Methods of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus

Abstract

This paper focuses on a collection of methods that can be used to analyze the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. We classify these methods as qualitative or quantitative for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches. The methods for interdisciplinary research approaches can be used to unify a collection of related variables, visualize the research problem, evaluate the issue, and simulate the system of interest. Qualitative methods are generally used to describe the nexus in the region of interest, and include primary research methods such as Questionnaire Surveys, as well as secondary research methods such as Ontology Engineering and Integrated Maps. Quantitative methods for examining the nexus include Physical Models, Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA), OPEN ACCESSWater 2015, 7 5807Integrated Indices, and Optimization Management Models. The authors discuss each of these methods in the following sections, along with accompanying case studies from research sites in Japan and the Philippines. Although the case studies are specific to two regions, these methods could be applicable to other areas, with appropriate calibration.

A Methodology for the Optimization of Flow Rate Injection to Looped Water Distribution Networks through Multiple Pumping Stations

“…The growth of urban areas as a result of the increment in population entails that the water resource supply in drinking water networks are insufficient [1]. This is mainly due to the breakdown of pressure head occurring in the network nodes.…”

The Water-Energy-Food Nexus and the Transboundary Context: Insights from Large Asian Rivers

“…This provides a foundation for an illustrative comparative nexus analysis for three regions centred around selected transboundary Asian river basins. Based on this analysis as well as the relevant findings from the other articles published in this Special Issue [17,21,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33], we then discuss what the nexus means in the specific context of transboundary river basins, noting the implications that transboundary context bring to nexus approaches, and vice versa.…”

“…It becomes more difficult to predict new trade-offs, conflicts and synergies that may emerge. Emerging literature on nexus approaches and methods (e.g., [6,21,136,137]) provides a fruitful ground to reflect and possibly, revise the existing methods and tools used to support transboundary cooperation. The majority of the current discussion on the nexus is however rather water-centred and -driven and we thus see that there is great potential for cross-fertilisation between the three sectors, if water, energy and food researchers and practitioners are brought together (as has already been happening in terms of water-food and water-energy nexus).…”

“…Yet, even with all these publications and processes, there is no general agreement on what the nexus is and what a "nexus approach" actually means and requires. Actual empirical evidence on the benefits and caveats of applying a nexus approach is also relatively thin, although rapidly increasing [17,19,21,30,44].…”

“…The terms change too, for example, food is sometimes replaced by land [19]. The actual context where nexus is applied varies greatly as well, ranging from cities [2,20,21] …”