Spatial Knowledge-Based Decision Analysis System for Pond Site Assessment
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 134, Issue 1
Abstract
In the South Platte River Basin of Colorado, seasonally flooded wetland ponds are being developed for groundwater recharge and wildlife habitat. The selection and evaluation of pond sites is primarily done by local experts. This study presents an approach that combines the use of knowledge-based systems, multicriterion decision analysis techniques, and geographic information systems to develop a representation of the pond evaluation process. The multicriterion decision analysis technique is used to calculate a surrogate certainty factor; that is, a suitability factor, for processing rules within a forward-chaining knowledge-based system to determine the overall suitability of a specific site. Spreadsheet software was used to implement the rule processing, with site data and spatial analysis results provided through links with a geographic information system. The spreadsheets were designed to provide flexibility for users to change thresholds, rating scales, and relative importance weights. Scenario testing and testing of the system by local experts demonstrate its potential use for pond site evaluations.
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Acknowledgments
Funding for this work was provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife Species Conservation Trust Fund, through a grant to the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District/South Platte Lower River Group. Matching funding provided by the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, Grant Agreement No. UNSPECIFIED01HQGR0077, Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, and Colorado State University. Special thanks are extended to Mr. Jon Altenhofen, Supervisory Water Resources Engineer, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District; and Mr. Jay Stafford, Biologist, Colorado Division of Wildlife; as well as to the several members of the South Platte Lower River Group and South Platte Wetlands Focus Area Committee, who contributed their time and input into this work.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 134 • Issue 1 • January 2008
Pages: 14 - 23
Copyright
© 2008 ASCE.
History
Received: Jul 8, 2005
Accepted: Aug 7, 2006
Published online: Jan 1, 2008
Published in print: Jan 2008
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