Keywords
elbe, decision support systems, river basin management
Start Date
1-7-2006 12:00 AM
Abstract
The problems faced in the German part of the Elbe catchment range from poor navigation conditions and flooding vulnerability to a need for nature restoration in the floodplains. A variety of river engineering works such as large-scale dike shifting, channel dredging, and large-scale retention are in a planning or implementation stage. Usually the initiative for such measures is taken from a local or sectoral point of view. Therefore, it is not always clear how different measures will interact with each other, nor how their effects influence the natural conditions in the floodplains. In order to examine different strategies for sustainable management the German Federal Institute of Hydrology (Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde) initiated a project to develop a prototype tool for integrated management of the Elbe catchment, which includes functionalities related to inland navigation, water quality, flood safety, and vegetation ecology. From the beginning of the project onwards great value was attached to the involvement of end-users in the design process. The experience of the project is that internal consistency of models and data, effective communication, and functional flexibility are essential to find a proper balance between scientific standards, the availability of models, and the requirements of users.
Towards a User-oriented Design of a DSS for Integrated River-Basin Management: the Elbe DSS Prototype
The problems faced in the German part of the Elbe catchment range from poor navigation conditions and flooding vulnerability to a need for nature restoration in the floodplains. A variety of river engineering works such as large-scale dike shifting, channel dredging, and large-scale retention are in a planning or implementation stage. Usually the initiative for such measures is taken from a local or sectoral point of view. Therefore, it is not always clear how different measures will interact with each other, nor how their effects influence the natural conditions in the floodplains. In order to examine different strategies for sustainable management the German Federal Institute of Hydrology (Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde) initiated a project to develop a prototype tool for integrated management of the Elbe catchment, which includes functionalities related to inland navigation, water quality, flood safety, and vegetation ecology. From the beginning of the project onwards great value was attached to the involvement of end-users in the design process. The experience of the project is that internal consistency of models and data, effective communication, and functional flexibility are essential to find a proper balance between scientific standards, the availability of models, and the requirements of users.
