GIS, modeling, and politics: On the tensions of collaborative decision support

An approach to GIS-based multiple criteria decision analysis that integrates exploration and evaluation phases: Case study in a forest-dominated landscape

“…In our case study, it was constructive to observe how, out of the exploratory analysis, participants came to formulate their evaluation objective of giving a conservation rating to areas of planned timber harvest. One of the benefits of an extended and well-supported exploration phase is the ability to minimise the degree of pre-judgment of a problem at hand (Ramsey, 2009). Addressing the broad basis of EBM principles requires such an open-minded approach.…”

“…Non-spatial MCDA researchers have highlighted the importance of undertaking an exploration phase to help structure the problem in preparation for a more formal evaluation phase (Belton and Stewart, 2002;Bouyssou et al, 2006). Moreover, participatory GIS research has identified that decision processes are often biased by having predetermined alternatives and criteria (Ramsey, 2009). However, the GIS-based MCDA literature does not cover research in methods and tools to integrate preliminary exploration and problem structuring in a decision-making process.…”

“…One potential advantage of encouraging an exploration phase in a decision-making process is avoiding the tendency to fully structure a problem before all stakeholder input has been considered (Ramsey, 2009). Use of GIS-based MCDA is affected by a number of challenges of "usability", defined as "the extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use" (International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1998).…”

Public Participation Geographic Information Systems: A Literature Survey

“…Balram and Dragićević (2006) maintain that supportive workspace environments are required for map-based analysis and visualization, multi-modal interfaces for participant interactions, and digital databases. However, Ramsey (2009) argues that premature orientation toward problem-solving activities could undermine the exploration and reconciliation of diverse problem understandings in a collaborative decision-making process. Hwang and Hoffman (2009) highlight the human capital aspect for effective Neighborhood Information Systems; they should be user-friendly, but should also be tailored to specific user needs and training support should be integrated.…”

Mapping institutional landscapes: global efforts to improve access to water

“…A key tool for assessing outcomes has been the use of interactive maps and other geospatial tools. The intersection of mapping, community capacity, and water management efforts are essential tools in monitoring and modeling for collaborative governance [18][19][20][21][22][23].…”