Mesta

Brief overview

An internet-based decision-support application for participatory strategic-level natural resources planning

General System description

System name: Mesta

Acronym: Mesta

Brief overview

An internet-based decision-support application for (participatory) maker strategic-level natural resources discrete choice situations.

Scope of the system

Mesta has been designed to support multi-criteria decision making situations. It works in the Internet. It demands the decision maker to define his/her acceptance borders (=border of approval) for all predefined criteria. The acceptance border definitions are continued until only one alternative exists that is above the acceptance borders. On the other hand, the functioning reminds approval voting. On the other hand, the functioning reminds feasible regiond reduction method. However, in Mesta, the alternatives and their criteria values have been created before the approval border definitions.

System origin

Mesta has been developed in Finnish Forest Research Institute. User rights can be applied from Mikko Kurttila

It has real-life applications in four natural resources planning processes of Metsähallitus. The size of the planning areas have been several hundred thousand hectares and typically there has been some 15 participants. They have first used Mesta independently. After this phase and related learning process, group negotiation with Mesta has been carried out, where the final accepted solution for the area has been searched.

Support for specific issues

The Mesta DSS is a general system and it can be applied to numerous decision situations (buying a car, selecting a treatment schedule for stand, and selecting a strategy for a region etc.)

Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type

Strategic planning processes General discrete choice situations with multiple criteria

Capability to support decision making phases

Supports the selection phase. Criteria selection, definition of alternatives and estimating the impacts of alternatives has to be carried out before using Mesta.

Data and data models

Typical spatial extent of application

Varies a lot, from stand level to region or country level.

Forest data input

So called result matrix that includes: (i) selected evaluation criteria (ii) predefined alterantives (iii) estimated outcome from alternative for each criteria Numerical criteria needs to be used. The aim can be either to maximize or to minimize the criteria value.

Type of information input from user (via GUI)

Two types of users exist: A facilitator that defines the decision problem and gives the information of the result matrix. In addition, a facilitator defines the participants. A participant gives his / her acceptance border values for each criteria.

Models

No models included.

Decision Support

Types of decisions supported

• Management level
  • applicable to all levels

• Management function
• discrete choice situations (select one of the alternatives)

• Decision making situation
  • Unilateral
  • Participatory decision making

Decision-making processes and models

• Multiple criteria decision support
  • Based on acceptance border definitions from the users and group negotiation

Output

Types of outputs

• Points out the selected alternative

System

System requirements

• Operating Systems: (Web-based
• Development status: System in use

Architecture and major DSS components

Web-based system. Utilizes flash-application.

Usage

Used in practical decision making, in projects as well as in research.

Computational limitations

At maximum 10 criteria and 30 alternatives.

User interface

Easily understandable interface, small amount of information demanded from the participant.

Installation

• Directly usable after the user has username and password

• Cost: Case-specific, to be negotiated

• Demo: see www.mesta.metla.fi where a small decision problem is available

References

Cited references

Hiltunen, V., Kurttila, M., Leskinen, P., Pasanen, K. & Pykäläinen, J. (Leskinen toimivapaalla SYKE:ssa). 2009. Mesta: An internet-based decision-support application for participatory strategic-level natural resources planning. Forest Policy and Economics 11: 1-9.

Pasanen, K., Kurttila, M., Pykäläinen, J., Kangas, J. & Leskinen, P. 2005. MESTA - Non-industrial private forest owners' decision-support environment for the evaluation of alternative forest plans over the internet. International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making 4(4): 601-620.

Kangas, A., Kangas, J. & Kurttila, M. 2008. Decision support for forest management. Managing Forest Ecosystems 16. Springer. 222 p.