Research@Lincoln
    • Login
     
    View Item 
    •   Research@Lincoln Home
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • Theses and Dissertations with Restricted Access
    • View Item
    •   Research@Lincoln Home
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • Theses and Dissertations with Restricted Access
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Multiple criteria decision making in resource management : an examination of some methods for the analysis of decision problems in the context of some resource management issues

    McDougall, J. C.
    Abstract
    The methods of multiple criteria decision-making (MCDM) are techniques for the analysis of decision problems for which several criteria (or objectives) are relevant, as against those problems for which only one objective is important. These methods are predominantly mathematical tools which require quantitative data, although there are some which require only qualitative information. Discrete MCDM methods are used for the problem of selecting between alternative plans or courses of action, and multiple-objective programming methods are used to develop computer models of the system being planned for which can be used to generate and evaluate good plans. MCDM methods have been used overseas in resource management issues, and the question of whether these methods would be of utility in planning and decision-making for some New Zealand resource issues is examined in this report. MCDM methods may assist resource managers in dealing with the complexities of the issues they face. Some issues of the Rakaia River and catchment are examined, for illustrative purposes, including the allocation of flow between in-stream and out-of-stream uses, the design of irrigation schemes, the evaluation of H.E.P. development options, land-use in the upper catchment, and the management of Lake Heron. MCDM methods are found to be of only very limited utility in the first two of these issues, because of the lack of quantitative data on the effects of abstractions on in-stream values and because of the importance of the dynamics of the river and irrigation systems. However, multiple-objective programming is of some potential utility in land-use planning in the high country. A "soft" discrete MCDM method is applied, for illustrative purposes to the problem of selecting between management options for Lake Heron, and this approach may be quite widely useful. MCDM methods cannot be used to find answers to complex resource planning problems which are necessarily socially optimal, because they require the explicit making of value judgements; however such value judgements are always implicitly made in public-sector decisions. However MCDM methods are, in some circumstances, useful aids to decision making and planning on complex issues. Perhaps the principal benefit of the use of such methods is that they can facilitate the development of innovative and creative plans.... [Show full abstract]
    Keywords
    multiple criteria decision making (MCDM); planning; resource management; multiple-objective programming; Rakaia River; decision making
    Fields of Research
    050209 Natural Resource Management
    Date
    1984
    Type
    Thesis
    Access Rights
    Digital thesis can be viewed by current staff and students of Lincoln University only. If you are the author of this item, please contact us if you wish to discuss making the full text publicly available.
    Collections
    • Theses and Dissertations with Restricted Access [2370]
    • Department of Environmental Management [1134]
    View/Open
    Staff/student login to read
    Share this

    on Twitter on Facebook on LinkedIn on Reddit on Tumblr by Email

    Metadata
     Expand record
    This service is maintained by Learning, Teaching and Library
    • Archive Policy
    • Copyright and Reuse
    • Deposit Guidelines and FAQ
    • Contact Us
     

     

    Browse

    All of Research@LincolnCommunities & CollectionsTitlesAuthorsKeywordsBy Issue DateThis CollectionTitlesAuthorsKeywordsBy Issue Date

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics
    This service is maintained by Learning, Teaching and Library
    • Archive Policy
    • Copyright and Reuse
    • Deposit Guidelines and FAQ
    • Contact Us