Development of a web-based spatial decision support system (WSDSS) for river restoration

MA-Thesis / Master von Andreas Zitek

Introduction:

The main goal of this thesis is to develop a framework for a Web based Spatial Decision Support System (WSDSS) for supporting the development of river restoration strategies. Due to their free availability, open source/free GIS tools and technology are used to develop this decision support framework supporting a multi-user decision support platform via the web. The integration of latest multi-scale river ecological knowledge is assured by the strong relatedness of this thesis to a project that has been run at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna between 2005 and 2008 – the MIRR project (Model based Instrument for River Restoration). By order of the Austrian Ministry of Life, being responsible for the implementation of the EU-Water Framework Directive, a strategic instrument to identify hydro-morphological restoration measures for running waters to enhance the ecological status of rivers in Austria measured by fish was developed at the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management (IHG) at the BOKU based on comprehensive multivariate analyses of fish/pressure relationships using data from Lower Austria. The identification and quantification of the effects of the main relevant pressure types allowed the development of flow charts for guiding restoration activities at multiple scales. Up to now no tool exists allowing an automated evaluation of the effects of different restoration strategies on the ecological status of the so called water bodies, the relevant scale for action and reporting with regard to the EU-WFD. Furthermore existing web based GIS tools related to rivers and the implementation of the EU WFD in Austria and on an EU level do not allow any interaction with the data, and are therefore not well suited for decision support (for example the Water Information system of Austria ‘WISA’, or the Water Information System of Europe ‘WISE’). The following parts of the MIRR project conducted under the supervision of the author of this thesis as work package leader, and can be seen as part of this thesis, although mainly content relevant for the development of the WSDSS framework is reproduced here:

Literature research and definition of relevant parameters to model fish/pressure relationships on multiple spatial and temporal scales, Investigation and collection of the available GIS datasets in Austria, that might be of relevance for the MIRR project, and matching of criteria per pressures type with the availability of pressure data, a full list of the criteria finally assessed within the MIRR project can be found in SCHMUTZ et al., Development of geographical data analysis strategies, geographical data analysis and guidance and supervision of the whole (abiotic) data gathering process of the project.

Although the analysis results of the MIRR study were evaluated within a case study, within that spatial explicit recommendations for restoration measures together with a prioritization scheme were developed, there is no tool available to simulate the outcome of different restoration strategies on the level of surface water bodies (detailed and basic), catchments or national planning areas, which represent the most important spatial scales for the implementation of the EU-WFD. Although the MIRR project delivered a strategic scheme for river restoration based on quantitative criteria, it did not directly relate this scheme to water bodies or catchments. The DSS developed within this thesis will be based on the ecologically relevant criteria that were identified within the MIRR project, and will allow for a spatially explicit analysis of the outcome of different restoration strategies on spatial scales relevant for the EU-WFD (surface water bodies, catchments and national planning areas). The web based decision support framework presented here was not part of the MIRR project, but centrally builds up on the results of the MIRR project and represents a first innovative step towards a decision support system supporting a collective decision support via the www. Following the structure of the development of general Management Support Systems (MSS) described by TURBAN et al. this master thesis contains the planning, analysis and design phases of the development of a MSS, but not the implementation of a prototype. The general need for decision support was the reason, why the Ministry of Life charged the IHG with the development of a model based instrument for river restoration. The development of the presented WDSS can be seen as consequent continuation of the MIRR project, making added value of the valuable results by making them available for a collaborative spatial explicit decision support via the www.

Table of Contents:

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Chapter 3.2.1, Spatial decision support systems:

Decision support systems are frequently build within the framework of a Geographical Information Systems (GIS), which provide a convenient platform for handling, compiling and presenting large amounts of spatial data essential to river basin management; and since GIS technology is often linked to information and knowledge management systems and is readily available to most governmental entities, a high degree of transparency in decision-making for stakeholders can be achieved. Spatial decision support systems (SDSS) combine GIS and DSS technologies to aid spatially based decision-making. A SDSS is designed to solve complex spatial problems with the main focus of design oriented towards decision-makers. Usually GIS tools do not allow for a direct interaction with the data for decision making, but an accordingly formatted integrated system containing only relevant pre-processed information using web based and GIS enabled graphical user interfaces with relational databases, visualization techniques, analysis tools and decision logic strongly enables managers and decision makers to obtain answers to critical questions and to interactively explore the outcomes of different strategies. Existing applications of Decision Support Tools demonstrate the benefits of Decision support systems (DSS) for cost-effective information management and have proven to be reliable and effective tools in the integrated management enabling professional communication between scientists, managers, decision makers, major stake holders and the public and also in the communication of conditions and decisions. After KJELDS typical DSS interactive and integrated components are:

Data and information management: The data and information component is key and central in developing a DSS. The focus is integrating database and connecting data islands into a dynamic framework with advanced display, mapping, query and presentation capabilities.

Analysis and modelling: The data framework provides the basis for further analysis and interpretation of data and information. Depending on stage and scope of the DSS the analysis can range from simple to complex including statistical and numerical models, economic and cost/benefit as well as User Defined and Custom tools Scenario management and alternative formulation: The DSS framework is capable of supporting and providing information (costing and prioritization) for project feasibility and planning projects as well as design and implementation. Upon implementation the project may have an operations component that requires real time and online decision making.

Decision making: Customizable GIS and Web based interfaces are tailored to meet specific needs and requirements. Advanced graphics, on-line access, custom rules and interpretations can be embedded into the DSS to support and provide the basis for decision makers to make timely, reproducible and well informed decisions.

Web based spatial decision support:

Due to the rapid growth of the internet and the related technologies, increasingly, web-based approaches to GIS and web based spatial decision support have gained in importance. This enables strongly the ability of researchers, regulatory agencies, planners, and consultants to share data, models, tools, and other information with potential users. The benefits of using the internet for SDSS has been documented by many researchers, and the major advantages of a WSDSS after DYMOND include the following:

1. Communication between and among field experts, decision makers, and stakeholders can be greatly improved.

2. Model accessibility is improved as the user only needs a browser—no GIS tools or databases.

3. Updated models are always available on the web server so that distribution is not a problem and administration issues of the software and hardware are centralized.

4. As a web-based model, there is inherent cross-platform flexibility.

5. Data input into the model can be verified at the server level by experts, data pre-processing needed is done by experts.

6. Models that require intensive CPU operations can optimally be run on high level servers.