Using many-objective trade-off analysis to help dams promote economic development, protect the poor and enhance ecological health

Hurford, Anthony J.; Huskova, Ivana; Harou, Julien J.

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2013.10.003

Cited by 66 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Another tension in finding optimal or pareto-optimal solutions in complex systems exists where optimising for a given criterion yields solutions which, via the multiple feedbacks that exist, can impact the rest of the system in very different ways (impacts on the rest of the system may go unnoticed if a single criterion is focused on). Techniques such as multi-criteria/multi-objective methods (Hurford et al, 2014;Kain et al, 2007) attempt to improve upon this, producing pareto-efficient outcomes, but still rarely account explicitly for human-water feedbacks.…”

Section: Policy and Decision-makingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Optimisation techniques are useful when decisions are to be made; using computer programs to determine the "best" decision can aid in policy-making, however, optimisation techniques should be used with care: the impacts that uncertainties can have, as well as issues of subjectivity and model imperfections can (and have) lead to sub-optimal decisions being made. Techniques such as multiobjective optimisation (Hurford et al, 2014) seek to make more clear the trade-offs involved in determining "optimal" strategies.…”

Section: Model Resolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking "why, what and how?"

Blair

Buytaert

2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

172

136

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Abstract.Interactions between humans and the environment are occurring on a scale that has never previously been seen; the scale of human interaction with the water cycle, along with the coupling present between social and hydrological systems, means that decisions that impact water also impact people. Models are often used to assist in decision-making regarding hydrological systems, and so in order for effective decisions to be made regarding water resource management, these interactions and feedbacks should be accounted for in models used to analyse systems in which water and humans interact. This paper reviews literature surrounding aspects of socio-hydrological modelling. It begins with background information regarding the current state of socio-hydrology as a discipline, before covering reasons for modelling and potential applications. Some important concepts that underlie socio-hydrological modelling efforts are then discussed, including ways of viewing socio-hydrological systems, space and time in modelling, complexity, data and model conceptualisation. Several modelling approaches are described, the stages in their development detailed and their applicability to socio-hydrological cases discussed. Gaps in research are then highlighted to guide directions for future research. The review of literature suggests that the nature of sociohydrological study, being interdisciplinary, focusing on complex interactions between human and natural systems, and dealing with long horizons, is such that modelling will always present a challenge; it is, however, the task of the modeller to use the wide range of tools afforded to them to overcome these challenges as much as possible. The focus in socio-hydrology is on understanding the human-water system in a holistic sense, which differs from the problem solving focus of other water management fields, and as such models in socio-hydrology should be developed with a view to gaining new insight into these dynamics. There is an essential choice that socio-hydrological modellers face in deciding between representing individual system processes or viewing the system from a more abstracted level and modelling it as such; using these different approaches has implications for model development, applicability and the insight that they are capable of giving, and so the decision regarding how to model the system requires thorough consideration of, among other things, the nature of understanding that is sought.

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Section: Policy and Decision-makingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Model Resolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking "why, what and how?"

Blair

Buytaert

2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

172

136

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…pde f r,t cannot exceed the regional power demand in Equation (16). Equation (17) represents the constraints placed by carrying capacity limits (LLim) for transmission lines. Limits for transmission are considered equal in both directions.…”

Section: Problem Formulationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Objective Optimization for Analysis of Changing Trade-Offs in the Nepalese Water–Energy–Food Nexus with Hydropower Development

Dhaubanjar

Davidsen

Bauer‐Gottwein

2017

Water

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Abstract:While the water-energy-food nexus approach is becoming increasingly important for more efficient resource utilization and economic development, limited quantitative tools are available to incorporate the approach in decision-making. We propose a spatially explicit framework that couples two well-established water and power system models to develop a decision support tool combining multiple nexus objectives in a linear objective function. To demonstrate our framework, we compare eight Nepalese power development scenarios based on five nexus objectives: minimization of power deficit, maintenance of water availability for irrigation to support food self-sufficiency, reduction in flood risk, maintenance of environmental flows, and maximization of power export. The deterministic multi-objective optimization model is spatially resolved to enable realistic representation of the nexus linkages and accounts for power transmission constraints using an optimal power flow approach. Basin inflows, hydropower plant specifications, reservoir characteristics, reservoir rules, irrigation water demand, environmental flow requirements, power demand, and transmission line properties are provided as model inputs. The trade-offs and synergies among these objectives were visualized for each scenario under multiple environmental flow and power demand requirements. Spatially disaggregated model outputs allowed for the comparison of scenarios not only based on fulfillment of nexus objectives but also scenario compatibility with existing infrastructure, supporting the identification of projects that enhance overall system efficiency. Though the model is applied to the Nepalese nexus from a power development perspective here, it can be extended and adapted for other problems.

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“…In the Mekong River Basin, 88 new dams could be built in the basin to meet growing regional energy needs by 2030. The economic rewards from greater energy production are produced through changing the hydrological, biological and nutrient cycling systems of the Mekong river [15][16][17][18]. In effect, energy needs and protein supply are competing priorities across nations and scales because they are linked by river health [19]; different conditions of river flow and the quality of the water are required for stable energy supply and resilient food production.…”

Section: Externalities and Shared Risks Across Multiple Scalesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The critical role of risk in setting directions for water, food and energy policy and research

Gallagher

Dalton

Bréthaut

et al. 2016

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

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The sustainable development goals (SDGs) challenge markets, regulators and practitioners to achieve multiple objectives on water, food and energy. This calls for responses that are coordinated and scaled appropriately. Learning from waterenergy-food nexus could support much-needed building of links between the separate SDGs. The concept has highlighted how risks manifest when blinkered development and management of water, food and energy reduce resource security across sectors and far-reaching scales. However, three under-studied dimensions of these risks must be better considered in order to identify leverage points for sustainable development: first, externalities and shared risks across multiple scales; second, innovative government mechanisms for shared risks; and third, negotiating the balance between silos, politics and power in addressing shared risks.

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Using many-objective trade-off analysis to help dams promote economic development, protect the poor and enhance ecological health

Cited by 66 publications

References 42 publications

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking "why, what and how?"

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking "why, what and how?"

Multi-Objective Optimization for Analysis of Changing Trade-Offs in the Nepalese Water–Energy–Food Nexus with Hydropower Development

The critical role of risk in setting directions for water, food and energy policy and research

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Using many-objective trade-off analysis to help dams promote economic development, protect the poor and enhance ecological health

Cited by 66 publications

References 42 publications

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking &quot;why, what and how?&quot;

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking &quot;why, what and how?&quot;

Multi-Objective Optimization for Analysis of Changing Trade-Offs in the Nepalese Water–Energy–Food Nexus with Hydropower Development

The critical role of risk in setting directions for water, food and energy policy and research

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking "why, what and how?"

Socio-hydrological modelling: a review asking "why, what and how?"