Application of systems modeling and risk assessment to address real-world decision-making challenges

Abstract

The Editorial Board is pleased to present the latest issue of Environment Systems and Decisions. This issue marks the journal's third full year in press. This issue highlights research that crosscuts subject-matter domains, suggesting the diverse applications of decision analysis, risk analysis, and systems modeling.The issue begins with a literature review on the topic of sustainability and specifically the relative frequency in which specific sustainability frameworks are implemented (Markolf et al. 2015). In an application of decision analysis, Pagsuyoin et al. (2015) describe a case study of a multiattribute decision model for prioritizing point-of-use water treatment technologies for a community in Philippines. Shittu et al. (2015) develop an economic model that characterizes how competitive pressures and environmental regulations influence the investments of firms in energy technologies. Campbell-Arvai and Arvai (2015) describe a set of experiments that investigate how various asymmetric interventions can affect individual-level decision making and result in behavior that has positive environmental benefits. In an effort to make a business case for the recycling of biodegradable municipal solid waste, Fehr and Arantes (2015) Collectively, the papers describe how integrated environmental, economic, and social analyses are applicable to pressing social and technical problems. For example, several papers utilize systems-modeling techniques to gain insights into how environmental pressures and economic forces can be optimized in harmony. Other papers focus on how decision making can be used to make more sustainability-focused choices. This integrated, systems-oriented focus is characteristic of the Springer journal Environment Systems & Decisions. Readers can look forward to ESD special issues on ''Decision Analytics in Economic and Financial Systems'' and ''Risk Around the World'' in the coming year. ReferencesCampbell-Arvai V, Arvai J (2015) The promise of asymmetric interventions for addressing risks to environmental systems. Environ Syst Decis.