Delivering Flexible Decision Support for Environmental Management: A Case Study in Integrated Catchment Management
Daniel P. Walker, Andrew Johnson · Australasian Journal of Environmental Management · 1996
Natural resource managers face a significant challenge in making decisions in the light of the potential off-site impacts of human activities. Decision support systems can play a role in meeting this challenge. However, the development of decision support systems that address complex requirements effectively is exacting. This is further exacerbated where those requirements are evolving rapidly. These issues are addressed here in the context of natural resource management of a catchment scale. In order to provide flexibility in the delivery and use of decision support, a toolkit approach is proposed and its applicability evaluated. Three proof of concept decision support tools and their integration into a higher level tool are described. These examples illustrate both the types of decision support that were required by users and the toolkit approach. We contend that this approach significantly enhances the potential for operational use of decision support systems in environmental management.