Difference between revisions of "DSD"

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{{DSS description, Identification
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{{DSS description, Wiki quality control
|Acronym=DSD
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|Flag=N/A
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}}
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{{DSS description, Name, responsible organisation and contact person
 
|Name=Decision Support Dobrova
 
|Name=Decision Support Dobrova
|Contact person=Harald Vacik and Manfred J. Lexer
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|Acronym=DSD
|Contact email=harald.vacik@boku.ac.at
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|Institutional framework=N/A
|Type of the owner organization=team, research institution
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|Contact person for the Wiki=Harald Vacik and Manfred J. Lexer
|Website=http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/dsd.html?&L=1
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|Contact e-mail for the Wiki=harald.vacik@boku.ac.at
|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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|Contact person for the DSS=Harald Vacik and Manfred J. Lexer
|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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|Contact e-mail for the DSS=harald.vacik@boku.ac.at
|Development start year=2002
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|Institutional framework=proprietary development (forest administration)
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}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, FORSYS problem types classification
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{{DSS description, Scope of the tool
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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.
 +
|Modelling dimension=Economical indicators, Forest indicators, Ecological indicators, Climate change
 
|Temporal scale=long term (strategic), medium term (tactical)
 
|Temporal scale=long term (strategic), medium term (tactical)
 
|Spatial context=non spatial
 
|Spatial context=non spatial
 
|Spatial scale=stand level
 
|Spatial scale=stand level
|Decision making dimension=single decision maker
 
 
|Objectives dimension=multiple objectives
 
|Objectives dimension=multiple objectives
 
|Goods and services dimension=market wood products, non-market services
 
|Goods and services dimension=market wood products, non-market services
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|Forest management goal=nutrient balance
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|Supported tree species=Scotts Pine, Norway Spruce
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|Supported silvicultural regime=even-aged, uneven-aged/natural regeneration
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|Decision making dimension=single decision maker
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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
 
}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, Utilisation scope
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{{DSS description, Concrete application
|Status=not upgraded/not upgraded recently)
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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.
 
|User profile=Non-industrial private owners, national forest administration
 
|User profile=Non-industrial private owners, national forest administration
|Initial deployment effort=<= 1 day
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|Country=Austria
|Adaptation effort=parametrised by the user
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|Number of users=<=3
|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
 
|Number of real-life applications=<=100
|Last utilisation year by users=2007
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|Utilisation in education: kind of utilisation (demo, use)=used by students
|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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|Tool dissemination=None
|Number of users=<=3
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}}
|Utilisation in education=used by students
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{{DSS description, Installation and support
|Manual=Yes
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|Status=used (stable and not upgraded/not upgraded recently)
 
|Accessibility=restricted access
 
|Accessibility=restricted access
 +
|Can be used commercially=No
 
|Deployment cost=0
 
|Deployment cost=0
 
|Installation requirements=desktop PC, Oracle (R) server
 
|Installation requirements=desktop PC, Oracle (R) server
|Country=Austria
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|Computational limitations=not identified until now
|Last utilised in education=2010
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|User support organization=BOKU Team
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|Support team size=2
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|Maintenance organization=forestry extension services Carinthia
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|Price=
 
}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, Functional description
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{{DSS description, Data, data model and data management
|Species=Scotts Pine, Norway Spruce
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|Input data requirements=Ecological data, Forest ownership data, Data on policies and funding
|Silvicultural regime=even-aged, uneven-aged/natural regeneration
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|Format of the input data=database
|Forest management goal=climate change impact, economic evaluation, forest health, forest transformation, nutrient balance, species selection
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|Data validation=error handling
|Risk evaluation=pest management, wind hazard
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|Format of the output data=pre-programmed summaries
|Input data requirements=Forest inventory data, Ecological data, Forest ownership data, Data on policies and funding
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|Internal data management=database
|Modelling dimension=Economical indicators, Forest indicators, Ecological indicators, Climate change, What-if analysis
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|Database=Oracle
|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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|GIS integration=N/A
|Parameterised GUI=Yes
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}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, Models and techniques to support decision making
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{{DSS description, Models and methods, MBMS, decision support techniques
|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
 
|Forest models=growth models
 
|Ecological models=N/A
 
|Ecological models=N/A
|Social models=non-market valuation of social benefits
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|MCDM methods=Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT)
|Data mining=N/A
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|Optimisation package=N/A
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|Optimisation algorithm=N/A
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|Risk evaluation=pest management, wind hazard
 
|Uncertainty evaluation=N/A
 
|Uncertainty evaluation=N/A
|2D map interface=No
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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.
|3D map interface=No
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}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, Support for knowledge management processes
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{{DSS description, Support of knowledge management process
|Tool dissemination=None
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|Supported KM processes=Knowledge Identification
 
|Supported KM processes=Knowledge Identification
 
|Integrated KM techniques to identify and structure knowledge=Database
 
|Integrated KM techniques to identify and structure knowledge=Database
|Integrated KM techniques to analyze and apply knowledge=Expert system (e.g Knowledge Based Systems)
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|Integrated KM techniques to analyse and apply knowledge=Expert system (e.g Knowledge Based Systems)
|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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}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, Support for participatory planning
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{{DSS description, Support of social participation
 
|Participatory planning tasks supported=defining the problem, exploring options, evaluating options, monitoring and evaluating the process, monitoring and evaluating the outcome
 
|Participatory planning tasks supported=defining the problem, exploring options, evaluating options, monitoring and evaluating the process, monitoring and evaluating the outcome
|Stakeholder identification support=N/A
 
|Planning criteria formation support=N/A
 
 
|Planning process monitoring and evaluation=based on automated documentation of the process (PDF)
 
|Planning process monitoring and evaluation=based on automated documentation of the process (PDF)
 
|Planning outcome monitoring and evaluation=based on indicators (MAUT)
 
|Planning outcome monitoring and evaluation=based on indicators (MAUT)
 
}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, Development process
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{{DSS description, User interface and outputs
|Number of forest specialists in the development team=2
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|User access control=yes
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|Parameterised GUI=Yes
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|GUI technology=other
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}}
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{{DSS description, System design and development
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|Software development methodology=a DSS master model was developed including the formal model, process model and implementation model
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|Development start year=2002
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|Number of development years (100% equivalent)=3
 
|Development team size=4
 
|Development team size=4
|User access control=yes
 
 
|Team profiles=IT developer, reseracher/analyst, decision maker
 
|Team profiles=IT developer, reseracher/analyst, decision maker
|Software development methods=a DSS master model was developed including the formal model, process model and implmentation model
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|Number of forest specialists in the development team=2
|User-friendliness of GUI=several feedbacks by the enduser were utilized to improve the system
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|Number of users participating in specification=10
|Number of developer months=36
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|KM tools used during the development of the DSS=Database
|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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}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, IT environment & IT requirements
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{{DSS description, Technological architecture, integration with other systems
|Operating system=other
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|Programming language=C++
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|System type=client-server (desktop)
 
|System type=client-server (desktop)
|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.
 
|Database=Oracle
 
|GIS integration=N/A
 
|Optimisation package=N/A
 
 
|Application architecture=GUI, database, reporting and documentation, Help/Hypertext, scenario manager
 
|Application architecture=GUI, database, reporting and documentation, Help/Hypertext, scenario manager
|Format of the input data=database
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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
|Format of the output data=GUI, pre-programmed summaries
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|Programming language=C++, other
|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
 
|Scalability=No
|Spatial analysis=N/A
 
 
|Integration with other systems=integrated with Oracle(R) as the relational database system.
 
|Integration with other systems=integrated with Oracle(R) as the relational database system.
|Computational limitations=not identified until now
 
 
}}
 
}}
{{DSS description, Commercial information
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{{DSS description, Ongoing development
|Can be used commercially=No
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|Adaptation effort (man years)=parametrised by the user
 +
}}
 +
{{DSS description, Documentation
 +
|Website=http://www.wabo.boku.ac.at/dsd.html?&L=1
 +
|Manual=Yes
 +
|Technical documentation=No
 +
|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.
 
}}
 
}}
== 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) [[:Category:Pinus sylvestris|Scots pine's]] forests. It deals with new stands establishment and treatment scheduling problems.
 
 
[[Category:Finished articles]]
 
[[Category:2001]]
 
[[Category:Decision support system]]
 
[[Category:Austrian DSS]]
 
[[Category:Government use]]
 
[[Category:Stand level]]
 
[[Category:Goal-driven DSS]]
 
[[Category:Species selection]]
 
[[Category:Forest transformation]]
 
[[Category:Pinus sylvestris]]
 
[[Category:Client-server architecture]]
 
[[Category:C++]]
 
[[Image:Karnten.png|thumb|300px|Map of the States of Austria, highlighting Kärnten]]
 
[[Image:DSD_screenshot.jpg|thumb|300px|DSD screenshot]]
 
 
__TOC__
 
 
 
=== Scope of the system ===
 
=== Scope of the system ===
 
DSD supports two main silvicultural decision-making problems, both for individual stands:
 
DSD supports two main silvicultural decision-making problems, both for individual stands:
Line 210: Line 180:
 
=== Typical temporal scale of application ===
 
=== 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.
 
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 ===
 
=== Decision-making processes and models ===

Revision as of 15:15, 27 June 2012

Template:DSS description, Wiki quality control Template:DSS description, Name, responsible organisation and contact person Template:DSS description, Scope of the tool Template:DSS description, Concrete application Template:DSS description, Installation and support Template:DSS description, Data, data model and data management Template:DSS description, Models and methods, MBMS, decision support techniques Template:DSS description, Support of knowledge management process Template:DSS description, Support of social participation Template:DSS description, User interface and outputs Template:DSS description, System design and development Template:DSS description, Technological architecture, integration with other systems Template:DSS description, Ongoing development Template:DSS description, Documentation

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.

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.