The Pentatope Model: A holistic approach for analysing and reviewing environmental complexity

Vannevel, Rudy

doi:10.1016/j.swaqe.2014.06.001

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 21 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the common understanding of mining sustainability researchers [5,11,70,71], the above-mentioned concerns are not solely a matter of applied science but are primarily dependent on a combination of decision-making, technological and operational viabilities. In fact, WQM implementation is subject to available budgets, technical capabilities and political structures, besides natural constraints such as climate, topography and ecological understanding (specific to each social-ecological system) [72]. The scarcely-studied Andes region is characterized by its topographic and climatic complexity [18], making ecosystem measurements prone to variability.…”

Section: Systemic Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Freshwater Quality of a Large-Scale Mining Watershed: The Need for Integrated Approaches

Mercado‐Garcia

Beeckman

Butsel

et al. 2019

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Water quality assessments provide essential information for protecting aquatic habitats and stakeholders downstream of mining sites. Moreover, mining companies must comply with environmental quality standards and include public participation in water quality monitoring (WQM) practices. However, overarching challenges beyond corporate environmental responsibility are the scientific soundness, political relevance and harmonization of WQM practices. In this study, a mountainous watershed supporting large-scale gold mining in the headwaters, besides urban and agricultural landuses at lower altitudes, is assessed in the dry season. Conventional physicochemical and biological (Biological Monitoring Water Party-Colombia index) freshwater quality parameters were evaluated, including hydromorphological and land-use characteristics. According to the indicators used, water quality deterioration by mining was absent, in contrast to the effects of urban economic activities, hydromorphological alterations and (less important) agricultural pollutants. We argue that mining impacts are hardly captured due to the limited ecological knowledge of high-mountain freshwaters, including uncharacterized mining-specific bioindicators, environmental baselines and groundwater processes, as well as ecotoxicological and microbial freshwater quality components. Lessons for overcoming scientific and operational challenges are drawn from joint efforts among governments, academia and green economy competitiveness. Facing a rapid development of extractive industries, interinstitutional and multidisciplinary collaborations are urgently needed to implement more integrated freshwater quality indicators of complex mining impacts.

show abstract

Section: Systemic Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Freshwater Quality of a Large-Scale Mining Watershed: The Need for Integrated Approaches

Mercado‐Garcia

Beeckman

Butsel

et al. 2019

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These global societal developments result in environmental complexity [4], and the development of appropriate tools to support adequate and evidence-based policy and management is required. Increases in the number and scale of environmental issues urge policy-makers to think about the wider implications of a changing societal equilibrium (the combined socio-economic and natural equilibrium [5]) forcing a societal transition. With climate change, impacts on water systems gain increasing attention from policy makers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using DPSIR and Balances to Support Water Governance

Vannevel

2018

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The DPSIR framework has proven to be an effective communication tool, but has become subject to criticism upon increasing practical application. It is assumed that this is the consequence of the combination of terminological unclarity, absence of a methodological description for analyzing disturbances, and a confined conceptual basis when dealing with complex environmental issues. DPSIR has been embedded within the broader conceptual Pentatope Model (PTM), by making use of an 'interface' called GASI. GASI, which means Governance by Actor-Subject Impact Assessment, deals explicitly with governance as a framework and impact analysis as a process. The result is an extended version of DPSIR. Illustrated by means of a water balance, the importance of a combined PTM-GASI-DPSIR tool for impact assessments to support evidence-based governance is shown.

show abstract

“…The Pentatope Model [18] is used to illustrate and structure complexity at the supragovernance level. Figure 1 depicts the dynamism between four sub-frameworks of the Pentatope Model (societal capitals, ecosystems, the environmental information cycle (EIC), and governance).…”

Section: Major Components Of Complex Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Pentatope Model (PT Model; [18]), a general approach for mapping environmental issues that includes interactions between societal capitals (CAPs), the environmental information cycle (EIC), and governance; II. Increasing environmental complexity [19], that further elaborates on the EIC subframework of the PT Model; III.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural and Contentual Complexity in Water Governance

Vannevel

Goethals

2021

Sustainability

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Social-ecological systems and governance are complex systems and crises that affect those systems are likely to be complex as well. Environmental topics are multi-faceted with respect to both structure and content. Structural complexity is about societal and institutional organization and management, whereas contentual complexity deals with environmental (or societal) analyses, knowledge, and problem-solving. Interactions between both are manifold, and it is essential they are included in decision-making. Describing these interactions results in a series of nineteen units, arranged in a matrix according to their prevailing mutual dependencies. These units show dominant processes and concepts, representative of environmental analysis. This approach, called ACCU (aggregation of concepts and complex adapted systems units), is provided with evidence through practices of, in particular, water governance.

show abstract

The Pentatope Model: A holistic approach for analysing and reviewing environmental complexity

Cited by 8 publications

References 21 publications

Assessing the Freshwater Quality of a Large-Scale Mining Watershed: The Need for Integrated Approaches

Assessing the Freshwater Quality of a Large-Scale Mining Watershed: The Need for Integrated Approaches

Using DPSIR and Balances to Support Water Governance

Structural and Contentual Complexity in Water Governance

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About