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Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 23865

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Prof. Dr. Yejun Xu

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Guest Editor

College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Interests: multicriteria decision making; group decision making; water resources management; conflict analysis; data analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Carlos Llopis-Albert

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Guest Editor

Institute of Mechanical and Biomechanical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València–Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Interests: mathematical modeling of engineering problems; mechanical engineering; robotics; computational mechanics; vehicle dynamics; energy efficiency and sustainability; transportation; multibody dynamics; finite element modeling; biomechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, water, energy, food, and their nexus are becoming an increasingly significant and active area of research in economic and management science, especially in terms of safety, a research area where a number of important problems are emerging. These problems can be considered multicriteria decision-making problems. However, there are few studies to date which consider these problems from a multicriteria decision-making point of view. Decision-making theories are routinely based on the notion that decision makers choose alternatives which align with their underlying preferences, and hence, that their preferences can be inferred from their choices. The aim of this Special Issue is to develop various decision-making theories and methodologies for water, energy, and food, including evaluation of water supply, wastewater management, energy, food risk management, safety management, etc.

Prof. Dr. Yejun Xu
Prof. Dr. Carlos Llopis-Albert
Guest Editors

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Keywords

multicriteria analysis
group decision making
water resources management
water risk analysis
decision support systems
evaluation
safety

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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4 pages, 175 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security

by Yejun Xu

Water 2023, 15(24), 4261; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15244261 - 12 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1071

Abstract

In recent years, water, energy, food, and their nexus have become an increasingly significant and active area of research in economic and management science, especially in terms of safety, a research area where several important problems are emerging [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

34 pages, 10790 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Water and Environmental Resources: A Multi-Criteria Assessment of Management Approaches

by Felipe Armas Vargas, Luzma Fabiola Nava, Eugenio Gómez Reyes, Selene Olea-Olea, Claudia Rojas Serna, Samuel Sandoval Solís and Demetrio Meza-Rodríguez

Water 2023, 15(16), 2991; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15162991 - 19 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3081

Abstract

The present study applied a multi-criteria analysis to evaluate the best approach among six theoretical frameworks related to the integrated management of water–environmental resources, analyzing the frequency of multiple management criteria. The literature review covers the period from 1990 to 2015, with a notable presence of the theoretical frameworks of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), Ecohealth, Ecosystem Approach (EA), Water Framework Directive (WFD), and, to a lesser extent, the Watershed Governance Prism (WGP) and the Sustainability Wheel (SW). The multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods applied include AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process), TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), and PROMETHEE (Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations). Twenty-five criteria were analyzed, such as governance, participation, sustainability, decentralization, and health and well-being, among others. We started with five criteria for evaluating the hierarchy of the six theoretical frameworks using the AHP method. Subsequently, we again evaluated the five criteria using the TOPSIS and PROMETHEE methods to calibrate the results with the AHP. Then, using word counting, we evaluated the best approach, applying 10, 15, 20, and 25 more criteria. Our results indicate that the best integrated management alternative was the WFD, which fulfilled 47% of the management criteria. Second, with 45%, was the WGP, and third was IWRM, with 41%; less successful approaches to the criteria were demonstrated by the EA, SW, and Ecohealth methods. By applying this methodology, we demonstrated an excellent structured tool that can aid in the selection of the most important issue within a given sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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13 pages, 2550 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decision Support Strategies for Household Water Consumption Behaviors Based on Advanced Recommender Systems

by Diana Arsene, Alexandru Predescu, Ciprian-Octavian Truică, Elena-Simona Apostol and Mariana Mocanu

Water 2023, 15(14), 2550; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15142550 - 12 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1659

Abstract

Water is one of the most important factors that can influence human health. Therefore, constant monitoring of water consumption is essential to maintain a balance of water demand. A recommendation system represents a major challenge, but with huge potential for the water industry, providing consumers the most efficient ways to conserve water based on their data collected from smart water meters. This paper proposes a novel recommendation system design architecture that promotes water conservation behavior among residential consumers from urban areas. We analyzed 480,000 data samples from several households with different profiles to generate personalized recommendations for each household and encourage consumers to adopt measures to raise awareness and reduce water consumption. Moreover, data were collected from three different measurement points in the household (cold_sink, hot_sink, and toilet), with a sampling time of 60 s. The proposed recommendation system implements collaborative filtering combined with a set of rules to generate recommendations based on the consumption patterns of similar households. The results are promising, offering personalized feedback that could help change the consumption behavior of households if the recommendations made are followed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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18 pages, 1709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distrust Behavior in Social Network Large-Scale Group Decision Making and Its Application in Water Pollution Management

by Yanling Lu, Gaofeng Liu and Yejun Xu

Water 2023, 15(9), 1638; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091638 - 22 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1603

Abstract

Distrust behavior is a human behavior that has a significant impact on water pollution management, but it is neglected in existing approaches. To solve this problem, we design a large-scale group decision making in social network (LSGDM-SN) approach based on distrust behavior and apply it to water pollution management. The purpose of this paper is to develop an LSGDM-SN method to assist managers choose the optimal water pollution management plan. In the presented method, fuzzy preference relations (FPRs) are used to express experts’ assessment of alternatives. To utilize the proposed LSGDM-SN approach to solve the water pollution problem, a novel agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) method is proposed by combing preference similarity and social relationships. Afterward, consensus feedback based on distrust behavior and social network analysis (SNA) is developed to encourage the subset to modify its FPR. A mechanism for the identification and management of distrust behavior is introduced. Based on the situations of distrust behaviors, two pieces of feedback advice are provided to the subset to adjust its FPR. Subsequently, a score function of the FPR is proposed to obtain the best solution for water pollution management. Finally, some comparative analyses and discussions demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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20 pages, 4904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Water Allocation Model for Multiple Uses Based on a Proposed Hydro-Economic Method

by William Dantas Vichete, Arisvaldo Vieira Méllo Júnior and Gabriel Anísio dos Santos Soares

Water 2023, 15(6), 1170; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061170 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3361

Abstract

Water scarcity drives society to conflict over the allocation of water. Economical externalities based on the development of water production improve the decision-making process for planning water allocation and the operation of the water infrastructure. We present a proposed water allocation model using a priority-based and hydro-economic optimization kernel as a framework for improving the quality of information for the different user sectors, stakeholders, and institutions for the water allocation decision-making process. In addition, we propose a method for using hydro-economic optimization models without the marginal benefit curve of water demand. The proposed model, called AcquaNetGIS, was applied to the São Francisco Transboundary System, and the hydro-economic optimization was improved, allocating 7.0% more water for all users considered, including water supply, irrigation, and hydropower. Moreover, the minimum flow downstream from the Xingó hydropower station reached 98.5% (priority-based optimization) and 99.0% (hydro-economic optimization) during the optimization period. Depending on the rules and legislation, the sustainability of water allocation based on hydro-economic externalities may be a better solution for the planning and operation of complex water infrastructure systems. Multicriteria decision-making methods should consider the results of the proposed model in order to understand the stochastics of the hydrological regimes and economic production based on the availability of water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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26 pages, 7382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Quantitative Approach to the Watershed Governance Prism: The Duero River Basin, Mexico

by Felipe Armas Vargas, Oscar Escolero, Samuel Sandoval Solis, Luzma Fabiola Nava, Marisa Mazari Hiriart, Claudia Rojas Serna and Oliver López-Corona

Water 2023, 15(4), 743; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15040743 - 13 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2865

Abstract

Advances have been made in water resource investigation due to the implementation of mathematical models, the development of theoretical frameworks, and the evaluation of sustainability indices. Together, they improve and make integrated water resource management more efficient. In this paper, in the study area of the Duero River Basin, located in Michoacan, Mexico, we schematize a series of numerical indices of the Watershed Governance Prism to determine the quantitative status of water governance in a watershed. The results, presented as axes, perspectives, and prisms in the Axis Index, Water Governance Index, and Watershed Governance Prism Index, provide the conclusion that it is possible to establish and evaluate the Watershed Governance Prism Index using our numerical implementation of the Watershed Governance Prism theoretical framework. Thus, it is possible to define a quantitative status and evoke how water governance is being designed and implemented in a watershed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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13 pages, 1055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multicriteria Decision Analysis of Sites with Increased Nutrient Contents in Water

by Ivana Mladenović-Ranisavljević, Milovan Vuković, Violeta Stefanović and Ljiljana Takić

Water 2022, 14(23), 3810; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14233810 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1737

Abstract

Nutrient pollution represents an ongoing problem and a great challenge to water resources management around the world. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to contribute to the efforts of the water resources management in considering a problem of the nutrient pollution of water from a multicriteria decision-making point of view. The combined PROMETHEE and GAIA analysis in this paper included indicators of nutrients in the water (total nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate, ammonium ion, total phosphorus, and orthophosphates) to rank and evaluate significant sites along the Danube River flow through Serbia. Furthermore, the ecological quality status of the water was determined which places the Danube River into the category of “good” to “moderate” water quality. The results represent a detailed evaluation of the sites with increased nutrient content, associated with the most dominant parameters of nutrient indicators affecting water pollution at each site. The main sources of nonpoint pollution are of anthropogenic origin reflected in agricultural applications of pesticides and fertilizers, together with natural contamination of ground and water sources, while pollution from point sources arises from industrial waste waters as well as from domestic activities. Minimizing the application of fertilizers and pesticides is a way to control pollution from agricultural activities while, at the same time, a proper wastewater treatment is needed to reduce point sources, although financial aspects and lack of funds are limiting factors of this control in Serbia. Therefore, the findings in this paper could serve environmental scientists and water resources managers as a starting point in identifying key sources of nutrient pollution in water, as well as industry experts and national authorities in expanding strategies and taking long-term measures to reduce the input of nutrients into the valuable Danube River. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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20 pages, 5110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Performance of SHETRAN Simulating a Geologically Complex Catchment

by Raúl F. Vázquez, Josué E. Brito, Henrietta Hampel and Stephen Birkinshaw

Water 2022, 14(20), 3334; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203334 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2301

Abstract

Despite recent progress in terms of cheap computing power, the application of physically-based distributed (PBD) hydrological codes still remains limited, particularly, because some commercial-license codes are expensive, even under academic terms. Thus, there is a need for testing the performance of free-license PBD codes simulating complex catchments, so that cheap and reliable mechanistic modelling alternatives might be identified. The hydrology of a geologically complex catchment (586 km²) was modelled using the free-license PBD code SHETRAN. The SHETRAN evaluation took place by comparing its predictions with (i) discharge and piezometric time series observed at different locations within the catchment, some of which were not taken into account during model calibration (i.e., multi-site test); and (ii) predictions from a comparable commercial-license code, MIKE SHE. In general, the discharge and piezometric predictions of both codes were comparable, which encourages the use of the free-license SHETRAN code for the distributed modelling of geologically complex systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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15 pages, 1190 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Evaluation of Water—Energy—Food—Economy Coupling Efficiency Based on Three-Dimensional Network Data Envelopment Analysis Model

by Zhiyu Zhang and Yejun Xu

Water 2022, 14(19), 3133; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14193133 - 4 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1908

Abstract

In the process of human survival and sustainable development, water security, energy security and food security have become the three most prominent issues, but they are interrelated and directly affect each other, that is, to form a Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus. Scientific understanding and correct response to the relationship between WEF is important to realize the sustainable development of natural resources. There are some deficiencies in the existing research on the input–output efficiency of WEF system. There are few articles that can study the efficiency relationship between internal and external factors (such as the economy and environment) of the WEF system at the same time, or the research is not perfect. In view of the shortcomings of the existing research, this paper establishes a three-dimensional network structure to describe the water–energy–food–economy (WEF-Eco) system and establishes the corresponding network Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. We use the data of 19 provinces in Northeast, East, and central China to show the application results of this model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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22 pages, 734 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Rural Development of River Tourism Resources on Physical and Mental Health and Consumption Willingness in the Context of COVID-19

by Hsiao-Hsien Lin, Kuo-Chiang Ting, Jen-Min Huang, I-Shen Chen and Chin-Hsien Hsu

Water 2022, 14(12), 1835; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14121835 - 7 Jun 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3109

Abstract

This study took the Three Gorges Dam as an example and discussed the influence of river regulation decisions on the sustainable development of surrounding villages. The study used mixed research methods, snowball sampling, and convenience sampling to obtain samples. The questionnaire samples were analyzed by basic statistical tests, t-test, and structural equation modeling (SEM). The respondents’ opinions were collected through semi-structured interviews and finally the results were discussed by multivariate analysis. The findings were that even though the villages were not well developed in terms of economy, environment, and natural ecology, as long as the community security could be stable, the living could be safe and convenient, people’s daily life patterns and leisure behaviors could be maintained, and people could stabilize their minds and emotions and maintain physical and mental health in order to meet their living needs and reduce the burden. There would be time and funds to invest in leisure, tourism activities, and consumption behavior. If the above consumption patterns are continued, people will gain positive perceptions, stimulating people’s willingness to invest in property purchases or to make travel plans again. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security)

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