A PROTOTYPE INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING

Abstract

Watershed management and planning requires a reliable information system for the storage and manipulation of data and knowledge for an integrative approach to solve environmental problems. An approach to develop such an information system is described, with the focus on the requirements both for data analysis and for knowledge processing. Examples based on the results of a prototype system for three different watershed studies are presented to demonstrate the representation and visualization of data and knowledge. While the prototype system is found to be viable, its usefulness depends on the ability to link with existing software systems and on the commitment of expert partners in the formulation of an accurate knowledge base for watershed management and planning.