The term decision support system (DSS) has taken on
diverse meaning in recent years, and has been used to describe relatively
simple databases to highly complex, integrated processes. The goal of all DSSs,
however, is to provide relevant information to decision makers in a usable
format.
In that context, the entire GLEAMS portal can be
considered a DSS because it helps to consolidate diverse, relevant information
into a highly accessible and user-friendly environment. The broad nature of the
information contained within the portal allows it to serve as a DSS to an equally
broad audience, from household managers trying to decide where it is safe to
fish or swim to watershed managers trying to decide how to allocate resources
for education and remediation to scientists trying to decide where and what to
target in their research efforts.
The portal serves as a DSS in that it puts information
into the hands of decision makers. In some cases, however, the goal of a DSS
extends to analyzing information or data to help the decision makers better
understand or interpret the information being presented. These DSSs process
data via models (mathematical or conceptual) and help assess relationships and
interactions of various pieces of information that affect the decision.
Ultimately, the decision remains in the hands of the decision
maker, but with additional information in hand and a better understanding of
that information, the decision will be well informed.
GLEAMS Dynamic Decision Support System (go
to the DDSS)
The GLEAMS project is actively
developing a more formal and comprehensive geospatially based dynamic decision
support system (DDSS) to assess environmental contaminants in a watershed that
draws from the data and methods generated by the project as well as existing
models and techniques. The DDSS will be able to estimate the contaminants
affect on the watershed ecosystem, including the human health consequences,
through the use of hydrodynamic fate and transport models combined with novel
automated genetic analysis techniques, food chain relationships and
epidemiological statistics.
The DDSS is being designed on
top of the GLEAMS GIS
and is dynamic in several ways: (1) some of the model inputs will be taken
in real-time (i.e., stream flows, etc.) and (2) the system will draw from the
most recent, relevant observed data where possible, rather than relying
strictly on models (a process known as data assimilation).
The conceptual
framework is an iterative, cyclical process that begins with identification
of the contaminant of concern and selection of the appropriate model and ends
with communication of risk to the appropriate decision maker.
The Kalamazoo River is being used as the watershed test
case. Ultimately, the methodology, food
chain, and GIS specific watershed tools, fate and transport, epidemiological
models, as well as the DDSS will be applicable to other watersheds throughout
the Great Lakes basin.
For example output from the risk assessment DSS,
click here.
For example output from the water quality index DSS, click
here.
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