Difference between revisions of "ClimChAlp"
From COST Action FP0804: FORSYS
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|Contact person for the DSS=Manfred J. Lexer | |Contact person for the DSS=Manfred J. Lexer | ||
|Contact e-mail for the DSS=mj.lexer(a)boku.ac.at | |Contact e-mail for the DSS=mj.lexer(a)boku.ac.at | ||
| − | |Additional information=The ClimChAlp DSS was developed in the context of the ClimChAlp Interreg III B Alpine Space project, which aimed at supporting the political decisions regarding protection and natural disasters prevention due tue climate change in the Alps. For more details check out http://www.climchalp.org/ | + | |Additional information=The ClimChAlp DSS was developed in the context of the ClimChAlp Interreg III B Alpine Space project, which aimed at supporting the political decisions regarding protection and natural disasters prevention due tue climate change in the Alps. For more details check out http://www.climchalp.org/ |
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{{DSS description, Scope of the tool | {{DSS description, Scope of the tool | ||
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|Decision making dimension=single decision maker | |Decision making dimension=single decision maker | ||
|Participatory planning tasks supported=exploring options, evaluating options | |Participatory planning tasks supported=exploring options, evaluating options | ||
| + | |Additional information=In Austria professional expertise on how to manage small scale forests is traditionally provided via the extension services of chambers of agriculture and the district forest authorities. In this context increasing shortage of human resources due to budget constraints and the ever-growing amount of scientific knowledge on the management of forest ecosystems especially on the process of conversion of coniferous forests meet a high demand by small-scale landowners for professional guidance in forest management. In this context a web based decision support tool was developed for the forest authorities in Lower Austria especially for the northern pre-alpine lowlands and foothills in the north-east of Austria, a region with a fairly complex decision environment. A major share of this region is situated at altitudes between 400-800m a.s.l. with mean annual temperatures between 8 and 10°C and relatively low precipitation of about 700-900mm per year. Substantial areas of these secondary coniferous forests are characterized by site properties such as increased frequency of drought periods and gleyic soils where already under current climatic conditions Norway spruce is periodically close to its ecophysiological limits and particularly vulnerable to windthrow and an array of insect and disease organisms. In a warmer and eventually drier climate with increased frequency of drought periods and generally increasing inter-annual variability in climate biotic and abiotic risks for these forests is expected to increase substantially. Furthermore, multiple rotations of Norway spruce may lead to soil compaction and increased soil acidification, depending on site conditions. These effects are mainly due to the shallow rooting system which may cause nutrient exploitation of the most upper soil horizons, and the capacity to accumulate substantial quantities of nutrients in leave biomass, which in turn may affect nutrient cycling. To improve crop reliability and to reduce economical and ecological risks, the conversion of pure Norway spruce stands into mixed-species stands, which are better adapted to the particular site conditions, is often recommended. | ||
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{{DSS description, Concrete application | {{DSS description, Concrete application | ||
| − | |Number of users= | + | |User profile=Non-industrial private owners, forest owners associations, national forest administration |
| − | |Number of real-life applications= | + | |Country=Austria |
| − | |Utilisation in education: kind of utilisation (demo, use)= | + | |Number of users=<=10 |
| + | |Number of real-life applications=<=30 | ||
| + | |Utilisation in education: kind of utilisation (demo, use)=presentation/demo | ||
| + | |Utilisation in research projects: references=Vacik H., Lexer M.J., Rammer W., Seidl R., Hochbichler E., Strauss M., Schachinger C. (2010): ClimChAlp - a webbased decision support system to explore adaptation options for silviculture in secondary Norway spruce forests in Austria. In: Falcao, A., Rosset. C (Eds.) , Proceedings of the Workshop on Decision Support Systems in Sustainable Forest Management. Lisbon, April 2010. , OP3 http://www.fc.ul.pt/dsfm2010/docs/presentations/paper_15.pdf | ||
| + | |Additional information=The application was developed in the context of the Interreg III B Alpine Space project ClimChAlp. Access to the webbased tool is currently restricted to the regional forest administration: http://climchalp.boku.ac.at | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{DSS description, Installation and support | {{DSS description, Installation and support | ||
| − | |Status= | + | |Status=used (stable and not upgraded/not upgraded recently) |
| − | |Accessibility= | + | |Accessibility=restricted access |
|Commercial product=No | |Commercial product=No | ||
| − | |Deployment cost= | + | |Deployment cost=<= 1‘000€ |
| + | |Installation requirements=none. | ||
| + | |Computational limitations=none. | ||
| + | |User support organization=Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna | ||
| + | |Support team size=2 | ||
| + | |Maintenance organization=Institute of Silviculture, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna | ||
|Price= | |Price= | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{DSS description, Data, data model and data management}} | + | {{DSS description, Data, data model and data management |
| − | {{DSS description, Models and methods, MBMS, decision support techniques}} | + | |Input data requirements=Forest inventory data, user defined |
| + | |Format of the input data=net services, other | ||
| + | |Data validation=error handling | ||
| + | |Format of the output data=table, graph, pre-programmed summaries | ||
| + | |Internal data management=database | ||
| + | |Database=MySQL | ||
| + | |GIS integration=N/A | ||
| + | |Data mining=N/A | ||
| + | |Additional information=Technically, ClimChAlp is implemented as a modern web application that incorporates interactive elements (Web 2.0). The system is realized using the widely used “LAMP”-stack, which is the combination of a Linux operating system running an Apache web server, which delivers content rendered by PHP scripts that access a MySql database. To allow simple integration, the specific DSS rule set is also implemented as a set of PHP functions. The site type is identified via geographical location in Google map ® and qualitative site attributes provided by user input. | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{DSS description, Models and methods, MBMS, decision support techniques | ||
| + | |Forest models=growth models | ||
| + | |Social models=N/A | ||
| + | |Risk evaluation=pest management | ||
| + | |Additional information=The core structure of the web based decision support system ChlimChAlp has three main components: the information base, the DSS generator and a graphical user interface (GUI). | ||
| + | The information base consists of a database management system and a database which contains data either directly obtained from measurement of representative stands in the study region or generated by model simulations. All information regarding the characterization of alternatives is prefabricated and stored in the data base. A comprehensive set of Norway spruce dominated stand types represents the initial (current) forest conditions. Stand treatment programmes over 100 years for each of the initial stand types had been designed based on recent silvicultural experimental research as well as on current management guidelines in the project area and were simulated with the forest ecosystem model PICUS under current climate and four transient regionalized climate change scenarios. Simulation output was then linked to the various stand types and stored in the data base. The DSS generator consists of a set of rules that links the collected information with the simulated cases in the data base. To accomplish this, the DSS rule set evaluates data on site, initial stand conditions and stand treatment programmes. If the DSS generator succeeds in mapping the provided data to an available case in the data base, the user is able to choose among the options provided for the defined decision space. . The user is supported in comparing decision alternatives by means of a planning balance sheet in two ways: (i) stand treatment programs are compared in a temporal sequence and (ii) decision alternatives are evaluated pair wise. The performance of the indicators is communicated by combined visualized and verbal qualitative ratings. Additive aggregation with the assumption of equal weights for all selected indicators is offered to arrive at an overall index of climate fitness and a ranking of alternatives. | ||
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| + | }} | ||
{{DSS description, Support of knowledge management process | {{DSS description, Support of knowledge management process | ||
| − | |Integrated KM techniques to identify and structure knowledge= | + | |Supported KM processes=Knowledge Identification, Knowledge Transfer |
| − | |Integrated KM techniques to analyse and apply knowledge= | + | |Integrated KM techniques to identify and structure knowledge=Database |
| + | |Integrated KM techniques to transfer and share knowledge=Web portal (e.g. Online Encyclopedia / Online Scientific Journal / Web sites), Best Practices (e.g. Lessons Learned / FAQ) | ||
| + | |Integrated KM techniques to analyse and apply knowledge=Expert system (e.g Knowledge Based Systems) | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{DSS description, Support of social participation | {{DSS description, Support of social participation | ||
| + | |Participatory planning tasks supported=exploring options, evaluating options | ||
|Stakeholder identification support= | |Stakeholder identification support= | ||
|Planning criteria formation support= | |Planning criteria formation support= | ||
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|User access control=Yes | |User access control=Yes | ||
|Parameterised GUI=No | |Parameterised GUI=No | ||
| + | |User-friendliness of GUI=user control, error handling and recovery | ||
| + | |Map interface=2D | ||
| + | |GUI technology=Html + Javascript | ||
| + | |Additional information=The graphical user interface (GUI) provides the possibility to visualize information from the data base and results of decision analysis procedures. To allow simple access and to enhance the interaction between the user and the DSS, we decided to use a web based system. The chosen approach allows to communicate figures, tables and explanatory text about decision alternatives (e.g. costs, silvicultural treatment options, tree species suitability, growing stock objectives) to the user in a dynamic manner. A display and report generator enhances possibilities of the user to visualize the consequences of a decision and compare alternatives. Reporting facilities of the software tool include on-screen graphs and tables using dynamic visualization components. Printouts of the material are possible. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{DSS description, System design and development | {{DSS description, System design and development | ||
Revision as of 09:56, 3 September 2012
Template:DSS description, Name, responsible organisation and contact person Template:DSS description, Scope of the tool Template:DSS description, Concrete application Template:DSS description, Installation and support Template:DSS description, Data, data model and data management Template:DSS description, Models and methods, MBMS, decision support techniques Template:DSS description, Support of knowledge management process Template:DSS description, Support of social participation Template:DSS description, User interface and outputs Template:DSS description, System design and development Template:DSS description, Technological architecture, integration with other systems Template:DSS description, Ongoing development Template:DSS description, Documentation
