Features of Advanced Decision Support Systems for Environmental Studies, Management, and Regulation

Abstract: Natural resource managers and users face difficult challenges when managing the interactions between natural and man-made systems. Even though the collective interests and computer skills of the community of managers, scientists, and other stakeholders are quite varied, there is an overarching need for equal access by all to the scientific knowledge needed to make the best possible decisions. A decision support system (DSS) can meet this need. DSS have been described as, “computer-based systems (for) helping decision-makers to solve various semi structured and unstructured problems involving multiple attributes, objectives, and goals… Historically, the majority of DSSs have been either computer implementations of mathematical models or extensions of database systems and traditional management information systems. ” This paper describes DSS developed for three different hydrologic systems in South Carolina. The goals of the three were – the regulatory permitting of wastewater plants on the Beaufort River, evaluating the environmental impact of a proposed deepening of Savannah Harbor, and regulating hydroelectric generation on the Pee Dee River to protect Myrtle Beach-area fresh water intakes from salinity intrusions. These DSS provide predictive models with real-time databases for simulation, graphical user interfaces, and streaming displays of results. Additional features include optimizers, integrations with other models and software tools; and color contouring of simulation output data