Decision Support in Water Resources Planning and Management: The Nile Basin Decision Support System

This book chapter presents the experiences in developing and applying a decision support system in a trans-boundary river basin context taking the Nile Basin Decision Support System (NB DSS) as a case. This system is categorized as model-based DSS, as simulation models of the water resource system are its central components, albeit combined with many other components such as a database, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and algorithm implementations for data analysis, optimization, Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA), Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA), etc. The system is developed cooperatively, as part of the efforts of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) for promoting shared and equitable water resources development and management in the basin. It serves its formal purpose of evaluating different water resources planning and management alternatives, but to also acts as knowledge sharing platform for enhancing shared understanding of the Nile basin water resources system and the interests and needs of various stakeholders. The chapter presents the process for NB DSS design, development and implementation, together with its main components and the experiences and lessons learned from its initial use.

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