© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Kurt Fedra, Dr.phil., Dr.sci. 1952, Vienna Environmental Software & Services P.O. Box 100 A-2352 Gumpoldskirchen AUSTRIA tel: fax: Kurt Fedra, Dr.phil., Dr.sci. 1952, Vienna Environmental Software & Services P.O. Box 100 A-2352 Gumpoldskirchen AUSTRIA tel: fax:

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 The topic: Applied GIS The basic question: WHY, what for, only then: HOW Primary application domain: –Environmental management The topic: Applied GIS The basic question: WHY, what for, only then: HOW Primary application domain: –Environmental management

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 WHY, what for ? Better living (in a better world) Planning, management of resources and space. WHY, what for ? Better living (in a better world) Planning, management of resources and space.

© K. Fedra ASSIGNEMENT:ASSIGNEMENT: Better living, a better world: Can you define that ? What are the main criteria and characteristics? What role does space play ? What are the main obstacle ? Find/comment on classical models (from Plato to Marx) Better living, a better world: Can you define that ? What are the main criteria and characteristics? What role does space play ? What are the main obstacle ? Find/comment on classical models (from Plato to Marx)

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 WHY, what for ? Better living (in a better world) Planning, management of resources and space. WHY, what for ? Better living (in a better world) Planning, management of resources and space.

© K. Fedra 2003 Planning = Forethought... The civilized man is distinguished from the savage mainly by prudence, or, to use a slightly wider term, forethought. Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy. The civilized man is distinguished from the savage mainly by prudence, or, to use a slightly wider term, forethought. Bertrand Russell, A History of Western Philosophy.

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 The objective: Better living: Planning, management of resources including space. Problem awareness (understanding our environment and our role in it: observation, monitoring, early warning, goals and objectives) Planning and decision making: –Choices between alternatives –Design alternatives (scenario analysis, WHAT IF: Analysis of consequences – impact assessment –Decision making (how to decide rationally; costs and benefits, uncertainty and risk, sustainability) The objective: Better living: Planning, management of resources including space. Problem awareness (understanding our environment and our role in it: observation, monitoring, early warning, goals and objectives) Planning and decision making: –Choices between alternatives –Design alternatives (scenario analysis, WHAT IF: Analysis of consequences – impact assessment –Decision making (how to decide rationally; costs and benefits, uncertainty and risk, sustainability)

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Better living = better environment Environmental management Environment: ecosystems AND socio- economic AND technical systems Objective and (inter)subjective realities, measurements and perceptions, preferences, fears and hopes, plural rationalities, uncertainty. Better living = better environment Environmental management Environment: ecosystems AND socio- economic AND technical systems Objective and (inter)subjective realities, measurements and perceptions, preferences, fears and hopes, plural rationalities, uncertainty.

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Overviews of Topics: Environmental systems and problems Environmental Information Systems Spatial Decision Support System Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Application Examples: Resource management, EIA, Pollution control, Risk analysis Overviews of Topics: Environmental systems and problems Environmental Information Systems Spatial Decision Support System Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Application Examples: Resource management, EIA, Pollution control, Risk analysis

© K. Fedra Environmental Systems and Problems Environmental systems are complexcomplex dynamicdynamic spatially distributedspatially distributed highly non-linearhighly non-linear Coupled processes on a multitude of scales, Processes not directly observable Effects of interventions are delayed Environmental systems are complexcomplex dynamicdynamic spatially distributedspatially distributed highly non-linearhighly non-linear Coupled processes on a multitude of scales, Processes not directly observable Effects of interventions are delayed

© K. Fedra Environmental Systems and Problems Basic environmental problems: imbalances (in time and space): – exhaustion of resources water, soil, biodiversity, landscape – pollution (waste, combustion products, synthetic chemicals, products, synthetic chemicals, radiation, noise) radiation, noise) – socio economic inequities

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Problem awareness: Environmental Information Systems Mapping and analyzing problems: –GIS is static, problems are dynamic –GIS analysis is linear/boolean, problems are non-linear, multi-valued logic Problem awareness: Environmental Information Systems Mapping and analyzing problems: –GIS is static, problems are dynamic –GIS analysis is linear/boolean, problems are non-linear, multi-valued logic

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Analyzing Problems: The tools: – Models (simulation, optimization) – GIS – Expert systems Analyzing Problems: The tools: – Models (simulation, optimization) – GIS – Expert systems

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Environmental Modeling: Spatially distributed models: – Dynamic simulation – Optimization – Rule-based models (expert systems, cellular automata) Environmental Modeling: Spatially distributed models: – Dynamic simulation – Optimization – Rule-based models (expert systems, cellular automata)

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Environmental Information Systems Integrating GIS and spatial modeling: Paradigms for integration: –week coupling through file transfer –intermediate: pre- and post-processing in cascading tools –full transparent integration (common interface, shared memory, interactive and dynamic linkage) Environmental Information Systems Integrating GIS and spatial modeling: Paradigms for integration: –week coupling through file transfer –intermediate: pre- and post-processing in cascading tools –full transparent integration (common interface, shared memory, interactive and dynamic linkage)

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Environmental Information Systems Examples of integrated systems: –Air quality –Water resources –Technological risk Environmental Information Systems Examples of integrated systems: –Air quality –Water resources –Technological risk

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Overview of Topics: Environmental Information Systems Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Expert Systems, Application Examples Spatial Decision Support Systems –DSS basics (spatial DSS: location, routing) –EIA, Pollution Control, Risk Analysis Overview of Topics: Environmental Information Systems Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Expert Systems, Application Examples Spatial Decision Support Systems –DSS basics (spatial DSS: location, routing) –EIA, Pollution Control, Risk Analysis

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Spatial Decision Support Systems DSS basics (objectives, criteria, constraints)DSS basics (objectives, criteria, constraints) Issues of UncertaintyIssues of Uncertainty MC: multi-criteria methodsMC: multi-criteria methods Spatial/Environmental DSS topicsSpatial/Environmental DSS topics –SoE: State of the Environment reporting –EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment –Risk Assessment and Management Spatial Decision Support Systems DSS basics (objectives, criteria, constraints)DSS basics (objectives, criteria, constraints) Issues of UncertaintyIssues of Uncertainty MC: multi-criteria methodsMC: multi-criteria methods Spatial/Environmental DSS topicsSpatial/Environmental DSS topics –SoE: State of the Environment reporting –EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment –Risk Assessment and Management

© K. Fedra What is a DSS ? Attempts at definition Decision making processes A general DSS architecture Decision Support Paradigms Application examples (location of NIMBY facilities) Attempts at definition Decision making processes A general DSS architecture Decision Support Paradigms Application examples (location of NIMBY facilities)

© K. Fedra Uncertainty... Questions: Sources and effects of uncertaintySources and effects of uncertainty How to estimate levels of uncertaintyHow to estimate levels of uncertainty How to reduce uncertaintyHow to reduce uncertainty How to incorporate uncertainty into decision making processes.How to incorporate uncertainty into decision making processes.

© K. Fedra Multi-attribute DSS Realistic environmental problems have multiple objectives and multiple criteria, involving trade-offs, compromise satisfaction, acceptance rather than optimality in a strict sense. Realistic environmental problems have multiple objectives and multiple criteria, involving trade-offs, compromise satisfaction, acceptance rather than optimality in a strict sense.

© K. Fedra Multi-attribute DSS This requires either to express all criteria in a single unit (usually money) through valuation or deal with the additional dimensionality explicitly This requires either to express all criteria in a single unit (usually money) through valuation or deal with the additional dimensionality explicitly

© K. Fedra Spatial DSS Environmental problems are also spatial problems, environmental decisions also spatial decision. Spatial DSS: alternatives and their elements criteria, objectives, constraints are functions of space –Site selection –Routing Environmental problems are also spatial problems, environmental decisions also spatial decision. Spatial DSS: alternatives and their elements criteria, objectives, constraints are functions of space –Site selection –Routing

© K. Fedra EIS, SoE Reporting The simplest DSS paradigm is the information systems approach. State-of-the-Environment Reporting is a prototypical application domain. The simplest DSS paradigm is the information systems approach. State-of-the-Environment Reporting is a prototypical application domain.

© K. Fedra E nvironmental I mpact Assessment EIA is a typical environmental DSS application domain, combining all approaches, methods, and tools within a well defined conceptual and practical framework. Explicit comparison of alternatives (locations), scenario analysis EIA is a typical environmental DSS application domain, combining all approaches, methods, and tools within a well defined conceptual and practical framework. Explicit comparison of alternatives (locations), scenario analysis

© K. Fedra Risk Analysis and Management Risk management as a spatial DSS problem combines all previous approaches. It emphasizes and treats explicitly the probabilistic nature of real-world problems and decisions.

© K. Fedra 2003 GIS 2003 Schedule: introduction1Geo08 DSS, multi-objective 2 Geo00 environmental systems and problems 1Geo09 spatial DSS, site selection 2 Geo01 EIS 1Geo10 spatial DSS, examples 1 Geo02 SoE2Geo11 EIA impact assessment 2 Geo03 systems analysis, modeling 2Geo12 risk assessment 1 Geo04 modeling domains, examples 2Uncertainty2 Geo05 GIS integration 1 Geo06 OOD, ECOSIM, waterware RBO 2 Geo07 DSS intro 2 TOTAL: 24

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Student Questionnaire: Name: (optional) Age (biological/academic): Main field of study/work: English comprehension: –excellent, good, mediocre, poor Experience with: –computers: OS, applications, languages –modeling, GIS: system(s), applications, techniques Student Questionnaire: Name: (optional) Age (biological/academic): Main field of study/work: English comprehension: –excellent, good, mediocre, poor Experience with: –computers: OS, applications, languages –modeling, GIS: system(s), applications, techniques

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Student Questionnaire: Why are you here ? Where do you want to be, what do you want to do in 10 years ? What are our/humanities major problems ? What are you doing about it ? Student Questionnaire: Why are you here ? Where do you want to be, what do you want to do in 10 years ? What are our/humanities major problems ? What are you doing about it ?

© K. Fedra GIS 2003 Web site: user name: students password: GIS2003 Web site: user name: students password: GIS2003