Systems Analysis – a new paradigm and decision support tools for the water framework directive

M Bruen

doi:10.5194/hess-12-739-2008

Abstract

Abstract. In the early days of Systems Analysis the focus was on providing tools for optimisation, modelling and simulation for use by experts. Now there is a recognition of the need to develop and disseminate tools to assist in making decisions, negotiating compromises and communicating preferences that can easily be used by stakeholders without the need for specialist training. The Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires public participation and thus provides a strong incentive for progress in this direction. This paper places the new paradigm in the context of the classical one and discusses some of the new approaches which can be used in the implementation of the WFD. These include multi-criteria decision support methods suitable for environmental problems, adaptive management, cognitive mapping, social learning and cooperative design and group decision-making. Concordance methods (such as ELECTRE) and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) are identified as multi-criteria methods that can be readily integrated into Decision Support Systems (DSS) that deal with complex environmental issues with very many criteria, some of which are qualitative. The expanding use of the new paradigm provides an opportunity to observe and learn from the interaction of stakeholders with the new technology and to assess its effectiveness.

Highlights

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that every country introduce measures to improve and sustainably maintain good chemical water quality and ecological status by 2015
The final two steps depend on the results of the three preceding ones so the steps must be completed in the order indicated
The classical paradigm was fostered by the General Systems Theory approach to understanding complex systems that evolved in the 1940s (Bertalanffy, 1968) and by the subsequent need to manage such systems in a “real-world” context (Checkland, 2000)

Summary

Introduction

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that every country introduce measures to improve and sustainably maintain good chemical water quality and ecological status by 2015. It is imperative that all decisions on policy and measures be taken (i) on the basis of the best available scientific and economic information and (ii) be taken using an unbiased, independent and logical methodology and (iii) take account of all stakeholders concerns, both quantifiable and non-quantifiable, in a transparent manner. This requires the “systems approach” to decision making. The choice of methods is based on the author’s practical experience and ongoing research in the water/environmental area

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Results

Conclusion