Back to Search
Start Over
Comparing multi-criteria decision analysis and integrated assessment to support long-term water supply planning
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, 12 (5), PLoS ONE, 12(5), PLoS ONE, Vol 12, Iss 5, p e0176663 (2017), PLoS ONE
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- PLOS, 2017.
-
Abstract
- We compare the use of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)–or more precisely, models used in multi-attribute value theory (MAVT)–to integrated assessment (IA) models for supporting long-term water supply planning in a small town case study in Switzerland. They are used to evaluate thirteen system scale water supply alternatives in four future scenarios regarding forty-four objectives, covering technical, social, environmental, and economic aspects. The alternatives encompass both conventional and unconventional solutions and differ regarding technical, spatial and organizational characteristics. This paper focuses on the impact assessment and final evaluation step of the structured MCDA decision support process. We analyze the performance of the alternatives for ten stakeholders. We demonstrate the implications of model assumptions by comparing two IA and three MAVT evaluation model layouts of different complexity. For this comparison, we focus on the validity (ranking stability), desirability (value), and distinguishability (value range) of the alternatives given the five model layouts. These layouts exclude or include stakeholder preferences and uncertainties. Even though all five led us to identify the same best alternatives, they did not produce identical rankings. We found that the MAVT-type models provide higher distinguishability and a more robust basis for discussion than the IA-type models. The needed complexity of the model, however, should be determined based on the intended use of the model within the decision support process. The best-performing alternatives had consistently strong performance for all stakeholders and future scenarios, whereas the current water supply system was outperformed in all evaluation layouts. The best-performing alternatives comprise proactive pipe rehabilitation, adapted firefighting provisions, and decentralized water storage and/or treatment. We present recommendations for possible ways of improving water supply planning in the case study and beyond. ISSN:1932-6203
- Subjects :
- Decision support system
Operations research
Multi-attribute value theory (MAVT)
Computer science
0208 environmental biotechnology
Marine and Aquatic Sciences
Social Sciences
lcsh:Medicine
Water supply
Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA)
02 engineering and technology
010501 environmental sciences
01 natural sciences
Cognition
Natural Resources
Water Quality
Medicine and Health Sciences
Psychology
integrated assessment
lcsh:Science
water supply infrastructure
scenario planning
Multidisciplinary
Environmental resource management
Stakeholder
preference modeling
Multiple-criteria decision analysis
6. Clean water
Physical Sciences
Water Resources
Engineering and Technology
Research Article
Environmental Engineering
Water Management
Process (engineering)
Decision Making
Decision Support Techniques
Population Metrics
Water Supply
Surface Water
Population Growth
0105 earth and related environmental sciences
Population Biology
Impact assessment
business.industry
Ecology and Environmental Sciences
lcsh:R
Cognitive Psychology
Biology and Life Sciences
Planning Techniques
Probability Theory
Probability Distribution
020801 environmental engineering
Health Care
Ranking
OA-Fund TU Delft
Earth Sciences
Quality of Life
Cognitive Science
lcsh:Q
Hydrology
business
Mathematics
stakeholder preferences
Neuroscience
Decision analysis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE, 12 (5), PLoS ONE, 12(5), PLoS ONE, Vol 12, Iss 5, p e0176663 (2017), PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....0d93c340377028406cacbe34cc01edb4