description of a complex system is not easy. The uncertainty and indeterminacy present in complex... more description of a complex system is not easy. The uncertainty and indeterminacy present in complex systems, drive modelers to make subjective decision about the behavior of the system and its most relevant features. This implies embedding a series of nested, and sometimes iterative and evolving assumptions in the model. This in turn, incorporates uncertainty into the model at various levels; affecting the model, the way in which it is developed and the value of its inference. But what does it mean for modelers and the way we do modeling? First, complexity affects the way in which models are implemented. Traditionally, models are thought to be developed as a sequential of three main activities: conceptualization, implementation and evaluation. However, modeling complex systems requires an iterative process of model formulation, more like a trial and error approach, where modules at different levels of detail are considered in conjunction with different assumptions and hypotheses about...
Interactive flood simulations models are computer models that are usable for practitioners during... more Interactive flood simulations models are computer models that are usable for practitioners during work sessions, allowing demand-driven flood simulations together with domain experts. It is assumed among developers of such models that these interactive models better serve decision-making processes, resulting in better informed decisions about, for example, evacuation and rescue operations. In order to test this assumption, we present a method that uses observations to monitor and evaluate decision-making processes in work sessions where interactive models are applied. We present a theoretical framework as a basis for this method, based on theory of collaborative knowledge construction, and operationalize this into measurable metrics. We demonstrate our method in two cases of flood disaster management and illustrate and discuss the strengths and weaknesses.
This Special Issue aims to reflect on knowledge co-production and transdisciplinarity, exploring ... more This Special Issue aims to reflect on knowledge co-production and transdisciplinarity, exploring the mutual interaction between water governance and water research. We do so with contributions that bring examples from diverse parts of the world: Bolivia, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Namibia, the Netherlands, Palestine, and South Africa. Key insights brought by these contributions include the importance of engaging the actors from early stages of transdisciplinary research, and the need for an in-depth understanding of the diverse needs, competences, and power of actors and the water governance system in which knowledge co-production takes place. Further, several future research directions are identified, such as the examination of knowledge backgrounds according to the individual and collective thought styles of different actors. Together, the eight papers included in this Special Issue constitute a significant step toward a better understanding of knowledge co-production and transdiscip...
Abstract Water-stressed countries need to plan their food security and reduce the pressure on the... more Abstract Water-stressed countries need to plan their food security and reduce the pressure on their limited water resources. Agriculture, the largest water-using sector, has a major role in addressing water scarcity and food security challenges. While there has been quite some attention to water management solutions like soil mulching and improved irrigation, less attention has been paid to adapting the cropping pattern to save water. Here, we investigate how a change in which crops are grown where and when can influence the green and blue water footprint (WF) of crop production, save blue water, reduce blue water scarcity and increase both food and cash crop production, using FAO’s AquaCrop model. The performance of two potential solutions, first a strategy of mulching plus drip irrigation, and second a strategy with changing the cropping pattern in addition to mulching and drip irrigation, were compared in one of the most water-stressed catchments in the world, the Upper Litani Basin in Lebanon. Our results show a substantial potential for more efficient use of green water resources for food production while saving scarce blue water resources. Whereas mulching and drip irrigation together decrease the blue WF in the basin by 4.5%, changing the cropping pattern as well can decrease it by 20.3%. Food and cash production could increase by 3% and 50% by changing the cropping pattern, compared to 1.5% and 2.1% by mulching and drip irrigation. Changing the cropping pattern could thus significantly reduce water scarcity and enlarge food and cash production in the basin.
description of a complex system is not easy. The uncertainty and indeterminacy present in complex... more description of a complex system is not easy. The uncertainty and indeterminacy present in complex systems, drive modelers to make subjective decision about the behavior of the system and its most relevant features. This implies embedding a series of nested, and sometimes iterative and evolving assumptions in the model. This in turn, incorporates uncertainty into the model at various levels; affecting the model, the way in which it is developed and the value of its inference. But what does it mean for modelers and the way we do modeling? First, complexity affects the way in which models are implemented. Traditionally, models are thought to be developed as a sequential of three main activities: conceptualization, implementation and evaluation. However, modeling complex systems requires an iterative process of model formulation, more like a trial and error approach, where modules at different levels of detail are considered in conjunction with different assumptions and hypotheses about...
Interactive flood simulations models are computer models that are usable for practitioners during... more Interactive flood simulations models are computer models that are usable for practitioners during work sessions, allowing demand-driven flood simulations together with domain experts. It is assumed among developers of such models that these interactive models better serve decision-making processes, resulting in better informed decisions about, for example, evacuation and rescue operations. In order to test this assumption, we present a method that uses observations to monitor and evaluate decision-making processes in work sessions where interactive models are applied. We present a theoretical framework as a basis for this method, based on theory of collaborative knowledge construction, and operationalize this into measurable metrics. We demonstrate our method in two cases of flood disaster management and illustrate and discuss the strengths and weaknesses.
This Special Issue aims to reflect on knowledge co-production and transdisciplinarity, exploring ... more This Special Issue aims to reflect on knowledge co-production and transdisciplinarity, exploring the mutual interaction between water governance and water research. We do so with contributions that bring examples from diverse parts of the world: Bolivia, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Namibia, the Netherlands, Palestine, and South Africa. Key insights brought by these contributions include the importance of engaging the actors from early stages of transdisciplinary research, and the need for an in-depth understanding of the diverse needs, competences, and power of actors and the water governance system in which knowledge co-production takes place. Further, several future research directions are identified, such as the examination of knowledge backgrounds according to the individual and collective thought styles of different actors. Together, the eight papers included in this Special Issue constitute a significant step toward a better understanding of knowledge co-production and transdiscip...
Abstract Water-stressed countries need to plan their food security and reduce the pressure on the... more Abstract Water-stressed countries need to plan their food security and reduce the pressure on their limited water resources. Agriculture, the largest water-using sector, has a major role in addressing water scarcity and food security challenges. While there has been quite some attention to water management solutions like soil mulching and improved irrigation, less attention has been paid to adapting the cropping pattern to save water. Here, we investigate how a change in which crops are grown where and when can influence the green and blue water footprint (WF) of crop production, save blue water, reduce blue water scarcity and increase both food and cash crop production, using FAO’s AquaCrop model. The performance of two potential solutions, first a strategy of mulching plus drip irrigation, and second a strategy with changing the cropping pattern in addition to mulching and drip irrigation, were compared in one of the most water-stressed catchments in the world, the Upper Litani Basin in Lebanon. Our results show a substantial potential for more efficient use of green water resources for food production while saving scarce blue water resources. Whereas mulching and drip irrigation together decrease the blue WF in the basin by 4.5%, changing the cropping pattern as well can decrease it by 20.3%. Food and cash production could increase by 3% and 50% by changing the cropping pattern, compared to 1.5% and 2.1% by mulching and drip irrigation. Changing the cropping pattern could thus significantly reduce water scarcity and enlarge food and cash production in the basin.
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