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Image of Journal of Applied Nonlinear Dynamics
ISSN:2325-6192 (print)
ISSN:2325-6206 (online)
Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management
António Mendes Lopes (editor), Jiazhong Zhang(editor)
António Mendes Lopes (editor)

University of Porto, Portugal

Email: aml@fe.up.pt

Jiazhong Zhang (editor)

School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 710049, China

Fax: +86 29 82668723 Email: jzzhang@mail.xjtu.edu.cn

A Spatial Decision Support Tool to Study Risks and Opportunities of Complex Environmental Systems

Journal of Environmental Accounting and Management 3(2) (2015) 197--212 | DOI:10.5890/JEAM.2015.06.008

Valentina Ferretti; Marta Bottero;Giulio Mondini

Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy

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Abstract

An important problem arising when assessing territorial systems is linked to their complexity. This requires multidimensional approaches for the evaluation in order to obtain concise final judgments. Moreover, when dealing with territorial systems, the analysis of the geographical patterns of the elements under investigation plays a fundamental role. This paper proposes an integrated approach for the analysis of a complex environmental system based on the use of Multicriteria-Spatial Decision Support Systems (MC-SDSS). MC-SDSS consist in the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multicriteria Decision Aiding (MCDA) techniques. In particular, starting from a real case related to a mountain area in Northern Italy, the present paper explores the potentialities of the MC-SDSS methodology for supporting the definition of future transformation scenarios.

Acknowledgments

The paper is the result of the joint work of the three authors. Despite the overall responsibility being equally shared, Marta Bottero is responsible for paragraphs 1, 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2 while Valentina Ferretti is responsible for paragraphs 2.2, 3.3 and 3.4. The abstract and paragraph 4are the result of the joint work of the three authors. Finally, the authors would like to express a special thanks to Dr. Elisa Piolatto for the work done during her thesis at the Architectural and Landscape Heritage post-graduates specialization school of the Polytechnic University of Turin (Italy).

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