| dc.description.abstract | The aim of the study is to create an interactive, real time environmental decision making support
system for broad spectrum applications using public domain software that is affordable, and
adaptable to the majority of water managers in South Africa. No formal evaluation and review of
environmental decision making support systems exist in South Africa. The study contributes to the
advancement of science in that the literature is reviewed to determine the relevance of environmental
decision making support systems in South Africa. From the insight obtained from the literature review,
an environmental decision making support system for a specific South African catchment is
developed and implemented. The system needs to provide a tool for integrated catchment
management to facilitate 'best practice' management. Aspects which have been included concern
the complexity of water resources, integrated catchment management approaches, factors
influencing the water resource, policy frameworks and the water law.
In order to achieve these aims, an extensive theoretical understanding of water resource
management, integrated catchment management and decision support systems was required. Insight
into the broad spectrum of applications and the complexity of the water resource problem was
determined. On this basis, the relevant water users were defined and the factors affecting the water
resource ascertained. The process and development of integrated catchment management are
discussed in relation to the role they play in future water management in South Africa, taking into
account policy frameworks and principles applicable to South Africa. The theoretical framework, thus
far, has been concerned primarily with water resources, processes and policies associated with the
resource. Henceforth, the development and design of decision support systems are appraised and
the implementation of an interactive, real time environmental decision making support system
determined.
In order to determine whether an environmental decision making support system can be developed
and customised for river catchments as a tool for integrated catchment management to facilitate 'best
management' practices, an interactive, real time environmental decision making support system is
devised and evaluated by means of a case study in the Mooi River Catchment. An empirical
interactive, real time environmental decision making support system using public domain software
for the Mooi River Catchment is available for viewing and interaction on the Internet at the site
http://www.ccwr.ac.za.
The results of the study show that the creation of an interactive, real time environmental decision
making support system is possible to facilitate the integrated catchment management approach using
public domain software. Customisation of the environmental decision making support system is
possible for river catchment.
The environmental decision making support system for the Mooi River Catchment is operational and
creates a new way to structure and involve researchers, stakeholders, specialists and managers in
environmental management in the Mooi River Catchment. Results highlight the environmental
decision making support systems ability to operate within the Mooi River Catchment and provide a
means to manage the environmental resources.
The Hydrological Simulation Programme - Fortran (HSPF) is capable of simulating the continuous,
dynamic nature of the hydrological regime and water quality processes of the complex Mooi River
Catchment. While the Watershed Data Management (WDM) supplies a data warehouse facility and
a systematic approach to the storage and retrieval of data. The establishment of an environmental
database to be used and customised in the Integrated Catchment Information System (ICIS) provides
a Graphic User Interface (GUI) through which spatial time series characteristics of the data can be
viewed.
Implementation of the environmental decision making support system in the Mooi River Catchment
case study provides a prototype environmental decision making support system that can be used
as a protocol by Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) for the implementation of integrated
catchment management around the country. | en_US |
