Value Functions for Environmental Management

Value Functions for Environmental Management
Author: E. Beinat
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 249
Release: 2013-04-18
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9401588856

Environmental decisions must satisfy a multitude of objectives and the matching of a plan, policy or project to such objectives is a matter of both facts and value judgements. Value Functions for Environmental Management provides a systematic approach to the structuring and measurement of value judgements, showing how they drive the decision process and how to make them transparent and effective in support of complex decisions. The value functions that the book describes provide a scheme for the exploration of human values and a tool for transforming them into an analytical model. A clear statement can then be made of the degree to which a decision has achieved its objectives, and how conflicting objectives may be addressed. This does not mean that there is no role for human judgement in the process. Complexity, often coupled with large information gaps, necessitates expert judgement, but the values adopted by the experts are themselves capable of being structured and measured according to the value function methodology presented here, even if the judgements themselves are qualitative and tentative. Value models for expert panels are also presented. The use of the methodology in practice is illustrated by examples. The book contains an extensive subject index.

Multicriteria Analysis

Multicriteria Analysis
Author: Joao Climaco
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 624
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3642606679

J. CIimaco and C. H. Antunes After the pleasure which has been to host the community of researchers and practitioners in the area of multicriteria analysis (MA) in Coimbra in August 1994, this volume of proceedings based on the papers presented at the conference is the last step of that venture. Even though this may not be the appropriate place we cannot resist, however, the temptation to express herein some brief feelings about the conference. Almost everything concerning the conference organisation has been "handcrafted" by a small number of people, with the advantages and disadvantages that this approach generates. Our first word of acknowledgement is of course due to those who have had a permanent and active role in the multiple aspects which make the success of a conference: Maria Joao Alves, Carlos Henggeler Antunes (who is a co author of this introduction since he has closely collaborated with me in the scientific programme), Joao Paulo Costa, Luis Dias (who greatly contributed to the organisation of this volume) and Paulo Melo, as well as Leonor Dias, from the Faculty of Economics, who has shown an outstanding dedication. To those who collaborated with the organisers in the framework of their professional activity, special thanks due to Adelina whose dedication greatly exceeded her duties. As you probably know from your own experience every small detail of the conference organisation required a lot of "sweating", but the atmosphere of joy and friendship then generated has been a generous "pay-off".

Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Natural Resource Management

Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Natural Resource Management
Author: Tony Prato
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2017-03-02
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1351876287

Providing useful insights on the use of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) in natural resource management, this book examines a number of empirical applications for several countries and a variety of natural resources. It is shown that using MCDA in the management of water, forestry, wetland and other natural resources can substantially improve the design and implementation of natural resource and environmental policies. Stakeholder involvement is also an important determinant of successful resource management and MCDA provides a useful and effective framework for getting stakeholders involved in resource management decisions. Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in Natural Resource Management gives in-depth analysis of the potential problems in applying these techniques, including difficulties eliciting required information, lack of suitable measures for environmental variables and the need to develop innovative methods to simplify the use of MCDA.

Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation for a Sustainable Economy

Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation for a Sustainable Economy
Author: Giuseppe Munda
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 216
Release: 2007-12-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3540737030

One of the main novelties of this book is its establishment of a clear relationship between social and public choice on one hand and multiple criteria decision analysis on the other. This relationship leads to the new concept of Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation (SMCE). SMCE is proposed as a policy framework to integrate different scientific languages, for example, when concerns about civil society and future generations have to be considered along with policy imperatives and market conditions.

Multicriteria Analysis for Environmental Decision-Making

Multicriteria Analysis for Environmental Decision-Making
Author: Davide Geneletti
Publisher: Anthem Press
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2019-05-30
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1783089539

Multicriteria analysis, or MCA, has been increasingly used in environmental decision-making to support the identification of suitable courses of action by integrating factual information with value-based information collected through stakeholder engagement. Multicriteria Analysis for Environmental Decision-Making provides an introduction to the key concepts of MCA and includes a series of case studies that illustrate the application of MCA to a variety of environmental decision-making problems ranging from protected area zoning to landfill siting, and from forest restoration to environmental impact assessment of tourism infrastructures. A compact reference that can be used by researchers, practitioners and planners/decision makers, Multicriteria Analysis for Environmental Decision-Making can also serve as a textbook for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in a broad range of curricula.

Multiple Objective and Goal Programming

Multiple Objective and Goal Programming
Author: Tadeusz Trzaskalik
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 437
Release: 2013-06-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3790818127

The book is dedicated to multi-objective methods in decision making. The first part which is devoted to theoretical aspects, covers a broad range of multi-objective methods such as multiple linear programming, vector optimisation, fuzzy goal programming, data envelopment analysis, game theory, and dynamic programming. The reader who is interested in practical applications, will find in the remaining parts a variety of approaches applied in numerous fields including production planning, logistics, marketing, and finance.

Spatial Ecological-Economic Analysis for Wetland Management

Spatial Ecological-Economic Analysis for Wetland Management
Author: Jeroen C. J. M. Bergh
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 266
Release: 2004-06-10
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9781139453592

Wetlands are very sensitive and valuable ecosystems that are subject to much stress from human activities. The study presented here has developed an innovative triple layer framework for analysis of wetland management. This approach provides support for spatial matching between physical planning, hydrological and ecological processes, and economic activities. The authors describe how integrated modelling at the regional scale can be achieved in practice. Following an introduction to wetlands, theoretical aspects of the contributing disciplines are discussed, as well as various aspects of integrated and spatial modelling. An applied integrated assessment of spatial wetland management for the Vecht area between Amsterdam and Utrecht is then presented. This assessment has resulted in a set of linked hydrological, ecological and economic models, formulated at the level of grids and polders, and various types of evaluations and rankings of scenarios. The results indicate the value of maintaining spatial detail for as long as possible.

Handbook of Sustainability Assessment

Handbook of Sustainability Assessment
Author: Angus Morrison-Saunders
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 474
Release: 2015-09-25
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1783471379

The Handbook of Sustainability Assessment introduces the theory and practice of sustainability assessment and showcases the state-of-the-art research. The aim is to provide inspiration and guidance to students, academics and practitioners alike and to contribute to the enhancement of sustainability assessment practice worldwide. It emphasises how traditional impact assessment practices can be enhanced to contribute to sustainable outcomes. Featuring original contributions from leading sustainability assessment researchers and practitioners, it forms part of the Research Handbooks on Impact Assessment series.

Information Needs for Water Management

Information Needs for Water Management
Author: Jos G. Timmerman
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 236
Release: 2014-07-22
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 1466594748

This book provides the necessary elements to determine exactly what information should be collected to make the collected information relevant for policy makers. It highlights the dissatisfaction of information users about the information they get and the reasons for this dissatisfaction. It also discusses general issues around the role and use of information in policy making. The text then describes the how to develop a full understanding of the policy makers’ information needs and will describe how policy makers can be included in the process. Finally, the book describes how the results from this process are input for the information production process.