparent, and successful case studies. In addition, little is known about how CAFM can be implemented successfully and the factors leading to its sustainable success. From an economic point of view it is very important to support this process in order to avoid wrong decisions and unnecessary investment. In particular, implementation strategies and formulae for success are of great interest (May, 2002). The purpose of this chapter is to describe the relevance of CAFM as a decision support tool in the field of FM. The authors will illustrate the recent developments and market demands of FM and CAFM. The main part will provide an overview on the basic concept as well as building management, for example, CAFM and give detailed insight into the topic and how CAFM may serve as a DSS from an organizational perspective. The next part will introduce some examples of good practices. The chapter closes with an overview of future developments, trends, and research opportunities of CAFM as a decision support tool.

scholarly journals A Holistic Decision Support Tool for Facade Design

Buildings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kültür ◽  
Türkeri ◽  
Knaack
Keyword(s):  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Acoustic Comfort

This paper presents a holistic decision support tool developed for use during the early stages of facade design. The tool is based on the interdependent relationships between facade performance, facade parameters, and conditions (environmental and spatial). It assumes that a decision maker has the ability to enhance the performance of a facade by making proper decisions on the design parameters in line with the conditions. However, since facade performance has various aspects (sometimes conflicting) to be considered at once, it is hard to predict the impacts of decisions on the overall performance. A single design decision may increase the performance in one aspect while decreasing it in other aspects. The tool aims to function as a guide to decision makers by indicating the impacts of design decisions on different functional aspects of facade performance from a holistic point of view. Functional requirements included within the tool are safety requirements such as structural stability and fire protection, health-related requirements such as weather protection (protection against water, air, and moisture), and requirements related to the well-being of the users such as thermal, visual, and acoustic comfort. Information provided in the tool is based upon an extensive literature review and structured as an Excel spreadsheet.

scholarly journals Optimal control of the COVID-19 pandemic: controlled sanitary deconfinement in Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiana J. Silva ◽  
Carla Cruz ◽  
Delfim F. M. Torres ◽  
Alberto P. Muñuzuri ◽  
Alejandro Carballosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Optimal Control ◽  
Deterministic Model ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Discrete Version ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Public Health Decision ◽  
Health Decision

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has forced policy makers to decree urgent confinements to stop a rapid and massive contagion. However, after that stage, societies are being forced to find an equilibrium between the need to reduce contagion rates and the need to reopen their economies. The experience hitherto lived has provided data on the evolution of the pandemic, in particular the population dynamics as a result of the public health measures enacted. This allows the formulation of forecasting mathematical models to anticipate the consequences of political decisions. Here we propose a model to do so and apply it to the case of Portugal. With a mathematical deterministic model, described by a system of ordinary differential equations, we fit the real evolution of COVID-19 in this country. After identification of the population readiness to follow social restrictions, by analyzing the social media, we incorporate this effect in a version of the model that allow us to check different scenarios. This is realized by considering a Monte Carlo discrete version of the previous model coupled via a complex network. Then, we apply optimal control theory to maximize the number of people returning to “normal life” and minimizing the number of active infected individuals with minimal economical costs while warranting a low level of hospitalizations. This work allows testing various scenarios of pandemic management (closure of sectors of the economy, partial/total compliance with protection measures by citizens, number of beds in intensive care units, etc.), ensuring the responsiveness of the health system, thus being a public health decision support tool.

A protocol for sampling pastures in hill country

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 203-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.J. Hutchinson ◽  
D.R. Scobie ◽  
J. Beautrais ◽  
A.D. Mackay ◽  
G.M. Rennie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Random Sampling ◽  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Accurate Estimate ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Topographic Complexity ◽  
Hill Country

To develop a protocol to guide pasture sampling for estimation of paddock pasture mass in hill country, a range of pasture sampling strategies, including random sampling, transects and stratification based on slope and aspect, were evaluated using simulations in a Geographical Information Systems computer environment. The accuracy and efficiency of each strategy was tested by sampling data obtained from intensive field measurements across several farms, regions and seasons. The number of measurements required to obtain an accurate estimate was related to the overall pasture mass and the topographic complexity of a paddock, with more variable paddocks requiring more samples. Random sampling from average slopes provided the best balance between simplicity and reliability. A draft protocol was developed from the simulations, in the form of a decision support tool, where visual determination of the topographic complexity of the paddock, along with the required accuracy, were used to guide the number of measurements recommended. The protocol was field tested and evaluated by groups of users for efficacy and ease of use. This sampling protocol will offer farmers, consultants and researchers an efficient, reliable and simple way to determine pasture mass in New Zealand hill country settings. Keywords: hill country, feed budgeting, protocol pasture mass, slope

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document