Analytical Support for Integrated Water Resources Management: A New Method for Addressing Spatial and Temporal Variability

Authored by Vladimir V. Nikolic, Slobodan P. Simonovic, Dragan B. Milicevic

Date Published: 2013-01

DOI: 10.1007/s11269-012-0193-z

Sponsors: National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Ministry of Education and Science of Serbia

Platforms: NetLogo

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Flow charts

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of an analytical support system for implementation of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) process. The system integrates four analytical tools: (i) geographic information system; (ii) system dynamics simulation; (iii) agent-based model; and (iv) hydrologic simulation. The choice of tools is driven by their ability to (a) respond to the main requirements of the IWRM and (b) explicitly describe system behaviour as function of time and location in space. The system dynamics simulation captures temporal dynamics in an integrated feedback model that includes sectors representing physical and socioeconomic system components. Management policies established in the participatory decision making environment are easily investigated through the simulation of system behaviour. Agent-based model is used to analyze spatial dynamics of complex physical-social-economic-biologic system. The IWRM support system is tested using data from the Upper Thames River Watershed, Ontario, Canada, in collaboration with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority.

Tags

Agent-based-model Integrated water resources management System dynamics simulation