Abstract
Water is a vital element that plays a central role in human life. This study assesses the status of indicators based on water resources availability relying on hydro-social analysis. The assessment involves countries exhibiting decreasing trends in per capita renewable water during 2005–2017. Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania encompass respectively 48, 35, 43, 20, and 5 countries with distinct climatic conditions. Four hydro-social indicators associated with rural society, urban society, technology and communication, and knowledge were estimated with soft-computing methods [i.e., artificial neural networks, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, and gene expression programming (GEP)] for the world’s continents. The GEP model’s performance was the best among the computing methods in estimating hydro-social indicators for all the world’s continents based on statistical criteria [correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error]. The values of RMSE for GEP models for the ratio of rural to urban population (PRUP), population density, number of internet users and education index parameters equaled (0.084, 0.029, 0.178, 0.135), (0.197, 0.056, 0.152, 0.163), (0.151, 0.036, 0.123, 0.210), (0.182, 0.039, 0.148, 0.204) and (0.141, 0.030, 0.226, 0.082) for Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania, respectively. Scalable equations for hydro-social indicators are developed with applicability at variable spatial and temporal scales worldwide. This paper’s results show the patterns of association between social parameters and water resources vary across continents. This study’s findings contribute to improving water-resources planning and management considering hydro-social indicators.
Highlights
Water is a vital element that plays a central role in human life
Four hydro-social indicators associated with rural society, urban society, technology and communication, and knowledge were estimated with soft-computing methods [i.e., artificial neural networks, adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, and gene expression programming (GEP)] for the world’s continents
Hydro-social indicators are useful measures of the relative magnitude of phenomena[11], and they support decision making in water resources management. These indicators are evaluated to assess the effectiveness of current policies and future management activities and investment decisions based on factors such as the definition or perception of water among stakeholders, the primary mechanisms of water perception by stakeholder groups, the feedbacks between water and society that create a "water community", and the consequences of hydro-social interactions between stakeholders and their Water[12,13]
Summary
Water is a vital element that plays a central role in human life. This study assesses the status of indicators based on water resources availability relying on hydro-social analysis. Hydro-social science studies the interactions between human factors, water flows, hydraulic technologies, biophysical elements, socio-economic structures, and cultural-political institutions in the management of water systems[8]. This science evaluates water resource systems considering human influences such as withdrawals, impoundments, and other human-induced changes in hydrological systems[9]. Hydro-social indicators are useful measures of the relative magnitude of phenomena[11], and they support decision making in water resources management These indicators are evaluated to assess the effectiveness of current policies and future management activities and investment decisions based on factors such as the definition or perception of water among stakeholders, the primary mechanisms of water perception by stakeholder groups (e.g., social, historical, economic, political, spiritual, etc.), the feedbacks between water and society that create a "water community", and the consequences of hydro-social interactions between stakeholders and their Water[12,13]. Understanding hydro-social relationships raises awareness about best practices for water use[14]
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