Difference between revisions of "DSD"

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(General System description)
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{{DSS description, Identification
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|Acronym=DSD
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|Name=Decision Support Dobrova
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|Contact person=Harald Vacik and Manfred J. Lexer
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|Contact email=harald.vacik@boku.ac.at
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|Type of the owner organization=team, research institution
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|Website=http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/dsd.html?&L=1
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|Description=DSD supports two main silvicultural decision-making problems, both for individual stands:    1. The establishment of new stands. It seeks which species or species mixtures are suitable at particular locations within the project area, including considerations of the effect of climate change.    2. Stand treatments scheduling, given a particular set of management objectives aiming at a future species-mixture stand type.
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|References=Lexer, M.J., Vacik, H., Palmetzhofer, D. and Oitzinger, G. 2005. A decision support tool to improve forestry extension services for small private landowners in southern Austria. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 49, 1: 81-102. Vacik H., Lexer M.J. and Englisch M. 2004. Einsatz des Decision Support Systems DSD v1.1 zur Unterstützung der forstlichen Beratung im Landesforstdienst. Forstarchiv 75 (5): 1-11.
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|Development start year=2002
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|Institutional framework=proprietary development (forest administration)
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}}
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{{DSS description, FORSYS problem types classification
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|Temporal scale=long term (strategic), medium term (tactical)
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|Spatial context=non spatial
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|Spatial scale=stand level
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|Decision making dimension=single decision maker
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|Objectives dimension=multiple objectives
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|Goods and services dimension=market wood products, non-market services
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}}
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{{DSS description, Utilisation scope
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|Status=not upgraded/not upgraded recently)
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|User profile=Non-industrial private owners, national forest administration
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|Initial deployment effort=<= 1 day
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|Adaptation effort=parametrised by the user
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|Maintenance organization=forestry extension services Carinthia
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|User support organization=BOKU Team
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|Support team size=2
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|Number of real-life applications=<=100
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|Last utilisation year by users=2007
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|Typical use case=DSD has been developed to support the staff of forestry extension services in the Dobrova region in preparing informed recommendations for forest management to small private landowners based on the owner's goal preferences.
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|Number of users=<=3
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|Utilisation in education=used by students
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|Manual=Yes
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|Accessibility=restricted access
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|Deployment cost=0
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|Installation requirements=desktop PC, Oracle (R) server
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|Country=Austria
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|Last utilised in education=2010
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}}
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{{DSS description, Functional description
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|Species=Scotts Pine, Norway Spruce
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|Silvicultural regime=even-aged, uneven-aged/natural regeneration
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|Forest management goal=climate change impact, economic evaluation, forest health, forest transformation, nutrient balance, species selection
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|Risk evaluation=pest management, wind hazard
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|Input data requirements=Forest inventory data, Ecological data, Forest ownership data, Data on policies and funding
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|Modelling dimension=Economical indicators, Forest indicators, Ecological indicators, Climate change, What-if analysis
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|Planning scenario=Manager is able to choose among three objectives: timber production, nature conservation and biodiversity, or mantaining or improving site productivity.  Changes according to preferences can be analyzed with what happens if scenarios.
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|Parameterised GUI=Yes
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}}
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{{DSS description, Models and techniques to support decision making
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|Optimisation algorithm=N/A
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|MCDM methods=Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), MAUT)
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|Knowlegde management methods=database, expert system
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|Forest models=growth models
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|Ecological models=N/A
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|Social models=non-market valuation of social benefits
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|Data mining=N/A
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|Uncertainty evaluation=N/A
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|2D map interface=No
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|3D map interface=No
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}}
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{{DSS description, Support for knowledge management processes
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|Tool dissemination=None
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|Supported KM processes=Knowledge Identification
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|Integrated KM techniques to identify and structure knowledge=Database
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|Integrated KM techniques to analyze and apply knowledge=Expert system (e.g Knowledge Based Systems)
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|KM tools used during the development of the DSS=Database
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|Kind of knowlegde and information processed=Explicit Knowledge, Tacit Knowledge, Procedural knowledge
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}}
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{{DSS description, Support for participatory planning
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|Participatory planning tasks supported=defining the problem, exploring options, evaluating options, monitoring and evaluating the process, monitoring and evaluating the outcome
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|Stakeholder identification support=N/A
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|Planning criteria formation support=N/A
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|Planning process monitoring and evaluation=based on automated documentation of the process (PDF)
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|Planning outcome monitoring and evaluation=based on indicators (MAUT)
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}}
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{{DSS description, Development process
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|Number of forest specialists in the development team=2
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|Development team size=4
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|User access control=yes
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|Team profiles=IT developer, reseracher/analyst, decision maker
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|Software development methods=a DSS master model was developed including the formal model, process model and implmentation model
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|User-friendliness of GUI=several feedbacks by the enduser were utilized to improve the system
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|Number of developer months=36
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|Development cost=<= 1‘000€
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|Percentage of HR cost=90
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|Technical documentation=No
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|Number of users on participating in specification=10
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}}
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{{DSS description, IT environment & IT requirements
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|Operating system=other
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|Programming language=C++
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|System type=client-server (desktop)
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|Communication architecture=DSD was implemented in Borland® C++™ as a client/server architecture, with Oracle(R) as the relational database system. Thus, the inteface component of the program resides on the desktop computer of the user, and the application logic is on the central server of the forest region authorities.  The GUI is completely based on Borland's VCL (Visual C Library), and the generation of reports is based on Quickreport™, which uses components of the Borland® C++™ programming environment.
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|Database=Oracle
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|GIS integration=N/A
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|Optimisation package=N/A
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|Application architecture=GUI, database, reporting and documentation, Help/Hypertext, scenario manager
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|Format of the input data=database
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|Format of the output data=GUI, pre-programmed summaries
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|Internal data management=database
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|Data validation=error handling
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|GUI technology=other
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|Scalability=No
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|Spatial analysis=N/A
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|Integration with other systems=integrated with Oracle(R) as the relational database system.
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|Computational limitations=not identified until now
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}}
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{{DSS description, Commercial information
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|Can be used commercially=No
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}}
 
== General System description ==  
 
== General System description ==  
  
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* [[CONES]]
 
* [[CONES]]
  
{{DSS description, Identification
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|Acronym=
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|Name=
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|Contact person=
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|Contact email=
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|Type of the owner organization=
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|Website=
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|Description=
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|References=
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|Development start year=
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}}
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{{DSS description, FORSYS problem types classification
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|Temporal scale=
+
|Spatial context=
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|Spatial scale=
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|Decision making dimension=
+
|Objectives dimension=
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|Goods and services dimension=
+
}}
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{{DSS description, Utilisation scope
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|Status=
+
|User profile=
+
|Initial deployment effort=
+
|Adaptation effort=
+
|Maintenance organization=
+
|User support organization=
+
|Support team size=
+
|Number of real-life applications=
+
|Last utilisation year by users=
+
|Typical use case=
+
|Number of users=
+
|Utilisation in education=
+
|Manual=
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|Accessibility=
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|Deployment cost=
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|Installation requirements=
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|Country=
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}}
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{{DSS description, Functional description
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|Species=
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|Silvicultural regime=
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|Forest management goal=
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|Risk evaluation=
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|Input data requirements=
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|Modelling dimension=
+
|Planning scenario=
+
|Parameterised GUI=
+
}}
+
{{DSS description, Models and techniques to support decision making
+
|Optimisation algorithm=
+
|MCDM methods=
+
|Knowlegde management methods=
+
|Forest models=
+
|Ecological models=
+
|Social models=
+
|Data mining=
+
|Uncertainty evaluation=
+
|2D map interface=
+
|3D map interface=
+
}}
+
{{DSS description, Support for knowledge management processes
+
|Tool dissemination=
+
|Supported KM processes=
+
}}
+
{{DSS description, Support for participatory planning
+
|Participatory planning tasks supported=
+
}}
+
{{DSS description, Development process
+
|Number of forest specialists in the development team=
+
|Development team size=
+
|User access control=
+
|Team profiles=
+
|Software development methods=
+
|User-friendliness of GUI=
+
|Number of developer months=
+
|Development cost=
+
|Percentage of HR cost=
+
|Technical documentation=
+
|Number of users on participating in specification=
+
}}
+
{{DSS description, IT environment & IT requirements
+
|Operating system=
+
|Programming language=
+
|System type=
+
|Communication architecture=
+
|Database=
+
|GIS integration=
+
|Optimisation package=
+
|Application architecture=
+
|Format of the input data=
+
|Format of the output data=
+
|Internal data management=
+
|Data validation=
+
|GUI technology=
+
|Scalability=
+
|Spatial analysis=
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|Related tools=
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|Integration with other systems=
+
|Computational limitations=
+
}}
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{{DSS description, Commercial information
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|Can be used commercially=
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}}
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== Data and data models ==
 
== Data and data models ==

Revision as of 16:26, 2 November 2011

Template:DSS description, Identification Template:DSS description, FORSYS problem types classification Template:DSS description, Utilisation scope Template:DSS description, Functional description Template:DSS description, Models and techniques to support decision making Template:DSS description, Support for knowledge management processes Template:DSS description, Support for participatory planning Template:DSS description, Development process Template:DSS description, IT environment & IT requirements Template:DSS description, Commercial information

General System description

System name: Decision Support Dobrova

Acronym: DSD

Brief overview

DSS developed in order to support forest management in Kärnten's (southern Austria) Scots pine's forests. It deals with new stands establishment and treatment scheduling problems.
Map of the States of Austria, highlighting Kärnten
DSD screenshot

Scope of the system

DSD supports two main silvicultural decision-making problems, both for individual stands:

  1. The establishment of new stands. It seeks which species or species mixtures are suitable at particular locations within the project area, including considerations of the effect of climate change.
  2. Stand treatments scheduling, given a particular set of management objectives aiming at a future species-mixture stand type.

System origin

  • It was developed by a researchers team in the Universität für Bodenkultur Wien. First prototype was implemented in 2001.
  • how was it developed
  • is it a commercial product
  • Is in use in southern Austria.

Support for specific issues

Timber harvest effects, climate change effects, risk assesment methods, biodiversity, and site improvement.

Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type

  • Silvicultural
  • Certification
  • Conservation
  • Restoration
  • Development choices / land use zoning
  • Policy/intervention alternatives

Capability to support decision making phases

  • Intelligence:
    DSD requires from the user the insertion of forest features data and management objectives.
  • Design:
    For each stand objective different schedules and results are proposed, that then would be evaluated according to the management objectives.
  • Choice:
    The selection among the different management possibilities is made according to the predefined objectives using multicriteria evaluation.
  • Monitor:
    It falls on the final manager.

Related systems







Data and data models

Typical spatial extent of application

Stand level.

Forest data input

Stand characteristics are input via GUI.

Type of information input from user (via GUI)

Users have to assign a particular forest property to one of the predefined site and stand categories, usin some easily available stand characteristics. They also have to choose the management objectives among the predefined ones employing pairwise comparisons.


Models

Forest models

Growth and yield models are used to calculate costs and revenues. It has also an additive hierarchical utility model used in the multicriteria evaluation.


Decision Support

Definition of management interventions

Manager is able to choose among three objectives: timber production, nature conservation and biodiversity, or mantaining or improving site productivity.

Typical temporal scale of application

Depending on the objective, a short- to mid-term (i.e., 30 years) as well as a long-term planning horizon is distinguished.

Types of decisions supported

  • Management level
    • strategic decisions
    • administrative decisions
    • operating control decisions
  • Management function
  • planning decisions
    • organizing decisions
    • command decisions
    • control decisions
    • coordination decisions
  • decision making situation
    • unilateral

Decision-making processes and models

  • Simulation (with and without stochasticity)
  • Multiple criteria/ranking


Output

Types of outputs

Results can be viewed on the screen, stored in the database of DSD, and be printed in a comprehensive report.


System

System requirements

  • Operating Systems: Microsoft® Windows® OS
  • Development status: v1.1 has been released

Architecture and major DSS components

DSD was implemented in Borland® C++™ as a client/server architecture, with Oracle(R) as the relational database system. Thus, the inteface component of the program resides on the desktop computer of the user, and the application logic is on the central server of the forest region authorities.

The GUI is completely based on Borland's VCL (Visual C Library), and the generation of reports is based on Quickreport™, which uses components of the Borland® C++™ programming environment.

Usage

DSD has been developed to support the staff of forestry extension services in the Dobrova region in preparing informed recommendations for forest management to small private landowners based on the owner's goal preferences.

Documentation and support

More information about DSD can be found at the DSD website, where e-mail directions of the responsible researchers are given.


References

External resources

  • http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/dsd.html (in German and in English)
  • REYNOLDS K.M., TWERY M., LEXER M.J., VACIK H., RAY D., SHAO G,. et BORGES J.G.: Decision Support Systems in Forest Management IN BURSTEIN F. et HOLSAPPLE C. W. (EDS.) (2008): Handbook on Decision Support Systems 2: Variations. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. 800 pp.