Decision Support Systems and Processes for Groundwater

Abstract

Information and knowledge management challenges abound in groundwater sciences. Groundwater problems of interest to society are characteristically complex and exceed our ability to solve them without the aid of computational analysis. Yet discipline specific problems that are of interest to hydrogeologists frequently do not directly address the immediate decision making needs of policy makers, groundwater managers, and stakeholders. It is the immediate societal needs that drive the demand for science-based information for common problems in which groundwater figures as a prominent element. Integrated Assessment and Modeling (IAM) presents an approach for merging discipline and case-specific knowledge, such as those in hydrogeological sciences, with social drivers for use in decision support applications. Moreover, decision support systems (DSS) that are constructed and applied using integration as a guiding principle and design ethic can advance groundwater DSS beyond passive support toward active and, eventually, proactive support for implementations to achieve real world integrated groundwater management. IntroductionGroundwater is a critical water resource that must be managed effectively while meeting the demands of society. The behavior and response of groundwater systems to natural and human influences are best understood through scientific analyses using data and models. In groundwater resource management, as with all water resources, disputes can be compounded by misconceptions about the meaning of data and scientific models, as well as social and political misunderstandings among the various interests. The complexity of groundwater management creates the need for computational assistance to support reasoned consideration of available scientific knowledge in conjunction with the preferences of the resource users.Decision support systems (DSS) are computational systems that use data and models interactively to aid in the formulation, analysis, and selection of management strategies. The design, architecture, and implementation of DSS are extensive, highly variable, and, ultimately driven by the needs of the decision problem and instance that is under evaluation. At the simplest levels, DSS may provide repositories of data and information in accessible formats and could offer tools to search and discover repository content. At the other end of the spectrum, DSS may incorporate sophisticated simulations, link with optimization algorithms, or other intelligent systems components to enhance decision making. Regardless of the level of sophistication, DSS are well suited for application to integrated groundwater problems because they can provide a set of applications, methodologies, and tools to cope with the inherent complexity and uncertainty. They can also be part of an Integrated Assessment and Modelling (IAM) process (Jakeman and Letcher 2003) providing distinct advantages for facilitating the IAM process, its transparency and its legacy. Indeed if constructed appropriately, DSS can provide ways o...

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