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

Finalize descriptions / classifications /criteria

• Continue supplying information to the wiki repository related to available Decision Support Systems (DSS) present in all COST countries participating in the action.
• In the process of gathering information, create consensus ontology of DSS development and use.
• To get a shared view on the use of currently available DSS. The Lisbon 2010 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.
• To produce a preliminary version of guidelines to support the analysis of the problem types we think are most relevant. The core of the guidelines would consist of the review of DSSs in the wiki. To be presented at the Lisbon 2010 workshop.

Work on cases

• Start the process of DSS meta-analysis, by:
  • Enumerating different approaches for solving similar problems in Natural Resources Management
  • Identify common problems in the usage of available DSS, from the process of data gathering, model applicability and DSS implementation and use.