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Essentials of specification of information needs

This article discusses the importance of specifying information needs in water management, highlighting the challenges of being data-rich but information-poor. It also explores the Dutch National Water Quality Monitoring Network as a case study and presents the DPSIR framework for analysis. Lessons for monitoring and the benefits of an integrated design of monitoring are emphasized.

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Essentials of specification of information needs

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  1. Essentials of specification of information needs Jos G. Timmerman Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA) The Netherlands

  2. Water management Information needs Information utilisation Information strategy Data analysis Data collection Essentials of specification of information needs Monitoring / Information cycle

  3. Essentials of specification of information needs Why specify information needs? • Data-rich but information-poor syndrome (Ward, Loftis & McBride 1986) • “At present some of the systems for monitoring and gathering information about the environment in European countries are inefficient and wasteful. They generate excessive amounts of data on subjects which do not need it; and they fail to provide timely and relevant information on other subjects where there is an urgent policy need for better focused and consistent environmental assessment and reporting” (Pentreath 1998)

  4. Essentials of specification of information needs Dutch National Water Quality Monitoring Network • Data-rich? • No: legal obligations • Information-poor? • Yes, to some extent

  5. Essentials of specification of information needs Monitoring obligations

  6. Essentials of specification of information needs The specialist

  7. Essentials of specification of information needs Index or indicator

  8. Essentials of specification of information needs Integrated assessment

  9. Essentials of specification of information needs Integrating decision model

  10. Measurable or easily perceptible attribute Ecological aspects Fundamental objective Economic aspects Social aspects Essentials of specification of information needs Objectives for the water body

  11. 17-06-1998 DPSIR-framework

  12. Measurable or easily perceptible criteria Driving forces Pressures State Objective Impacts Responses Essentials of specification of information needs Problems and opportunities

  13. Essentials of specification of information needs Current and future measures Measurable or easily perceptible attribute Implementation of the measure Current and future measures Effectiveness of the measure

  14. Essentials of specification of information needs Analysis of water management issues

  15. Essentials of specification of information needs Indicators - problems

  16. Essentials of specification of information needs Information needs

  17. Essentials of specification of information needs Lessons for monitoring Analysis of functions, issues and uses required project teams to: • take a river basin approach • think about the spatial distribution of functions and issues in relation to water management • take account of possible groundwater – surface water interactions for both quantity and quality

  18. Essentials of specification of information needs Lessons for monitoring Structured breakdown of objectives required project teams to: • think about the cause-effect chain where previous focus had been on status alone • be aware of socio-economic factors next to the physico-chemical or ecological situation

  19. Essentials of specification of information needs Conclusion • The approach of a water management analysis combined with the structured breakdown of water management objectives supports and facilitates an integrated design of monitoring

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