STAKEHOLDER-ASSISTED MODELLING AND POLICY DESIGN PROCESS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION-MAKING

Abstract

Environmental planning and policy analysis, design and implementation are complicated by the fact that environmental problems are almost always part of a complex sociotechnical system, the behaviour of which is not intuitive. The complexity of the problem necessitates a technical and scientific analysis process, which by its nature excludes the majority of the stakeholders in the given problem. To overcome these challenges, this research proposes the engagement of stakeholders from very early on in the process using computer-assisted visualisation and representation of complex sociotechnical systems. Specifically it proposed the use of system dynamics simulation in illustrating the complex interactions of the different sociotechnical system elements. Using computer simulation of the system, stakeholders can then decide on the best strategies to address the issue on a more objective basis. Ubiquitous computing enables the assessment of a vast number of strategies in a relatively short time.