© K. Fedra 2003

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Kurt Fedra, Dr.phil., Dr.sci.

1952, Vienna

Environmental Software & Services

P.O. Box 100 A-2352Gumpoldskirchen AUSTRIAtel: +43 2252 63305fax: +43 2252 633059kurt@ess.co.at http://www.ess.co.at

Kurt Fedra, Dr.phil., Dr.sci.

1952, Vienna

Environmental Software & Services

P.O. Box 100 A-2352Gumpoldskirchen AUSTRIAtel: +43 2252 63305fax: +43 2252 633059kurt@ess.co.at http://www.ess.co.at

© K. Fedra 2003

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003The topic: Applied GIS

The basic question:

WHY, what for, only then: HOWPrimary application domain:

– Environmental management

The topic: Applied GIS

The basic question:

WHY, what for, only then: HOWPrimary application domain:

– Environmental management

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003WHY, what for ?

Better living (in a better world)

Planning, management of resources and space.

WHY, what for ?

Better living (in a better world)

Planning, management of resources and space.

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ASSIGNEMENT:ASSIGNEMENT:ASSIGNEMENT:ASSIGNEMENT:Better living, a better world:

• Can you define that ?

• What are the main criteria and characteristics? What role does space play ?

• What are the main obstacle ?

• Find/comment on classical models (from Plato to Marx)

Better living, a better world:

• Can you define that ?

• What are the main criteria and characteristics? What role does space play ?

• What are the main obstacle ?

• Find/comment on classical models (from Plato to Marx)

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003WHY, what for ?

Better living (in a better world)

Planning, management of resources and space.

WHY, what for ?

Better living (in a better world)

Planning, management of resources and space.

© K. Fedra

2003

Planning = Forethought ...Planning = Forethought ...Planning = Forethought ...Planning = Forethought ...

The civilized man is The civilized man is distinguished from the savage distinguished from the savage mainly by prudence, or, to use mainly by prudence, or, to use a slightly wider term, a slightly wider term, forethought.forethought.

Bertrand Russell, Bertrand Russell,

A History of Western Philosophy.A History of Western Philosophy.

The civilized man is The civilized man is distinguished from the savage distinguished from the savage mainly by prudence, or, to use mainly by prudence, or, to use a slightly wider term, a slightly wider term, forethought.forethought.

Bertrand Russell, Bertrand Russell,

A History of Western Philosophy.A History of Western Philosophy.

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003The objective: Better living:

Planning, management of resources including space.

• Problem awareness (understanding our environment and our role in it: observation, monitoring, early warning, goals and objectives)

• Planning and decision making:– Choices between alternatives

– Design alternatives (scenario analysis, WHAT IF: Analysis of consequences – impact assessment

– Decision making (how to decide rationally; costs and benefits, uncertainty and risk, sustainability)

The objective: Better living:Planning, management of resources including space.

• Problem awareness (understanding our environment and our role in it: observation, monitoring, early warning, goals and objectives)

• Planning and decision making:– Choices between alternatives

– Design alternatives (scenario analysis, WHAT IF: Analysis of consequences – impact assessment

– Decision making (how to decide rationally; costs and benefits, uncertainty and risk, sustainability)

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003Better living = better environment

Environmental managementEnvironment: ecosystems AND socio-

economic AND technical systems

Objective and (inter)subjective realities, measurements and perceptions, preferences, fears and hopes, plural rationalities, uncertainty.

Better living = better environment

Environmental managementEnvironment: ecosystems AND socio-

economic AND technical systems

Objective and (inter)subjective realities, measurements and perceptions, preferences, fears and hopes, plural rationalities, uncertainty.

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003Overviews of Topics:

• Environmental systems and problems

• Environmental Information Systems• Spatial Decision Support System

Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Application Examples: Resource management, EIA, Pollution

control, Risk analysis

Overviews of Topics:

• Environmental systems and problems

• Environmental Information Systems• Spatial Decision Support System

Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Application Examples: Resource management, EIA, Pollution

control, Risk analysis

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Environmental Systems and ProblemsEnvironmental Systems and ProblemsEnvironmental Systems and ProblemsEnvironmental Systems and Problems

Environmental systems areEnvironmental systems are• complexcomplex• dynamicdynamic• spatially distributedspatially distributed• highly non-linearhighly non-linear

Coupled processes on a multitude of scales,Coupled processes on a multitude of scales,Processes not directly observableProcesses not directly observableEffects of interventions are delayedEffects of interventions are delayed

Environmental systems areEnvironmental systems are• complexcomplex• dynamicdynamic• spatially distributedspatially distributed• highly non-linearhighly non-linear

Coupled processes on a multitude of scales,Coupled processes on a multitude of scales,Processes not directly observableProcesses not directly observableEffects of interventions are delayedEffects of interventions are delayed

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Environmental Systems and ProblemsEnvironmental Systems and ProblemsEnvironmental Systems and ProblemsEnvironmental Systems and Problems

Basic environmental problems: Basic environmental problems:

imbalances imbalances (in time and (in time and spacespace):):

– exhaustion of resourcesexhaustion of resourceswater, soil, biodiversity, landscapewater, soil, biodiversity, landscape

– pollution pollution (waste, combustion(waste, combustion

products, synthetic chemicals,products, synthetic chemicals, radiation, noise)radiation, noise)– socio economic inequitiessocio economic inequities

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Problem awareness:

Environmental Information Systems

Mapping and analyzing problems:– GIS is static, problems are dynamic

– GIS analysis is linear/boolean, problems are non-linear, multi-valued logic

Problem awareness:

Environmental Information Systems

Mapping and analyzing problems:– GIS is static, problems are dynamic

– GIS analysis is linear/boolean, problems are non-linear, multi-valued logic

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Analyzing Problems:

The tools:

– Models (simulation, optimization)

– GIS

– Expert systems

Analyzing Problems:

The tools:

– Models (simulation, optimization)

– GIS

– Expert systems

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Environmental Modeling:

Spatially distributed models:

– Dynamic simulation

– Optimization

– Rule-based models (expert systems, cellular

automata)

Environmental Modeling:

Spatially distributed models:

– Dynamic simulation

– Optimization

– Rule-based models (expert systems, cellular

automata)

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Environmental Information Systems

Integrating GIS and spatial modeling:

Paradigms for integration:– week coupling through file transfer – intermediate: pre- and post-processing in

cascading tools– full transparent integration (common interface,

shared memory, interactive and dynamic linkage)

Environmental Information Systems

Integrating GIS and spatial modeling:

Paradigms for integration:– week coupling through file transfer – intermediate: pre- and post-processing in

cascading tools– full transparent integration (common interface,

shared memory, interactive and dynamic linkage)

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Environmental Information Systems

Examples of integrated systems:

http://www.ess.co.at/docs/gallery.html– Air quality

– Water resources

– Technological risk

Environmental Information Systems

Examples of integrated systems:

http://www.ess.co.at/docs/gallery.html– Air quality

– Water resources

– Technological risk

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Overview of Topics:

• Environmental Information Systems Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Expert Systems, Application Examples• Spatial Decision Support Systems

– DSS basics (spatial DSS: location, routing)

– EIA, Pollution Control, Risk Analysis

Overview of Topics:

• Environmental Information Systems Integrating GIS and Simulation Models, Expert Systems, Application Examples• Spatial Decision Support Systems

– DSS basics (spatial DSS: location, routing)

– EIA, Pollution Control, Risk Analysis

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003Spatial Decision Support SystemsSpatial Decision Support Systems• DSS basics DSS basics (objectives, criteria, constraints)(objectives, criteria, constraints)• Issues of UncertaintyIssues of Uncertainty• MC: multi-criteria methodsMC: multi-criteria methods• Spatial/Environmental DSS topicsSpatial/Environmental DSS topics

– SoE: SoE: State of the EnvironmentState of the Environment reportingreporting– EIA: EIA: Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Assessment– Risk Assessment and ManagementRisk Assessment and Management

Spatial Decision Support SystemsSpatial Decision Support Systems• DSS basics DSS basics (objectives, criteria, constraints)(objectives, criteria, constraints)• Issues of UncertaintyIssues of Uncertainty• MC: multi-criteria methodsMC: multi-criteria methods• Spatial/Environmental DSS topicsSpatial/Environmental DSS topics

– SoE: SoE: State of the EnvironmentState of the Environment reportingreporting– EIA: EIA: Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Assessment– Risk Assessment and ManagementRisk Assessment and Management

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What is a DSS ?What is a DSS ?What is a DSS ?What is a DSS ?

• Attempts at definition

• Decision making processes

• A general DSS architecture

• Decision Support Paradigms

• Application examples (location of NIMBY facilities)

• Attempts at definition

• Decision making processes

• A general DSS architecture

• Decision Support Paradigms

• Application examples (location of NIMBY facilities)

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Uncertainty ...Uncertainty ...Uncertainty ...Uncertainty ...

Questions:Questions:• Sources and effects of uncertaintySources and effects of uncertainty

• How to estimate levels of How to estimate levels of uncertaintyuncertainty

• How to reduce uncertaintyHow to reduce uncertainty

• How to incorporate uncertainty into How to incorporate uncertainty into decision making processes.decision making processes.

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Multi-attribute DSS Multi-attribute DSS Multi-attribute DSS Multi-attribute DSS

Realistic environmental problems have multiple objectives and multiple criteria, involving

• trade-offs, compromise

• satisfaction, acceptance

rather than optimality in a strict sense.

Realistic environmental problems have multiple objectives and multiple criteria, involving

• trade-offs, compromise

• satisfaction, acceptance

rather than optimality in a strict sense.

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Multi-attribute DSS Multi-attribute DSS Multi-attribute DSS Multi-attribute DSS

This requires either to

• express all criteria in a single unit (usually money) through valuation

• or deal with the additional dimensionality explicitly

This requires either to

• express all criteria in a single unit (usually money) through valuation

• or deal with the additional dimensionality explicitly

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Spatial DSS Spatial DSS Spatial DSS Spatial DSS

Environmental problems are also spatial problems, environmental decisions also spatial decision.

Spatial DSS: alternatives and their elements criteria, objectives, constraints

are functions of space– Site selection– Routing

Environmental problems are also spatial problems, environmental decisions also spatial decision.

Spatial DSS: alternatives and their elements criteria, objectives, constraints

are functions of space– Site selection– Routing

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EIS, SoE Reporting EIS, SoE Reporting EIS, SoE Reporting EIS, SoE Reporting

The simplest DSS paradigm is the information systems approach.

State-of-the-Environment Reporting is

a prototypical application domain.

The simplest DSS paradigm is the information systems approach.

State-of-the-Environment Reporting is

a prototypical application domain.

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EEnvironmental nvironmental IImpact Assessmentmpact Assessment EEnvironmental nvironmental IImpact Assessmentmpact Assessment

EIA is a typical environmental DSS EIA is a typical environmental DSS application domain, combining all application domain, combining all approaches, methods, and tools approaches, methods, and tools within a well defined conceptual and within a well defined conceptual and practical framework.practical framework.

Explicit comparison of alternatives Explicit comparison of alternatives (locations), scenario analysis(locations), scenario analysis

EIA is a typical environmental DSS EIA is a typical environmental DSS application domain, combining all application domain, combining all approaches, methods, and tools approaches, methods, and tools within a well defined conceptual and within a well defined conceptual and practical framework.practical framework.

Explicit comparison of alternatives Explicit comparison of alternatives (locations), scenario analysis(locations), scenario analysis

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Risk Analysis and ManagementRisk Analysis and Management Risk Analysis and ManagementRisk Analysis and Management

Risk management as a spatial DSS Risk management as a spatial DSS problem combines all previous problem combines all previous approaches. It emphasizes and approaches. It emphasizes and treats explicitly the treats explicitly the probabilistic probabilistic nature of real-world problems and nature of real-world problems and decisions.decisions.

Risk management as a spatial DSS Risk management as a spatial DSS problem combines all previous problem combines all previous approaches. It emphasizes and approaches. It emphasizes and treats explicitly the treats explicitly the probabilistic probabilistic nature of real-world problems and nature of real-world problems and decisions.decisions.

© K. Fedra

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GIS 2003 Schedule: GIS 2003 Schedule: GIS 2003 Schedule: GIS 2003 Schedule: introduction 1 Geo08 DSS, multi-objective 2

Geo00 environmental systems and problems

1 Geo09 spatial DSS, site selection 2

Geo01 EIS 1 Geo10 spatial DSS, examples 1

Geo02 SoE 2 Geo11 EIA impact assessment 2

Geo03 systems analysis, modeling

2 Geo12 risk assessment 1

Geo04 modeling domains, examples

2 Uncertainty 2

Geo05 GIS integration 1

Geo06 OOD, ECOSIM, waterware RBO

2

Geo07 DSS intro 2 TOTAL: 24

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003Student Questionnaire:• Name: (optional)

• Age (biological/academic):• Main field of study/work:• English comprehension:

– excellent, good, mediocre, poor

• Experience with:– computers: OS, applications, languages

– modeling, GIS: system(s), applications, techniques

Student Questionnaire:• Name: (optional)

• Age (biological/academic):• Main field of study/work:• English comprehension:

– excellent, good, mediocre, poor

• Experience with:– computers: OS, applications, languages

– modeling, GIS: system(s), applications, techniques

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Student Questionnaire:• Why are you here ?• Where do you want to be, what do you

want to do in 10 years ?• What are our/humanities major

problems ?• What are you doing about it ?

Student Questionnaire:• Why are you here ?• Where do you want to be, what do you

want to do in 10 years ?• What are our/humanities major

problems ?• What are you doing about it ?

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GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003GIS 2003

Web site:

http://www.ess.co.at/TEACHING/

user name: students password: GIS2003

Web site:

http://www.ess.co.at/TEACHING/

user name: students password: GIS2003