Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the model components have been validated against
measured data (as is the case for most models) and
then only for the areas in which the systems have
been intensively applied and where such validation
data exist.
(d) Does the system talk to the users information needs and
available data? Many are intended to do so and have
been designed and adapted with significant end-user
input to facilitate these needs.
(e) Is there willingness to adopt PSS in the decision-making
process? These tools address a wide range of policy
organizations and some are very heavily used by
scientists supporting policy but many are too complex
and data hungry for use directly by nonscientists. In
many ways it is quite appropriate that such tools are
used by modelling experts who can then interpret and
communicate the model outputs in a way that can
be understood by the policy analysts whilst ensuring
that the model is not misused (where it is possible
to distinguish use and misuse). On the other hand,
in situations where the interaction with knowledge
needs to be dynamic (for example in a negotiation
context between stakeholders) or where there is not
time or resources for hiring consultant modellers to
do the work then it is entirely appropriate for the
policy analyst to be empowered with the ability to use
the models, so long as a channel for communication
with the model developers is kept open so that the
model is used appropriately.
(f) Who will work with the system and what is their role in
the organization? Each of these tools targets different
types of organization. In some cases the tools are more
integrated than the institutions are, such that the tool
transcends a number of ministries (water, agricul-
ture, energy, environment), which in turn may have
dominion over different environmental domains in
different countries or even in the same country at
different times. This model integration could poten-
tially foster communication and integration but this
is difficult given the bounded remits of each insti-
tution. It is more likely that such integrative tools
will be 'picked-up' by those outside such ministries
and who may have broader remits, in for example
nongovernmental organizations or advocacy groups
in their efforts to promote integrated approaches.
tools and the datasets upon which they rely. Questions of
willingness to adopt, (e), and institutional role, (f), are
dependent upon the individual and institutional incentive
to use the system which is itself a function of the quality
of the system as expressed in a-d. Those barriers that can
more readily be removed - at least partially - include,
(a) strategy or utility and (b) availability. By removing
these barriers and thus extensively increasing the potential
user base we should achieve improvements in credibility,
(c), and language, (d), as well as a user-driven increase in
willingness to adopt, (e), and clarification of PSS role in
the policymaking process, (f).
20.2 The simplicity: state-of-the-art
policy-support systems
Since 2009 the barriers related to (a) strategy and (b) avail-
ability in the WaterWorld Policy-Support System have
been effectively removed. Improving availability com-
prises making both the software and the data that it
requires, more available. For many nonscientist users, the
negotiation of licenses, the download and installation of
software and the parameterization of models with local
data are subject to very significant technical, institutional
and capacity barriers. Solutions to these problems include:
(a) making models available as web-based models run
through a WWW browser and thus available to
anyone with a computer, irrespective of technical
capacity; and
(b) building self-parameterizing models - that is, devel-
oping models that can be run with remotely sensed
or global databases and thus providing all the data
required for model application anywhere, whilst giv-
ing the user the capacity to add their own data if they
have better or different data to that provided by the
developer.
These two changes potentially increase the user-base of
a model dramatically and facilitate model-user commu-
nication in the long term since (a) modellers can examine
web usage logs to understand how their web-based model
is being used, (b) modellers know who is using the system
and can interact with and support them and, (c) any
updates to the system or data are immediately available
to all users without re-download, re-installation and so
forth. Having a large number of users and keeping in
contact with them for the long-term as well as being able
to update software frequently and easily can help in the
Many of the remaining barriers to uptake of PSS are
difficult to remove for these tools. These barriers include
the issue of uncertainty, (c), which will only be enhanced
by further uptake, application and development of the
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