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Concept and prototype of a spatial decision support system for integrated water management applied to I chkeul B asin, T unisia
Author(s) -
Chakroun H.,
Chabaane Z. Lili,
Benabdallah S.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/wej.12095
Subject(s) - stakeholder , water transfer , spatial decision support system , structural basin , environmental resource management , environmental science , decision support system , drainage basin , computer science , water resource management , geography , data mining , cartography , paleontology , public relations , biology , political science
In this study, we develop a spatial decision support system ( SDSS ) for water management in a basin characterised by existing and projected dams to satisfy freshwater demand while preserving a particular ecosystem. The territorial and functional interests along with management scenarios were integrated into consistent stages of the SDSS . The developed prototype allowed comparisons of multiple water allocation options to competing users in the catchment by two aggregation methods. Through a simulation modelling exercise and stakeholder's involvement, the main outputs are the development of water management options and a set of criteria/subcriteria to evaluate these options related to socio‐economic, water availability and ecological factors. Both aggregation methods reveal the positive effect of water transfer on overall evaluations. New dam construction would cause an increase in the overall evaluation from the SDSS by at best 34% when water availability criteria are favoured, while a decrease in overall evaluation by at worst 75% is indicated when ecological criteria are favoured.