Supporting complex decisions for sustainable river management in England and Wales

摘要: 1. Sustainable river management demands a strategic approach that renders even routine decisions highly complex if they are to be consistent, transparent and accountable. Under these circumstances, there is an increasing need for decision-support systems, although carefully structured guidelines statements of best practice will continue play major supporting role. 2. This support likely particularly important in wide-ranging contexts, from determining land drainage consents, involving significant uncertainty. Upland River Corridor Management Evaluation System (SURCoMES) has been developed as prototype system demonstrate the potential scope problems providing decision uncertain scenarios. 3. In its present form it focuses on selection responses bank erosion. It caters uncertainty by guidance whether particular more or less sustainable than alternative options. does not determine actions absolutely not. 4. Because judgemental nature questions, underlying criteria standards have built into system. These evaluations, are, part, subjective, when based existing experience, so Delphi technique used capture professional opinion research sector Environment Agency which responsible England Wales. 5. Decision undoubtedly future environmental management. The SURCoMES indicates applications, but requires further development validation before implemented widely.