Related Experiment Videos
Formalising expert opinion through multi-attribute value functions: an application in landscape ecology.
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Trento, Via Mesiano, 77 38050 Trento, Italy. davide.geneletti@ing.unitn.it
Journal of Environmental Management
|June 2, 2005
Summary
This study introduces a method to assess ecosystem viability for conservation using expert opinions and value functions. It ranks ecosystems, aiding land-use planning by interpreting spatial indicators for nature conservation.
Area of Science:
- Landscape ecology
- Conservation science
- Ecosystem assessment
Background:
- Landscape ecology aims to guide land-use planning for nature conservation through ecosystem patterning.
- A key limitation is the focus on indicator measurement over interpretation and assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present and discuss a methodology for formalizing expert opinion in landscape ecology.
- To assess spatial indicators using multi-attribute value functions for ecosystem viability judgments.
Main Methods:
- Elicitation of multi-attribute value functions to formalize expert knowledge.
- Development of a system to assess spatial ecological indicators.
- Ranking of ecosystems based on their calculated viability and conservation suitability.
Main Results:
- A formalized method for incorporating expert opinion into ecosystem assessment.
- A system for evaluating the viability of different ecosystem patches.
- A ranked list of ecosystems, indicating their suitability for nature conservation.
Conclusions:
- Expert opinion formalization complements traditional spatial indicator analysis.
- The methodology provides a framework for interpreting and assessing ecological indicators.
- This approach enhances the practical application of landscape ecology in land-use planning for conservation.