Environmental risk management with the use of multi-criteria spatial decision support system DECERNS (original) (raw)
Related papers
DECERNS: Methodology and Software for Risk-Based Land Use Planning and Decision Support
2007
Decisions for environmental contamination problems are often complex due to the need to incorporate many differing measures and views. Strategies to support these decisions with a more systematic framework have evolved along with the development of computer capabilities and analytical tools. The decision process often involves incorporating subjective judgment that reflects public and stakeholder values, while also accounting for cost-benefit, toxicological health risk, and ecological risk assessment methods, along with methods to combine each of these measures. DECERNS (Decision Evaluation for Complex Environmental Risk Network Systems) has been developed as integrated decision support software for environmental problems. This tool combines multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) with geographic information system (GIS) components to frame practical solutions. By also incorporating cost/benefit and risk assessment tools into a common web-based platform, DECERNS permits an integrated analysis that frames effective environmental decision making.
This paper presents the development of a prototype for a Spatial Decision Support System (SDSS) in risk reduction based on available open-source geo-web platforms. The main purpose of this system is to find a way to make SDSS more practical and user-friendly, thereby reducing the cost of and time required by the project. Malczewski 1999 [1] describes SDSS as an interactive computer-based system designed to use spatial information to support a decision maker with a final solution based on the semi-structured spatial problems. A SDSS is usually composed of users, decisions (also known as "alternatives") and criteria (or "indicators") which represent the costs and benefits of each alternative. We will begin by demonstrating the modularity of SDSS platform for risk reduction. SDSS consists of different components or modules. In this specific research, the modules are Input module, Risk module, Visualization module (which uses GIS tools) and Decision Module. Each of these modules is equipped with different functionality and analytical process and will be used by different organizations such as spatial planner, geologies, engineering for risk reduction mitigation, local authorities, etc. This means that the whole SDSS can benefit from a collaboration platform between all organizations, stakeholders and their responsibilities that are involved in decision making and risk reduction. In addition, the system is planned to apply Multi Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) to evaluate the most appropriate alternative options in Decision Module.
Decision Evaluation for Complex Risk Network Systems (DECERNS) Software Tool
Decision Support Systems for Risk-Based Management of Contaminated Sites, 2008
Environmental management requires decisions makers to integrate heterogeneous technical information with values and judgment. Decision Evaluation in Complex Risk Network Systems (DECERNS) is a computer system with the objective of providing a methodology, computer models and software tools that facilitates decision-making in the field of, sustainable land use planning, sediment management. and related areas. DECERNS will integrate risk assessment and decision analysis tools from multiple discipline (e.g., GIS tools for mapping and data analysis, ecological and human health risk models, economic analysis tools for evaluating costs, and tools for incorporating social choices) into a single user-friendly software package. This paper provides an overview of the approach used in DECERNS and a case study. Future plans on development and testing of the software tool will be discussed.
Decision support systems and risk analysis for spatial planning
Geografia, Riscos e Proteção Civil. Homenagem ao Professor Doutor Luciano Lourenço. Volume 2, 2021
Risk amplification and spatial planning strategies are becoming increasingly intertwined, due to frequency and intensification of recurrent disasters, as a result of climate change. Promoted under the United Nations, the Sendai Framework for Disaster risk Reduction (2015-2030) set the priority of “investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience”, and therefore is committed with the mainstreaming of disaster risk assessment into land-use and spatial planning. In this research we present RiskOTe, a framework that aims at integrating the risk management component into municipal planning. RiskOTe is therefore a decision support system to assist spatial planning integrating the risk management components at the local level. RiskOTe tool is presented in order to explain its theoretical concepts, components (e.g., spatial database), and interface models. We use a case study to illustrate how the system operates.
Integrating Risk Assessment into Spatial Planning: RiskOTe Decision Support System
ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information
The way in which risk maps are used in decision support processes for spatial planning at local scale is critical to helping decision makers in the definition of a prevention strategy to minimize risks. This paper presents a spatial decision support system that is developed to assist spatial planning by integrating the risk management component at municipal level. For the development of the RiskOTe tool, a semi-quantitative risk assessment model was used that assumes risk management to be comprehensive with respect to the type of hazard, vulnerability and risk minimization measures. In this paper, the components for the development of the spatial decision support system are identified, described and implemented using the municipality of Oeiras, in Portugal, as case study. The use of the system allowed the generation of multiple scenarios and outcomes. The results demonstrate that decision-making on the transformation of land uses by integrating risk analysis can be supported on a solid basis of information obtained from a spatial decision support system.
Multi-criteria risk management with the use of DecernsMCDA: methods and case studies
Environment Systems and Decisions, 2016
Emerging challenges of risk management, environmental protection, and land-use planning requires integration of stakeholder values and expert judgment. The process of decision making in situation of high uncertainty can be assisted through the use of decision support systems (DSSs). Such DSSs are often based on tools for spatial data representation (GIS) and environmental models that are integrated using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA). This paper presents DecernsMCDA implementing all major types of multi-criteria methods and tools (AHP, MAUT, Outranking) under the same user interface. In addition to providing ability for testing model uncertainty associated with selection of specific MCDA algorithms, De-cernsMCDA implements new algorithms for parameter uncertainty analysis based on probabilistic approaches and fuzzy sets. The paper illustrates application of De-cernsMCDA for selecting remedial alternative at radiologically contaminated sites.
Integrating geographical information systems and multiple criteria decision-making methods
International journal of geographical information systems, 1995
Many spatial decision-making problems, such as site selection or land use allocation require the decision-maker to consider the impacts of choice-alternatives along multiple dimensions in order to choose the best alternative. The decisionmaking process, involving policy priorities, trade-offs, and uncertainties, can be aided by Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) methods. This paper presents a framework for integrating geographical information systems (GIS) and MCDM methods. In this framework the MCDM methods are classified and matched with choice heuristics used by the decision-makers in the presence of competing alternatives and multiple evaluation criteria. Two strategies for integrating GIS with MCDM are proposed. The first strategy suggests linking GIS and MCDM techniques using a file exchange mechanism. The second strategy suggests integrating GIS and MCDM functions using a common database. The paper presents the implementation of the first strategy using PC-ARC/INFO, a file exchange module, and four different MCDM computer programs.