Difference between revisions of "Agflor"

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(→‎Brief overview)
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== General System description ==
 +
 
== General System description ==  
 
== General System description ==  
  
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[[Category:Help documents]]
 
[[Category:Help documents]]
 
[[Image:agflorpresentation.gif |thumb|400px| AGfLOR menu options and logo]]
 
[[Image:agflorpresentation.gif |thumb|400px| AGfLOR menu options and logo]]
−
[[Image:aglor study area.gif |thumb|400px| Agro-forestry farm-type land units within the Alentejo region (Portugal) (from <ref>Borges et al. 2009</ref>)]]
+
[[Image:agflor study area.gif |thumb|400px| AGfLOR study area (from <ref>Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G.,
 +
Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system.
 +
An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
 +
</ref>]]
  
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
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=== Scope of the system ===
 
=== Scope of the system ===
  
−
* tool provides information to help assess policy impacts on agriculture and forestry, namely on land use patterns
+
The tool in its current version provides information to assess impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns in Southern
 +
Portugal.
 +
 +
 
  
 
=== System origin ===
 
=== System origin ===
  
−
The system was developed in 2007/2008 by the Centre of Forest Studies of Instituto Superior of Agonomia (CEF/ISA) of the Technical University of Lisbon in the framework of Project INTERREG IIIA “Desarrollo de un sistema de información para la  gestión ambiental y económica del ecosistema dehesa/montado en Extremadura y Alentejo. 2ª Fase”.
+
The system was developed in 2007/2008 by the Centre of Forest Studies of Instituto Superior of Agonomia (CEF/ISA) of the Technical University of Lisbon  
 +
in the framework of Project INTERREG IIIA “Desarrollo de un sistema de información para la  gestión ambiental y económica del ecosistema dehesa/montado  
 +
en Extremadura y Alentejo. 2ª Fase”  
 +
 
 +
 
 +
AGfLOR is used by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture Regional Office of Alentejo (DRAPAL) to assess impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes
 +
on agricultural and forestry activities and on regional land use patterns over an area extending over 2 million ha.
  
−
AGfLOR is used by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture Regional Office of Alentejo (DRAPAL) to assess impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns in  Southern Portugal.
 
  
 
=== Support for specific issues  ===
 
=== Support for specific issues  ===
−
Is the system designed to take into account specific uses? E.g. guidance on ways to characterize biodiversity, economic-biodiversity tradeoff analysis methods, risk assessment methods, landscape analysis methods, timber harvest effects, climate change effects, biological effects (pests, pathogens, invasives), fire,...  
+
 
 +
* The system was designed so that it might support the assessment of policy alternatives on agricultural and forestry activities and on regional land use
 +
patterns. Its current implementation provides information about impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on forestry, agriculture (e.g. cereals,  
 +
horticulture, fruit culture  fruit trees, vineyards, olive trees, permanent pastures, forage, set-aside, fallow), livestock and agro-forestry activities.
 +
Namely, it provides information about changes in area occupied by each activity, and in physical production and revenues resulting from each activity.  
 +
 
 +
* The user may specify the policy changes, product prices and supply elasticity, and subsidies for each agroforestry and livestock activity to
 +
assess its impacts on regional land use patterns.
  
 
=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type  ===
 
=== Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type  ===
−
* Silvicultural
+
 
−
* Certification
+
−
* Conservation
+
−
* Restoration
+
−
* Transportation
+
 
* Development choices / land use zoning  
 
* Development choices / land use zoning  
 
* Policy/intervention alternatives  
 
* Policy/intervention alternatives  
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=== Capability to support decision making phases  ===  
 
=== Capability to support decision making phases  ===  
−
''(NOTE I do not quite know what to do with this, as I do not understand it myself, although it seems related to system use)''
 
  
−
(Click [[Simon's decision making model|here]] to see a more detailed explanation)
+
* Intelligence  
−
* Intelligence (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
+
The GUI helps the user to specify and input policy changes, product prices and supply elasticity, and subsidies for each agroforestry and livestock
−
* Design (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
+
activity.
−
* Choice (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
+
 
−
* Monitor (+ explicit description of the support given by the DSS)
+
* Design  
 +
The GUI provides guidance to define simulated annealing parameters.
 +
 
 +
* Choice  
 +
The LP solver and the simulated annealing algorithm and the GUI help select policies. 
 +
 
 +
* Monitor  
 +
No support is provided.
  
−
=== Related systems  ===
 
−
Describe (and/or link to) other systems related
 
  
 
== Data and data models ==
 
== Data and data models ==
  
 
=== Typical spatial extent of application  ===
 
=== Typical spatial extent of application  ===
−
Define the scale of use for the application (user defined, regional, multi-owner forest single ownership forest, Multiple scale interaction)
+
 
 +
The system may be used both for regional analysis. It may address both national and international policy contexts.
 +
 
 +
 
  
 
=== Forest data input  ===
 
=== Forest data input  ===
−
Describe the basic forest input (forest level, stand level, or individual tree level), and appropriate meta-data, such as data provenance (Areal coverage, Sample of plots, stands, Contiguous forest cover). GIS information is to be considered here, namely include cover tyes and type of information (raster or vectorial, necessity of topological information)  If necessary describe surrogate sources of information
 
  
−
If necessary describe other types of required data (economic, social)
+
The system uses gis information (vectorial) to display farm-type regional units. It further uses economic data (e.g. prices, supply elasticity, subsidies)
 +
 
 +
[[Image: aglor display.gif |thumb|400px| Displaying base scenario information]]
  
 
=== Type of information input from user (via GUI) ===
 
=== Type of information input from user (via GUI) ===
−
Describe what is the information that the user directly inputs in the system if any): expert knowledge, opinion, goals and production objectives, preferences, stand/site information....
 
  
−
== Models ==
+
The uses inputs data on policy changes, product prices and supply elasticity, and subsidies for each agroforestry and livestock
 +
activity.
  
−
=== Forest models ===
+
[[Image:agflor input.gif |thumb|400px| AGfLOR input interface (from <ref>Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G.,  
−
Growth, Yield, Carbon, Wood quality, biodiversity and habitat suitability, environmental and external effects (fire, storms, pests, diseases, climate change, etc)
+
Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system.
 +
An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
 +
</ref>]]
  
−
=== Social models  ===
 
−
historical and cultural values of sites, values due to peace and quiet, esthetic values, values due to recreational activities, ethical values): E. g. Recreation, Health, Game
 
  
 +
== Models ==
 +
 +
A Positive Mathematical Programming model is used to calibrate mathematical programming models according to observed behaviours during a
 +
reference period. It aims to assess economic, technical and institutional scenarios associated with changes in policies, relative prices,
 +
technologies and availability of inputs.
  
 
== Decision Support ==
 
== Decision Support ==
  
 
=== Definition of management interventions ===
 
=== Definition of management interventions ===
−
Define what is available for the manager to intervene in the forest: time of harvest, plantations, thinnings, reconversions...
+
 
−
Existence of prescription writer, simple enumeration of all possibilities, scenario simulation , etc.
+
Not applicable
  
 
=== Typical temporal scale of application ===
 
=== Typical temporal scale of application ===
−
Define the temporal scale of the application: E.g., operational and immediate level, Tactical planning (short term) and strategic level.
+
 
 +
The system
 +
addresses mostly strategic policy issues
 +
 
  
 
=== Types of decisions supported  ===
 
=== Types of decisions supported  ===
 +
 
*Management level  
 
*Management level  
 
**strategic decisions
 
**strategic decisions
−
**administrative decisions
 
−
**operating control decisions
 
−
* Management function
 
 
* planning decisions
 
* planning decisions
−
**organizing decisions
 
 
**command decisions
 
**command decisions
 
**control decisions
 
**control decisions
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**unilateral
 
**unilateral
 
** collegial
 
** collegial
−
**Bargaining / participative decision making
 
  
 
=== Decision-making processes and models ===
 
=== Decision-making processes and models ===
−
*Logic modeling
+
 
−
*Operations research modeling
+
AGfLOR uses a linear programming model and a simulated annealing meta-heuristic.
−
**Direct approaches
+
−
**Heuristic manipulation of simulation models
+
−
*Business modeling
+
−
*Simulation (with and without stochasticity)
+
−
*Multiple criteria/ranking
+
−
*Other
+
  
 
== Output ==
 
== Output ==
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=== Types of  outputs ===
 
=== Types of  outputs ===
  
−
Types of outputs produced (tables, maps, 3-D visualizations, pre-programmed summaries, etc)
+
Results are reported in tables and in maps.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:agflor res.gif |thumb|400px| AGfLOR solution report interface (from <ref>Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G.,
 +
Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system.
 +
An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
 +
</ref>]]
  
 
=== Spatial analysis capabilities  ===
 
=== Spatial analysis capabilities  ===
−
* integrated capabilities  
+
 
−
* facilitates links to GIS (wizards, etc.)
+
The system has spatial reporting capabilities. Yet it does not include spatial analysis functionalities. It provides standard data  
−
* provides standard data import/export formats  
+
import/export formats (GIS, spreadsheet, relational database)
−
* allows spatial analysis (e.g. topology overlays (e.g. multi layering of different maps, selection of objects based on selection criteria, aggregation by attributes (e.g. areas of similar characteristics), Linking by logical means, Statistics by area, analysis with digital terrain model)
+
  
 
=== Abilities to address interdisciplinary, multi-scaled, and political issues  ===
 
=== Abilities to address interdisciplinary, multi-scaled, and political issues  ===
−
Evaluate interactions between different basic information types (biophysical, economic, social). Produce coordinated results for decision makers operating at different spatial scales facilitate social negotiation and learning
+
 
 +
The system takes as inputs biophysical, economic and policy information.  
 +
 
  
 
== System ==
 
== System ==
  
 
=== System requirements  ===
 
=== System requirements  ===
−
* Operating Systems: (Windows, Macintosh, Linux/UNIX, Web-based, Others)
+
 
−
* Other software needed (GIS, MIP packages, etc...) 
+
* Hardware requirements: 2 GHz Pentium IV, 1024 Mb of RAM, 250 Mb of hard disk, CD-ROM reader
−
* Development status  
+
* Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista
 +
* Other software needed: the user does not need to acquire additional software.  
 +
* Development status: completed
  
 
=== Architecture and major DSS components ===
 
=== Architecture and major DSS components ===
−
Describe the basic architecture of the system in software and hardware. Desktop client-server, web based, as well as the  integration with available systems. Basic data flow, focusing on retrieval of required input and propagation and implementations of decisions. Mention its modular and scalability capabilities.
+
 
 +
*  AGfLOR is a desktop application with a modular structure. It was developed with software Ms VB.NET.
 +
*  The system includes a MS Access 2003 relational database (BD_INTERREG_AGRÍCOLA), Ms Excel 2003 spreadsheets,  an LP matrix generator, a simulated annealing module and a report generator. It further includes freeware (GIS and LP solver). A GUI ties all modules together to provide the user-schema.
 +
 
 +
[[Image:agflor modules.gif |thumb|400px| AGfLOR architecture (from <ref>Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G.,
 +
Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system.  
 +
An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
 +
</ref>]]
  
 
=== Usage ===
 
=== Usage ===
−
Describe the level of use: Research level use, Industry use, Government use
+
 
 +
Government use (Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture Regional Office of Alentejo (DRAPAL))
  
 
=== Computational limitations ===
 
=== Computational limitations ===
−
Describe the system limitations: e.g. number of management units, number of vehicles, time horizon
+
 
 +
Run time is impacted mostly by the number of farm types, agroforestry activities and simulated annealing parameters.
  
 
=== User interface ===
 
=== User interface ===
−
Describe the quality of user interface and the Prerequisite knowledge for using the system
+
 
 +
AGfLOR has a standard Windows GUI. Thoughtful use of the system requires some forest management planning and agricultural economics background.
 +
 
  
 
=== Documentation and support ===
 
=== Documentation and support ===
−
Describe the connection to Help-system and possibilities for assistance, as well as the required training and user support levels
+
 
 +
The graphical user interface provides access to the AGfLOR users' manual:
 +
 
 +
Borges, P., J. G. Borges e S. Marques. 2007, Manual de Utilização Sistema de Apoio à Decisão AGfLOR Documento Técnico n.º 07/07, Grupo de Economia e Gestão dos Recursos Naturais, Lisboa , Portugal
  
 
=== Installation ===
 
=== Installation ===
−
* Prerequisite knowledge: Level of effort to become functional
+
 
−
* Cost: (purchase price, development costs, demonstrated return on investment, cost of use, training costs, licence and maintenance costs)
+
Simple Windows guided installation.
−
* Demo: allows the download/utilization of a trial version. If yes, where is it available and what are the trial conditions.
+
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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===External resources===
 
===External resources===
−
 
+
Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G., Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system. An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
−
Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G., Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system. An application in Southern Portugal. ''Forest Policy and Economics'' doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2009.09.002
+

Revision as of 15:41, 9 October 2009

General System description

General System description

System name: Agro-forestry decision support system

Acronym: AGfLOR

Brief overview

AGfLOR is a tool to help assess impacts of policy changes on regional land use patterns
AGfLOR menu options and logo
AGfLOR study area (from [1]

Scope of the system

The tool in its current version provides information to assess impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns in Southern Portugal.


System origin

The system was developed in 2007/2008 by the Centre of Forest Studies of Instituto Superior of Agonomia (CEF/ISA) of the Technical University of Lisbon in the framework of Project INTERREG IIIA “Desarrollo de un sistema de información para la gestión ambiental y económica del ecosistema dehesa/montado en Extremadura y Alentejo. 2ª Fase”


AGfLOR is used by the Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture Regional Office of Alentejo (DRAPAL) to assess impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on agricultural and forestry activities and on regional land use patterns over an area extending over 2 million ha.


Support for specific issues

  • The system was designed so that it might support the assessment of policy alternatives on agricultural and forestry activities and on regional land use

patterns. Its current implementation provides information about impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on forestry, agriculture (e.g. cereals, horticulture, fruit culture fruit trees, vineyards, olive trees, permanent pastures, forage, set-aside, fallow), livestock and agro-forestry activities. Namely, it provides information about changes in area occupied by each activity, and in physical production and revenues resulting from each activity.

  • The user may specify the policy changes, product prices and supply elasticity, and subsidies for each agroforestry and livestock activity to

assess its impacts on regional land use patterns.

Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type

  • Development choices / land use zoning
  • Policy/intervention alternatives
  • Sustainability impact assessment (SIA)

Capability to support decision making phases

  • Intelligence

The GUI helps the user to specify and input policy changes, product prices and supply elasticity, and subsidies for each agroforestry and livestock activity.

  • Design

The GUI provides guidance to define simulated annealing parameters.

  • Choice

The LP solver and the simulated annealing algorithm and the GUI help select policies.

  • Monitor

No support is provided.


Data and data models

Typical spatial extent of application

The system may be used both for regional analysis. It may address both national and international policy contexts.


Forest data input

The system uses gis information (vectorial) to display farm-type regional units. It further uses economic data (e.g. prices, supply elasticity, subsidies)

Displaying base scenario information

Type of information input from user (via GUI)

The uses inputs data on policy changes, product prices and supply elasticity, and subsidies for each agroforestry and livestock activity.

AGfLOR input interface (from [2]


Models

A Positive Mathematical Programming model is used to calibrate mathematical programming models according to observed behaviours during a reference period. It aims to assess economic, technical and institutional scenarios associated with changes in policies, relative prices, technologies and availability of inputs.

Decision Support

Definition of management interventions

Not applicable

Typical temporal scale of application

The system addresses mostly strategic policy issues


Types of decisions supported

  • Management level
    • strategic decisions
  • planning decisions
    • command decisions
    • control decisions
    • coordination decisions
  • decision making situation
    • unilateral
    • collegial

Decision-making processes and models

AGfLOR uses a linear programming model and a simulated annealing meta-heuristic.

Output

Types of outputs

Results are reported in tables and in maps.

AGfLOR solution report interface (from [3]

Spatial analysis capabilities

The system has spatial reporting capabilities. Yet it does not include spatial analysis functionalities. It provides standard data import/export formats (GIS, spreadsheet, relational database)

Abilities to address interdisciplinary, multi-scaled, and political issues

The system takes as inputs biophysical, economic and policy information.


System

System requirements

  • Hardware requirements: 2 GHz Pentium IV, 1024 Mb of RAM, 250 Mb of hard disk, CD-ROM reader
  • Operating Systems: Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Vista
  • Other software needed: the user does not need to acquire additional software.
  • Development status: completed

Architecture and major DSS components

  • AGfLOR is a desktop application with a modular structure. It was developed with software Ms VB.NET.
  • The system includes a MS Access 2003 relational database (BD_INTERREG_AGRÍCOLA), Ms Excel 2003 spreadsheets, an LP matrix generator, a simulated annealing module and a report generator. It further includes freeware (GIS and LP solver). A GUI ties all modules together to provide the user-schema.
AGfLOR architecture (from [4]

Usage

Government use (Portuguese Ministry of Agriculture Regional Office of Alentejo (DRAPAL))

Computational limitations

Run time is impacted mostly by the number of farm types, agroforestry activities and simulated annealing parameters.

User interface

AGfLOR has a standard Windows GUI. Thoughtful use of the system requires some forest management planning and agricultural economics background.


Documentation and support

The graphical user interface provides access to the AGfLOR users' manual:

Borges, P., J. G. Borges e S. Marques. 2007, Manual de Utilização Sistema de Apoio à Decisão AGfLOR Documento Técnico n.º 07/07, Grupo de Economia e Gestão dos Recursos Naturais, Lisboa , Portugal

Installation

Simple Windows guided installation.

References

Cited references

  1. ↑ Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G., Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system. An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
  2. ↑ Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G., Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system. An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
  3. ↑ Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G., Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system. An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002
  4. ↑ Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G., Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system. An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002

External resources

Borges P.J., Fragoso R., Garcia-Gonzalo J., Borges J. G., Marques S. and Lucas, M.R. 2009. Assessing impacts of Common Agricultural Policy changes on regional land use patterns with a decision support system. An application in Southern Portugal. Forest Policy and Economics, doi: 10.1016/ j.forpol.2009.09.002

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