Difference between revisions of "Wg1 workplan"

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== Workplan ==  
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= Working Group 1 - main objectives  =
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=== Objectives ===
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WG 1 deals with  decision support system (DSS) architecture and application. The work will result in reports on guidelines for good practices to assist overall system design, quality control, integration, sharing, and use. It focuses on conceptual design and architectures to build a decision support system. WG 1 addresses innovative ways of linking processes for data extraction from forest inventory and monitoring systems, and forest multi resource projection models with decision support methodologies. It also focuses on innovative interfaces between inference system modules and end-users. Thus, this task cuts across the work of the other three WGs.
  
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Please describe the objectives to be achieved during the grant period and their relationship to the goals of the Action as laid down in the MoU or as modified by the Management Committee.
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==Work Program 2009 ==
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=== Activities and Outputs ===
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* WG1 established: 26 participants from 15 countries.
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* A dynamic repository of forest management DSSs has been started as a wiki:
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** A reference document with requirements for documenting Forest DSSs has been produced.
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** A detailed user's manual has been produced with guides, templates and examples.
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** It is being populated – 42 Forest DSSs introduced.
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** Categories are being defined dynamically.
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** The wiki is also used as a repository for an ontology.
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* WG1 sessions at Riga meeting.
  
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According to the MoU, the initial subtask of WG1 is the review of multifunctional planning issues and the definition of DSS functional criteria. Accordingly, during the first year of the project, for WG1, the main objectives will be:
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==Work Program 2010 ==
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=== Activities and Outputs ===
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* WG1 now holds 25 participants from 15 countries.
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* The population of forest DSSs on the wiki has increased from 42 in 2009 to 58.
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* The wiki has established itself as an important repository for forest DSS; it is the 2nd link on Google and the 4th on Bing when searching for Forest Decision Support Systems.
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* WG1 topics covered at the Lisbon workshop.
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* WG1 session at Brussels meeting.
  
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* Create a Web 2.0 repository where information related to available Decision Support Systems (DSS) present in all COST countries participating in the action.
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==Work Program 2011 ==
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* In the process of gathering information, create a consensus ontology where the terms used in the decision making process are defined
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=== Activities and Outputs ===
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* Start the process of DSS meta-analysis, by:
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# '''Contact person for each DSS presented in the WIKI''' – possibility to '''ask questions''' about the content of a DSS-article: The responsible people for the country reports should determine a contact person for each DSS related to their country and presented on the WIKI. The contact person should be mentioned with '''e-mail''' at the very beginning of the WIKI-article. The contact person should be able to answer questions that readers might ask.
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- Enumerating different approaches for solving similar problems in Natural Resources Management
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# Problem dimensions as categories in the WIKI – basis for determining the main utility of a DSS: The responsible person for the country reports should also ensure that each DSS is described in the WIKI by in categories according to the problem dimensions. These dimensions build the basis for determining the problem types. A WIKI-page should be dedicated to these particular categories, and at least a list of the dimensions should be produced, e.g., copy and paste them.  
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- Identify common problems in the usage of available DSS, from the process of data gathering, model applicability and DSS implementation and use.  
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# '''Categories''' in the WIKI – basis for the '''search of a particular DSS''': A '''curation''' of the categories is necessary (e.g., singular / plural). '''Guidelines''' should be determined preliminarily (e.g., solely the use of singular) and highlighted in the WIKI. WG1 organises this curation in '''collaboration''' with the other WGs, as well as with the STC. In a first step, only formal guidelines will be produced.
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# '''Glossary''' – basis for '''common understanding''': Among all categories available, '''priorities for descriptions''' should be set (e.g., must, wish, could). Descriptions '''already available''' should be taken into account (review of available glossaries – STSM ?). At the end, the user should be able to easily print the list of categories / terms with their descriptions (e.g., with one click – currently, there is one page per category). (semantic WIKI – work for a STSM ?)
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The full process of requirements gathering and analysis of case studies will be the starting point for the following subtask for this working group, scheduled to start later in the current Action development, which is the definition of procedures and guidelines towards good practices in the development of Forest DSS. It is thus fundamental for the adequate accomplishment of this final objective to gather the information provided by the remaining Working Groups, where specificities related to decision making methods, knowledge management and participatory procedures are to be analyzed and processed.
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# '''Check-list''' – basis for checking the '''completeness of the DSS articles''': A list of '''necessary information''' on DSSs should be produced. This list should inform the authors about the aspects of a DSS that are considered important (e.g., focused writing, check if something is missing). This list is the '''basis for the selection of the case studies'''. It is also an important basis for producing '''guidelines'''. The list should be as simple as possible, including priorities (i.e., must – what is essential, wish -  what helps to better understand the DSS?, could – nice to have?), '''focusing on the essentials, and not overloading the work of the authors'''. The problem dimensions already represent a part of this check-list (related to the utility of DSS to solve particular problems).  
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# '''Template''' – '''structuring the information''' about DSSs: Based on the check-list, a new version of the template should be produced in order to '''simplify the comparability of the DSS-articles''' and the search for information. The template is '''only a suggestion'''; it should be as simple as possible, without too much detail (1st, eventually 2nd level chapter).
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=== Activities ===
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# '''Evaluation criteria''' to select the case studies: Based on the previous steps
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Three main actions are to be pursued during the first project year to accomplish the proposed objectives. In the first place, the website, based on the Mediawiki platform is to be set and made available for information gathering and general consultation. This web site will require constant maintenance and support, to ensure that all available information can be adequately stored for easy consultation and posterior analysis. The website will be the main repository for storing DSS information as well as ontology definition. The initial website will be online by the end of May 2008.
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Secondly a meeting of WG1 members in November 2009 will be instrumental for assessing the outcomes and difficulties of the initial information gathering efforts, and for the definition of policies and strategies to correct or improve the less successful aspects.
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Finally a Workshop will be held in April 2009 which will aim to get a shared view on the use of currently available DSS. This workshop will present the outcomes of the project at its current stage, and allow for the presenters to discuss actual problems and difficulties in forest and landscape management practices, application of policies with actual examples and case studies. It is predicted that a hands on approach over selected systems will be made available to all participants
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=== Outputs planned for year ===
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(Including final reports, technical documents, publications and other forms of output.)
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The main output predicted for WG1 will be the web repository over a Web 2.0 platform filled by all the WG1 members, containing specific information about Forest DSS in all participating COST countries.
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The proceedings of the April 2009 workshop will be published and made available to the Scientific Community.
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A final report of the year's activities will be produced for internal use
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Latest revision as of 19:17, 29 June 2011

Working Group 1 - main objectives

WG 1 deals with decision support system (DSS) architecture and application. The work will result in reports on guidelines for good practices to assist overall system design, quality control, integration, sharing, and use. It focuses on conceptual design and architectures to build a decision support system. WG 1 addresses innovative ways of linking processes for data extraction from forest inventory and monitoring systems, and forest multi resource projection models with decision support methodologies. It also focuses on innovative interfaces between inference system modules and end-users. Thus, this task cuts across the work of the other three WGs.

Work Program 2009

Activities and Outputs

  • WG1 established: 26 participants from 15 countries.
  • A dynamic repository of forest management DSSs has been started as a wiki:
    • A reference document with requirements for documenting Forest DSSs has been produced.
    • A detailed user's manual has been produced with guides, templates and examples.
    • It is being populated – 42 Forest DSSs introduced.
    • Categories are being defined dynamically.
    • The wiki is also used as a repository for an ontology.
  • WG1 sessions at Riga meeting.

Work Program 2010

Activities and Outputs

  • WG1 now holds 25 participants from 15 countries.
  • The population of forest DSSs on the wiki has increased from 42 in 2009 to 58.
  • The wiki has established itself as an important repository for forest DSS; it is the 2nd link on Google and the 4th on Bing when searching for Forest Decision Support Systems.
  • WG1 topics covered at the Lisbon workshop.
  • WG1 session at Brussels meeting.

Work Program 2011

Activities and Outputs

  1. Contact person for each DSS presented in the WIKI – possibility to ask questions about the content of a DSS-article: The responsible people for the country reports should determine a contact person for each DSS related to their country and presented on the WIKI. The contact person should be mentioned with e-mail at the very beginning of the WIKI-article. The contact person should be able to answer questions that readers might ask.
  2. Problem dimensions as categories in the WIKI – basis for determining the main utility of a DSS: The responsible person for the country reports should also ensure that each DSS is described in the WIKI by in categories according to the problem dimensions. These dimensions build the basis for determining the problem types. A WIKI-page should be dedicated to these particular categories, and at least a list of the dimensions should be produced, e.g., copy and paste them.
  3. Categories in the WIKI – basis for the search of a particular DSS: A curation of the categories is necessary (e.g., singular / plural). Guidelines should be determined preliminarily (e.g., solely the use of singular) and highlighted in the WIKI. WG1 organises this curation in collaboration with the other WGs, as well as with the STC. In a first step, only formal guidelines will be produced.
  4. Glossary – basis for common understanding: Among all categories available, priorities for descriptions should be set (e.g., must, wish, could). Descriptions already available should be taken into account (review of available glossaries – STSM ?). At the end, the user should be able to easily print the list of categories / terms with their descriptions (e.g., with one click – currently, there is one page per category). (semantic WIKI – work for a STSM ?)
  5. Check-list – basis for checking the completeness of the DSS articles: A list of necessary information on DSSs should be produced. This list should inform the authors about the aspects of a DSS that are considered important (e.g., focused writing, check if something is missing). This list is the basis for the selection of the case studies. It is also an important basis for producing guidelines. The list should be as simple as possible, including priorities (i.e., must – what is essential, wish - what helps to better understand the DSS?, could – nice to have?), focusing on the essentials, and not overloading the work of the authors. The problem dimensions already represent a part of this check-list (related to the utility of DSS to solve particular problems).
  6. Template – structuring the information about DSSs: Based on the check-list, a new version of the template should be produced in order to simplify the comparability of the DSS-articles and the search for information. The template is only a suggestion; it should be as simple as possible, without too much detail (1st, eventually 2nd level chapter).
  7. Evaluation criteria to select the case studies: Based on the previous steps
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