Work Package 5: Decision Support System

1. Work Package 5: Decision Support System • “System architecture design. DSS model formulation: the main objective of this WP is the development of the TRANSCATS system” • Responsible: Systems Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences • Prerequisites • Concept • Architecture • Development • Testing

2. Work Package 5: Decision Support System Prerequisites (general): 1. User friendliness 2. Flexibility/generative character 3. Basic multi-objective decision assessment & proposals 4. Facility of accommodation of various data sources 5. Internet embedding 6. Participatory instruments

3. Work Package 5: Decision Support System Prerequisites (more specific), 1: i.A framework rather than a closed system (a consistent set of simple functional instruments rather than a tight system) ii.Various types of information sources (GISs, other area data - e.g. administrative, point data / state of reality, normative, warning, ... / “models”) iii.Various categories of (potential) decisions and analyses (e.g. time horizon, level, spatial range) iv. No direct modelling in the Project - use of existing models for testing, potentially on a permanent basis

4. Work Package 5: Decision Support System Prerequisites (more specific), 2: v.Internet embedding for two purposes: (1) possibility of running a system with dispersed information and hardware resources; (2) improved accessibility for the partners involved, including the citizen participation instruments vi. The proper (“core”) DSS run a relatively simple and available hardware/software platform (with particular components possibly presenting more stringent requirements)

5. Work Package 5: Decision Support System Prerequisites (more specific), 3: vii. An MCDM instrument, simple and intuitively comprehensible, with, almost by definition, different principles governing different categories viii. Sources of know-how: (1) own experience and knowledge; (2) survey & verification; (3) partners

6. The novelty - the “cutting edge” (quasi-citation)-1 1. The system will draw (...) upon existing systems and methodologies; including those financed by the EC, which, though, tend to be (a) narrower, (b) oriented at more definite managerial situations, or (c) of only informative character 2. The methodologies used will refer to the developments in soft decision assessment and support techniques, AI methods, fuzzy-set-based approaches and opinion analysis methods, accounting for human-consistent (linguistic) treatment of information 3. The system will account for the diffuse and very broadly defined managerial situation across the borders, adapting to the needs of the respective framework (although the definition of “minimum requirement” and “maximum frame” will have to be given)

7. The novelty - the “cutting edge” (quasi-citation)-2 4. The software system will be functioning on the Internet, ensuring both adequate operation of the geographically distributed managerial system, and the participation of a possibly broad scope of agents/actors, including citizen participation, with preservation of appropriate data security, decision competence, as well as efficiency of the system operation

8. The novelty - the “cutting edge” - an addendum • Risk assessment and risk analysis - not only the necessary instruments and techniques, but also increased awareness and understanding, including novel definitions • Avoiding the “tragedy of the commons” and similar overexploitation phenomena - (1) the negotiation framework, (2) the basic rules of behaviour (“deontology”), (3) the on-going analysis; a support from the game-theoretic results

9. The components - The interface(s), with distinction of access and operation levels, as well as stages of work; including the internet functionality with participative instruments; - The data module(s), accepting and processing various kinds of data; - The model(ling) module, based on the existing products, complemented with specific tools (e.g. Linkages to the data modules); - The methodological DSS core (multiobjective group decision making with uncertainties and conflicting interests)