Abstract
This paper presents a collaborative framework of an interactive web-GIS platform integrated with a multi-criteria evaluation tool. The platform aims to support the engagement of different stakeholders and the encouragement of a collaborative, decision-making process for flood and landslide management. The conceptual framework is based on initial data collected from field visits and stakeholder meetings carried out in the case study areas of the CHANGES33CHANGES project is a Marie Curie ITN funded by the European Community's 7th Framework Program. project: the Małopolska Voivodeship of Poland, Buzău County of Romania and the Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region of Italy. Based on the needs and issues identified in each case study, this paper also presents how such a platform could potentially assist and enhance the interactions between risk management stakeholders in formulating and selecting risk management measures. The developed prototype was presented to the local and regional stakeholders of the study areas and feedback was collected to understand the stakeholders’ perspectives in determining whether the platform is useful and applicable for their activities in risk management. Feedback from stakeholder responses indicate that stakeholders found the prototype not only useful, but innovative and supportive in potentially assisting their activities. However, feedback also highlighted several aspects of the platform that can be improved for the development of a full-scale system to apply in practice. This includes the engagement of stakeholders toward higher levels of participation and a more extensive evaluation of the platform by carrying out concrete group exercises in the study areas.
Highlights
This paper presents a collaborative framework of an interactive web-GIS platform integrated with a multi-criteria evaluation tool
According to Balbi et al [6], decision criteria are related to direct costs or benefits from the implementation, and to other indirect and nontangible aspects such as socio-economic development and environmental protection. Consideration of these many aspects supports the use of multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) tools that can facilitate the evaluation of the variety of consequences in a risk management problem without measuring them only at the monetary scale [30]
We presented a collaborative web-GIS based prototype platform applied in the field of natural hazards and risk management mainly for floods and landslides
Summary
Decision-making processes to facilitate knowledge and contributions of different stakeholders and actors towards better-informed decisions [12,15]. According to Balbi et al [6], decision criteria are related to direct costs or benefits from the implementation, and to other indirect and nontangible aspects such as socio-economic development and environmental protection Consideration of these many aspects supports the use of multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) tools that can facilitate the evaluation of the variety of consequences in a risk management problem without measuring them only at the monetary scale [30]. These tools can be used in combination with GIS and spatial information technologies through online platforms to reach and involve a wide range of stakeholders and actors in the decision-making process. We conclude this paper by discussing the presented framework and its potential for inpractice implementation along with relevant aspects for platform improvement
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