Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of the DSS (tools, data, models, etc.), translates the user
input into appropriate computer instructions, and reports
back the results of the computations. To provide maximal
user-friendliness, state-of-the art interactive graphical
techniques are applied extensively. A well designed,
intuitive, and user-friendly interface will support the
execution of the policy exercises to the degree considered
necessary by the decision maker and it will make the DSS,
its models and methods as transparent as possible; at any
point in time, the user should have access to the scien-
tific information needed to understand the models, the
processes represented, and the numbers generated (see
for example, Holtzman, 1989). Without this information,
models remain black boxes and learning is impossible.
Via the user interface, the user has access to all the
variables and parameters of all the submodels ofWadBOS.
Moreover, he can decide which combination of dialogues
and maps he wants to keep opened on his screen while
carrying out an exercise. All opened maps and dialogues
are updated instantaneously during a simulation. The
parameters and variables of the submodels are organized
and made accessible in a manner that clearly reflects
their adherence to one or the other of the following
categories: systemvariables and systemparameters, policy
parameters, scenario parameters, and indicator variables.
Each category is part of a dedicated window presenting
a view on the integrated model. Each view shows in a
graphical manner how policy-relevant features relate to
the processes modelled.
most synthetic level. It represents the linkages between
the ecological, landscape, and economic processes typ-
ifying the dynamics of the Wadden Sea by means of
boxes connected by arrows. When a box is clicked,
the details of the underlying model are shown, which
is either a new system diagram with a more encom-
passing representation of the invoked submodel, or a
dialogue window enabling to read the outputs gen-
erated by the submodel or enter the required input
parameters. The systemdiagramview is a default access
to any parameter or variable of the integrated model.
2. The impacts view (see Figure 21.7) shows the parts
of the integrated model containing the summarized
information and policy indicators required to evaluate
the success of scenarios and policy options tried out. To
that effect, the policy-maker should begin any policy
exercisewith a clearly defined set of criteria defining the
desired state at a particular point in time. In general
the set of indicators in the impacts view are taken from
the management plan of the Wadden Sea. Indicators
expressing the economic, social, ecological, biological,
chemical and physical states of the system can be
viewed. For most indicators norms are available which
can be entered as a reference value in the score-tables
of the dialogues associated with the boxes in this view.
3. The policy-options view (see Figure 21.7) shows the
parts of the model that are most subject to policy
interventions. These are elements that are under the
control of the policymaker. The user can explore
different combinations of policy measures and set
values for: Zoning , including closure of parts of the sea;
1. The system diagram view (see Figure 21.3) contains an
overview of the structure of the integratedmodel at the
Figure 21.7 Screen dumps of the policy-options view (left) and the impacts view (right) from the user interface of WadBOS
(Courtesy of RIKS).
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