The use of standard protocols is necessary for the creation of standard
(and stable) data management, seamless connectivity to remote servers,
straightforward links between differing data sources and assessment/modeling tools, etc. Any sustainable opportunity for decision makers and stakeholders to query databases of multiple types efficiently (e.g., through just a
few mouse clicks using a query language that is natural to the decision
maker) and to visualize or further manipulate those data is directly related
to software and hardware interoperability. Unfortunately, there are now
several sets of “standards” for archiving and querying geospatial data.
Clearly, the development of one set of interoperability protocols or standards would be highly beneficial.
12.2.3 Conceptualization and Collaboration Tools
Conceptualization involves the formulation of the environmental management problem(s) being tackled, the key system components (e.g., physical,
biological, social, and economic) associated with the problem(s) being
investigated, and the potential management alternatives to be considered
as a part of problem solving. The process of conceptualizing problems,
and their potential solutions, has become a highly collaborative one that
involves decision makers, stakeholders, scientists and engineers, and the
public. Recent activities among the U.S. federal agencies, as exemplified by
those of the (U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Johnson et al. 1999),
illustrate the collaborative nature of future decision making.
Tools to support problem, objective, and alternative conceptualization
are essential for all potential toolkit users. These tools could range from (1)
a web-based decision tree that, through branched queries, leads the decision maker or stakeholder to specify the particular problem or solution
alternative to (2) a fully icon- or object-based method for accomplishing
the same result. Westervelt (2001) provides a review of candidate software
applications that could support development of a conceptualization capability for the U.S. Army’s Land Management System (Holland and Goran
1999).
Tools empowering group meetings, shared data mining and visualization,
and consensus building (all on the Internet) are required. Therefore, the
decision maker’s toolkit, in concert with the stakeholder’s and conceptual
toolkits, must provide the computational means to facilitate both conceptualization and collaboration (Johnson et al. 1999).
12.2.4 Integration of Improved Science into
Decision Making
The integration of advanced science and engineering, particularly for new
discoveries, is a challenging task. A recent USDA report from its Committee of Scientists (Committee of Scientists 1999, p. 123) states that
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(and stable) data management, seamless connectivity to remote servers,
straightforward links between differing data sources and assessment/modeling tools, etc. Any sustainable opportunity for decision makers and stakeholders to query databases of multiple types efficiently (e.g., through just a
few mouse clicks using a query language that is natural to the decision
maker) and to visualize or further manipulate those data is directly related
to software and hardware interoperability. Unfortunately, there are now
several sets of “standards” for archiving and querying geospatial data.
Clearly, the development of one set of interoperability protocols or standards would be highly beneficial.
12.2.3 Conceptualization and Collaboration Tools
Conceptualization involves the formulation of the environmental management problem(s) being tackled, the key system components (e.g., physical,
biological, social, and economic) associated with the problem(s) being
investigated, and the potential management alternatives to be considered
as a part of problem solving. The process of conceptualizing problems,
and their potential solutions, has become a highly collaborative one that
involves decision makers, stakeholders, scientists and engineers, and the
public. Recent activities among the U.S. federal agencies, as exemplified by
those of the (U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Johnson et al. 1999),
illustrate the collaborative nature of future decision making.
Tools to support problem, objective, and alternative conceptualization
are essential for all potential toolkit users. These tools could range from (1)
a web-based decision tree that, through branched queries, leads the decision maker or stakeholder to specify the particular problem or solution
alternative to (2) a fully icon- or object-based method for accomplishing
the same result. Westervelt (2001) provides a review of candidate software
applications that could support development of a conceptualization capability for the U.S. Army’s Land Management System (Holland and Goran
1999).
Tools empowering group meetings, shared data mining and visualization,
and consensus building (all on the Internet) are required. Therefore, the
decision maker’s toolkit, in concert with the stakeholder’s and conceptual
toolkits, must provide the computational means to facilitate both conceptualization and collaboration (Johnson et al. 1999).
12.2.4 Integration of Improved Science into
Decision Making
The integration of advanced science and engineering, particularly for new
discoveries, is a challenging task. A recent USDA report from its Committee of Scientists (Committee of Scientists 1999, p. 123) states that
228
Jeffery P. Holland et al.