A system dynamics model for supporting decision-makers in irrigation water management

Area of Science:

• Environmental Policy
• Water Resource Management
• Systems Analysis

Background:

• Water management faces conflicts due to diverse stakeholder interests in shared resources.
• Enhancing multi-stakeholder decision-making is crucial, moving beyond purely commercial approaches.
• Existing frameworks like Ostrom's action arena and Ostanello-Tsoukiàs' interaction space (IS) inform collaborative processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To dynamically evolve the interaction space (IS) concept for improved water management.
• To develop and apply a System Dynamics Model (SDM) for multi-stakeholder decision support.
• To explore how different actions influence stakeholder decision-making in water resource contexts.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of interaction structures and problem framing among stakeholders.
• Development of a System Dynamics Model (SDM) to simulate decision-making processes.
• Application of the SDM in a real-world case study for water management and groundwater protection.

Main Results:

• The SDM provides a dynamic tool to integrate diverse stakeholder perspectives.
• The model clarifies differences in problem framing and supports collaborative decision-making.
• The study demonstrates the SDM's utility in addressing water management and groundwater protection challenges.

Conclusions:

• System Dynamics Modeling offers a robust approach to enhance collaborative water resource management.
• Understanding stakeholder interactions and problem framing is key to resolving conflicts.
• The developed SDM can aid in achieving sustainable water management and protecting groundwater resources.