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Decision Support in the Context of IWRM: Lessons Learnt from Research Projects in Developing and Emerging Countries

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Integrated Water Resources Management: Concept, Research and Implementation

Abstract

Decisions in integrated water resources management (IWRM) tend to be complex. Decision makers often face diverging and conflicting rights of use and interests in the utilisation and valuation of resources. The application of IWRM ranges from drinking water supply and groundwater management to wastewater treatment, irrigation, flood protection and navigation as well as the use of waters for tourism, without compromising the functionality of vital ecosystems. For the decision-making process, economic principles such as cost-effectiveness, cost-recovery and the costs-by-cause principle must be taken into account. Scientists or political advisers are often consulted in order to bring their expertise to the table. Good decision-making in IWRM requires the examination and comparison of alternative actions. Specific systems and methods are applied in order to support relevant decision makers and guarantee transparency for all participants in the decision process at all times. Decision Support in IWRM was conceived and implemented very differently across the funding priority launched by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Depending on the individual water management objectives, (geographical) information systems, knowledge platforms, decision tools or mathematical models were developed and implemented as Decision Support System. This paper classifies and discusses the contents, methods and functions of Decision Support Systems in the 13 research projects.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Braunschweig and Berlin (PTB), Bundesallee 100, 38116, Braunschweig, Germany

    Christian Stärz

  2. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Brückstraße 3a, 39114, Magdeburg, Germany

    Christian Stärz

  3. DHI-WASY GmbH, Berlin, Germany

    Stefan Kaden

  4. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany

    Bernd Klauer

  5. Braunschweig, Germany

    Larissa Leben

Authors
  1. Christian Stärz
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  2. Stefan Kaden
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  3. Bernd Klauer
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  4. Larissa Leben
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christian Stärz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Helmholtz Centre Environmental Research, Magdeburg, Germany

    Dietrich Borchardt

  2. Center for Development Research - ZEF, Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Janos J. Bogardi

  3. Helmholtz Centre Environmental Research, Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany

    Ralf B. Ibisch

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Stärz, C., Kaden, S., Klauer, B., Leben, L. (2016). Decision Support in the Context of IWRM: Lessons Learnt from Research Projects in Developing and Emerging Countries. In: Borchardt, D., Bogardi, J., Ibisch, R. (eds) Integrated Water Resources Management: Concept, Research and Implementation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25071-7_17

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