FIRMA: Freshwater integrated resource management with agents

• Forschungsstelle: EU FRP
• Projektnummer: 99.0696
• Projekttitel Englisch: FIRMA: Freshwater integrated resource management with agents

Schlüsselwörter (Deutsch)

Wasserversorgung; Wassersparen; Effizienzsteigerung

Alternative Projektnummern (Englisch)

EU project number: EVK1-1999-00016

Forschungsprogramme (Englisch)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.4a.1 Sustainable management and quality of water

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

See abstract

Partner und Internationale Organisationen (Englisch)

Coordinator: University of Surrey, Guildford (UK)

Abstract (Englisch)

In the second year of the project a methodology has been developed for participatory group model building using agent-based modelling. In the Swiss case study, the methodology is being used for the development of new strategies for urban water management. The methodology is designed to enable stakeholder-driven development and exploration of an agent-based model; a process which encourages social learning, perspective sharing, conflict identification and resolution and group solution generation. The methodology is integrated in a number of senses. First it integrates methods for knowledge elicitation and group learning from management science, clinical psychology and knowledge engineering. Second, agent-based models are developed in different media in order for the stakeholders to have different levels of involvement with the models, depending on the need for them to learn about each other's perspectives or to assess a range of possible management scenarios. Third, it allows to combine 'subjective' knowledge elicted from the stakeholders with 'objective' knowledge derived from data.
The methodology combines hexagon and card sorting methods so that mental models and initial management scenarios from stakeholders can be elicited and used to describe a basic structure for an agent-based model. The model structure is then converted into a role playing board game which allows the stakeholders to take on the roles of agents within the model and thus acclimatize to it in a socially conducive atmosphere. Game sessions provide the stakeholders with an opportunity to embed themselves within a small set of management scenarios and learn about the other stakeholders' perspectives and goals. They also provide the researcher with stakeholder behaviour protocols which can be used to develop decision rules for implementing the cognitive processes necessary for the agent-based model. The latter is then used to rapidly generate more exhaustive management scenarios for exploration by the stakeholder group.
In summary this year, along with the methodology, an agent-based model has been developed of the water management system in our case study, from which has been designed a computer simulation, an internet forum (in cooperation with the University of Surrey, UK) and a role playing game. The latter has been used by the stakeholders during two stakeholder meetings. In terms of social learning, the gaming has generated discussions on the possible undesired consequences of water saving in the case study city without control of water demand and reduction of supply infrastructure, e.g. a reduction in utility revenue and water quality. There have also been debates on the institutional inadequacy of splitting the water supply and waste water utilities, and the possible sources of funding for subsidies for these utilities if water saving is to be promoted. 8 focus groups have also been carried out to elicit consumer attitudes towards the water supply system and their concerns. The swiss case study group have published 3 articles related to agent-based modelling in conferences during this period. The approach has raised considerable attention in the international scientific and policy communities.

Datenbankreferenzen (Englisch)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0696