Article

A new spatial multi-criteria decision support tool for site selection for implementation of managed aquifer recharge.

Geoscience Center, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 3, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Journal of Environmental Management (impact factor: 3.24). 05/2012; 99:61-75. DOI:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.01.003 pp.61-75
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT This study reports the development of a new spatial multi-criteria decision analysis (SMCDA) software tool for selecting suitable sites for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) systems. The new SMCDA software tool functions based on the combination of existing multi-criteria evaluation methods with modern decision analysis techniques. More specifically, non-compensatory screening, criteria standardization and weighting, and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) have been combined with Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) and Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA). This SMCDA tool may be implemented with a wide range of decision maker's preferences. The tool's user-friendly interface helps guide the decision maker through the sequential steps for site selection, those steps namely being constraint mapping, criteria hierarchy, criteria standardization and weighting, and criteria overlay. The tool offers some predetermined default criteria and standard methods to increase the trade-off between ease-of-use and efficiency. Integrated into ArcGIS, the tool has the advantage of using GIS tools for spatial analysis, and herein data may be processed and displayed. The tool is non-site specific, adaptive, and comprehensive, and may be applied to any type of site-selection problem. For demonstrating the robustness of the new tool, a case study was planned and executed at Algarve Region, Portugal. The efficiency of the SMCDA tool in the decision making process for selecting suitable sites for MAR was also demonstrated. Specific aspects of the tool such as built-in default criteria, explicit decision steps, and flexibility in choosing different options were key features, which benefited the study. The new SMCDA tool can be augmented by groundwater flow and transport modeling so as to achieve a more comprehensive approach to the selection process for the best locations of the MAR infiltration basins, as well as the locations of recovery wells and areas of groundwater protection. The new spatial multicriteria analysis tool has already been implemented within the GIS based Gabardine decision support system as an innovative MAR planning tool.

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    Article: Wetland Zoning to Establish Land Conservation Using MCE Method (Case Study: Parishan Wetland, Iran).
    Atekeh Zahirian, Amin Padash, Seyed Ali Jozi, Mehrdad Zamanpoore, Seyed Mohammad-Bagher Nabavi
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    ABSTRACT: Wetlands with high biomass production and water storage, in addition to supply a part of the food and water required for local people, impose positive effects on their economy, customs and culture. On one hand, migration of different species of birds to the wetlands and on the other hand, high diversity of flora in different plant categories emphasize on the need of proper planning for conservation of biodiversity in the wetlands. Wetland zonation to protect the biological resources is one of the basic steps in this respect. Parishan Wetland with an area of 4800 ha, is one of the permanent freshwater wetlands in Iran, located 12 Km away from the southeast of Kazeroun City in Fars Province. The basic purpose of zoning Parishan Wetland is to conserve biodiversity and develop ecotourism in the region with regard to environmental and ecosystem aspects. Multi Criteria Evaluation (MCE) has been used for this purpose. After identifying the available resources, two protected and recreational zones were identified. The recreational zone, in turn, was divided into a central zone and two proposed zone (1 and 2). All three recreational zones were located on the northwest of Parishan Lake and the rest of the lake area was assigned to conservation zone. The obtained results indicated that, conservation zone is broader than recreational zones.
    Advances in Environmental Biology 01/2012; 6(3):931-939.
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Keywords

Analytical Hierarchy Process
 
built-in default criteria
 
case study
 
criteria hierarchy
 
decision maker
 
explicit decision steps
 
Gabardine decision support system
 
herein data
 
innovative MAR planning tool
 
Linear Combination
 
new SMCDA tool
 
new spatial multicriteria analysis tool
 
new tool
 
non-compensatory screening
 
predetermined default criteria
 
selection process
 
sequential steps
 
SMCDA tool
 
Specific aspects
 
wide range