Realising social justice in the water sector: 2

Abstract

The second part of this paper is given over to the role of the hydroinformatician in creating sociotechnical environments in which the transmutations necessary to provide states of social justice can be catalysed through the creation of appropriate web-based environments. Some recent exemplifications of these processes within the second paradigm case that is used here are provided in conclusion. In particular, the ways in which the objects presented by the user interfaces to the different classes of stakeholders become transmuted into symbols in the minds of these stakeholders through the active exercise of their imaginations are exemplified and further analysed. This work has proceeded concurrently with the design, writing and development of the software necessary to realise its aims and ambitions, with special attention being given to the new kinds of user interfaces and viewing facilities that are then required. This work will be described separately by other authors involved in this initiative. It is emphasised at various junctures that enterprises of this kind carry substantial risks and must be approached with much care and understanding; and indeed the primary reason for writing this paper is to communicate not only the risks, but also the corresponding level of understanding that is necessary to overcome these risks.