immagine testata

Spatial Multicriteria Analysis for Environmental Decision-Making

Environmental decision-making involves the identification and comparison of different alternatives based on multiple objectives and criteria. This calls for a framework to integrate factual information on effects and impacts, with values and preferences of stakeholders. Multicriteria analysis (MCA) offers such a framework, and it is increasingly used in combination with GIS (spatial multicriteria analysis, SMCA).

This course provides the essential principles of MCA and SMCA applied to environmental decision-making, and covers the following topics: 

  • Basic concepts of decision theory and problem structuring
  • The philosophy of (S)MCA for environmental decisions
  • Methodological steps in MCA and SMCA (value function and weight assessment, criteria aggregation, sensitivity analysis, result presentation)
  • Using Decision Support Systems (DSS) and GIS-based DSS 
  • Application examples in different domains. 
The teaching method is based on theoretical lectures and hands-on exercises, using freely available software packages. The expected learning outcomes include:
  • Understanding the advantages and limitations (S)MCA 
  • Familiarizing with different methods and techniques
  • Acquiring skills in DSS and GIS-based DSS
  • Understanding the role played by technical experts, stakeholders and decision-makers 
  • Gaining first-hand experience in real-life case studies
The target audience of this course is represented by PhD students, research fellows, practitioners, as well as public officers interested in environmental decision-making and in the comparison of options. 

 

Instructor: Dr. Davide Geneletti

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Venue: Trento, Faculty of Engineering, Via Mesiano 77

Registration deadline extended to: September 14, 2012

INFORMATION

Course Secretariat c/o DICA
via Mesiano, 77 - 38123 Trento, Italy
tel. +39 0461 282670-2611
fax +39 0461 282672
claudia.fraizingher@unitn.it