Coastal zone management with stochastic multi-criteria analysis

• Published in: Journal of environmental management Vol. 112; pp. 252 - 266
• Main Authors: Félix, A., Baquerizo, A., Santiago, J.M., Losada, M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.12.2012; Elsevier; Academic Press Ltd
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Coastal; Coastal zone management; coasts; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Criteria; Decision analysis; Decision Making; Decision making under uncertainty; Distribution economics; economic analysis; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; homeowners; Integrated coastal zone management; Management; Management techniques; Marine; Methodology; playas; Preferences; river deltas; Simulation; Stochastic models; Stochastic multi-criteria analysis; Stochasticity; Strategy; Uncertainty; watersheds; Spain; Granada Spain; Stochastic multi-criteria analysis; Decision making under uncertainty; Integrated coastal zone management; Decision making; Environmental management; Integrated management; Coastal zone
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.05.033

The methodology for coastal management proposed in this study takes into account the physical processes of the coastal system and the stochastic nature of forcing agents. Simulation techniques are used to assess the uncertainty in the performance of a set of predefined management strategies based on different criteria representing the main concerns of interest groups. This statistical information as well as the distribution function that characterizes the uncertainty regarding the preferences of the decision makers is fed into a stochastic multi-criteria acceptability analysis that provides the probability of alternatives obtaining certain ranks and also calculates the preferences of a typical decision maker who supports an alternative. This methodology was applied as a management solution for Playa Granada in the Guadalfeo River Delta (Granada, Spain), where the construction of a dam in the river basin is causing severe erosion. The analysis of shoreline evolution took into account the coupled action of atmosphere, ocean, and land agents and their intrinsic stochastic character. This study considered five different management strategies. The criteria selected for the analysis were the economic benefits for three interest groups: (i) indirect beneficiaries of tourist activities; (ii) beach homeowners; and (iii) the administration. The strategies were ranked according to their effectiveness, and the relative importance given to each criterion was obtained. ► The management of environmental systems with a transparent decision making is addressed. ► A stochastic multi-criteria analysis of the performance of a set of strategies is performed. ► As a case study, the severe erosion problem in a coastal stretch is presented. ► Strategies are ranked, and the preferences of the typical decision makers who support them are estimated.