The Role of Decision Support Systems in Natural Resource Management: Overview of the Ecosystem Management Decision Support Framework Kevin James, Heartland Inventory & Monitoring Network Resource Information Management Conference, Fort Collins, Colorado April 19-23, 2010

1)Decision support system characteristics 2)Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) components 3)Unified planning process Outline

What is a decision support system? A computer-based system composed of a language system, knowledge system, and problem-processing system whose collective purpose is the support of decision-making activities. - Holsapple (2003)

Knowledge-based system A knowledge base is a formal, typically logical, specification for the interpretation of information. -Walters and Nielson (1998)

Decision making process A method that guides an individual or group through a series of tasks from problem identification and analysis to design of alternatives and selection of an alternative. - Mintzberg et al. (1976)

Improve the efficiency with which assessments are conducted Optimize use of information Better integration of diverse topics More comprehensive analysis Improve the quality of assessment products Decision support system objectives

What is EMDS? Ecosystem Management Decision Support (EMDS) Spatial decision support system Application framework in the Windows environment Knowledge-based decision support of ecological assessments at any geographic scale

EMDS Consortium EMDS 4.1 standalone edition (ArcGIS engine) EMDS 4.1 ArcGIS integrated edition (ArcGIS extension) Full compatibility with ArcGIS 9.2, 9.3, and EMDS 4.1

Two-phase system: 1)Evaluation phase performed with logic engine: fuzzy logic and dependency networks 2)Planning phase performed with decision engine: rate alternatives against a set of criteria EMDS integrated approach

integrates software environments GIS / spatial modeling Knowledge-based processing Netweaver (logic engine) Data acquisition manager Hotlink browser Priority Analyst (decision engine) Image from The Redlands Institute EMDS framework

EMDS stand alone edition

Spatial input: study area Multiple spatial scales: park management unit community type patch

Tabular input: logic structure SC5 density 10110

Netweaver logic model

Spatial evaluation SC5 density 10110

Hotlink browser: explaining results Evaluated logic model Derivation of conclusions Explore the dependency network Increases transparency of results

Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis component Uses output from the logic evaluation and a decision model. Rates landscape elements with respect to – their condition, and – factors related to the feasibility and efficacy of management. Priority Analyst (PA)

Aspatial output Spatial output Priority analyst output

Ecosystem management: philosophical Adaptive management: operational Strategic planning: methodology Natural resource management

Adaptive, coherent planning Evaluation with single model Generate alternatives Implement selected alternative ID key questions and data needs Revise implementation Unified approach to evaluation adds coherence through institutional memory. Applies to initial condition, alternatives, and plan performance.

A single unified model for planning Assess current condition – Context for planning (where are we starting from?) Evaluate alternative strategies – A framework for synthesizing results of scenarios – Harvest scheduling, vegetation modeling, etc. Priority analysis for more tactical decisions – Which activities to do where? Evaluate plan implementation – How well is the plan working?

EMDS Consortium Pacific Northwest Research Station, USFS – System design & project oversight ESRI, primary contractor – ArcGIS implementation Rules of Thumb, Inc. – Netweaver logic engine InfoHarvest, Inc. – Priority Analyst engine