Environmental Virtual Observatories (EVOs): prospects for knowledge co-creation and resilience in the Information Age

Karpouzoglou, Timothy; Zulkafli, Zed; Grainger, Sam; Dewulf, Art; Buytaert, Wouter; Hannah, David M.

doi:10.1016/j.cosust.2015.07.015

Cited by 76 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…An important opportunity for further research that has not been explored sufficiently and that may allow the WO to overcome some of their major challenges is the use of ICT to provide ways of easing communications and interactions, while supporting the collective development and sharing of new knowledge [79]. While distances and a geographical spread form a challenge to connect with all key stakeholder groups, more extensive use of ICT provides the WOs and their networks new avenues to share, integrate and develop new knowledge that is informed by diverse knowledge sources and types.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building a Foundation for Knowledge Co-Creation in Collaborative Water Governance: Dimensions of Stakeholder Networks Facilitated through Bridging Organizations

Medema

Adamowski

Orr

et al. 2017

Water

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Abstract:The sustainable governance of water resources relies on processes of multi-stakeholder collaborations and interactions that facilitate the sharing and integration of diverse sources and types of knowledge. In this context, it is essential to fully recognize the importance of fostering and enhancing critical connections within and between networks of relationships between different government and non-government agencies, as well as the dynamics that are in support of the development of new knowledge and practices. In Quebec, a network of watershed organizations (WOs) has been put in place to serve as bridging organizations (BOs) for stakeholder groups in their watershed territories. Using the WOs as a case study, this research aims to contribute to a greater understanding of how stakeholder groups can be effectively connected to support knowledge co-creation through networked relationships facilitated by BOs. In line with this overall research aim, the following research objectives are proposed: (1) to assess the quality of the knowledge that is developed and shared through the WOs and their stakeholder networks; (2) to determine the characteristics of stakeholders participating in the WOs' networks that either hinder or support collaborations and knowledge co-creation; (3) to describe the collaborative processes and mechanisms through which the WOs facilitate stakeholder interactions and knowledge co-creation; and (4) to assess the quality of the relationships and interactions between stakeholders participating in the WOs' collaborative networks. A comprehensive literature review is provided of collaborative network dimensions that are in support of knowledge co-creation that forms the foundation of a research framework to assess knowledge co-creation processes that are facilitated through BOs and their collaborative networks. Documented experiences have been gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviews, as well as a Quebec-wide survey distributed to all WOs and their staff. A total of 41 interviews were conducted, of which nine interviews were with staff members of six selected WOs. Stakeholder perspectives were captured through 33 interviews with diverse stakeholders from three of the six selected WOs. Additionally, interviews were also conducted with five decision makers at the Quebec provincial government level. The findings of this study point to some key challenges and constraints for the effective facilitation of collaboration and knowledge co-creation through the Quebec WOs and their stakeholder networks. Through diverse collaborative mechanisms, most WOs have, to an extent, succeeded in creating opportunities for learning through a renewed sense making of different practices (and related identities) through the development of their watershed master plans, as well as through the facilitation of new communicative connections and translation efforts between diverse stakeholder groups. Key challenges to their effectiveness have been relating to a limited capacity and resources, limited ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Building a Foundation for Knowledge Co-Creation in Collaborative Water Governance: Dimensions of Stakeholder Networks Facilitated through Bridging Organizations

Medema

Adamowski

Orr

et al. 2017

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Other aspects to consider when citizen science projects involve contributions through dedicated websites are related to its design and usability. As contributors have different levels of expertise (Newman et al, ), websites should be designed to ensure the ease of use to be successful (Parr & Scholz, ), a fact even more so for EVOs as discussed by Karpouzoglou et al, .…”

Section: Citizen Science and Flood Hazard Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Flood hazard assessment and the role of citizen science

Frischknecht

Dao

et al. 2019

J Flood Risk Management

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Flood hazard assessment is at the core of flood risk management. In order to develop an efficient flood hazard assessment, it is of primary importance to have a well‐defined flood scenario encompassing all processes that could occur during an event. Understanding and assessing these processes requires meteorological, topographical and land‐use data as well as historical observations. Nowadays, flood delineation is based upon hydrological and hydraulic modelling, ground data collection, and remote sensing. Despite the advantages of these tools, they also present some specific limitations, either intrinsic to the approaches or linked with constraints of the local context. With the rapid advancement of web 2.0 technologies (e.g., Flickr and Wikimapia) and the increase of the use of participatory research, citizen science has the potential to provide valuable and complementary information at all levels of flood risk management and in particular for flood hazard assessment. After reviewing the capabilities and limitations of the current tools used in flood hazard assessment, this paper demonstrates the role that citizen science can play in providing key information on factors leading to flooding and on flood hazard parameters.

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“…In building resilience, utilization of multiple data sources is particularly desirable. The installation of networks of robust and low‐cost sensors (e.g., automatic rain gauges and river level distance sensors) has recently emerged as a useful approach that has the potential to provide real‐time information for risk management . However, considerable effort is required to ensure the effective operation of these sensors.…”

Section: Citizen Science In Hydrologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Citizen science for hydrological risk reduction and resilience building

et al. 2017

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In disaster risk management (DRM), an emerging shift has been noted from broad-scale, top-down assessments toward more participatory, community-based, bottom-up approaches. Arguably, nonscientist local stakeholders have always played an important role in knowledge risk management and resilience building within a hydrological context, such as flood response and drought alleviation. However, rapidly developing information and communication technologies such as the Internet, smartphones, and social media have already demonstrated their sizeable potential to make knowledge creation more multidirectional, decentralized, diverse, and inclusive. Combined with technologies for robust and low-cost sensor networks, a ‘citizen science’ approach has recently emerged as a promising direction in the provision of extensive, real-time information for risk management. Such projects work best when there is community buy-in, when their purpose(s) are clearly defined at the outset, and when the motivations and skillsets of all participants and stakeholders are well understood. They have great potential to enhance knowledge creation, not only for data collection, but also for analysis or interpretation. In addition, they can serve as a means of educating and empowering communities and stakeholders that are bypassed by more traditional knowledge generation processes. Here, we review the state-of-the-art of citizen science within the context of hydrological risk reduction and resilience building. Particularly when embedded within a polycentric approach toward risk governance, we argue that citizen science could complement more traditional knowledge generation practices, and also enhance innovation, adaptation, multidirectional information provision, risk management, and local resilience building

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Environmental Virtual Observatories (EVOs): prospects for knowledge co-creation and resilience in the Information Age

Cited by 76 publications

References 29 publications

Building a Foundation for Knowledge Co-Creation in Collaborative Water Governance: Dimensions of Stakeholder Networks Facilitated through Bridging Organizations

Building a Foundation for Knowledge Co-Creation in Collaborative Water Governance: Dimensions of Stakeholder Networks Facilitated through Bridging Organizations

Flood hazard assessment and the role of citizen science

Citizen science for hydrological risk reduction and resilience building

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