Group decision making in water resources planning using multiple objective analysis

Water resources planning involves groups or institutions having differing objectives, responsibilities, and interests, and it requires collaboration for conflict resolution. In this paper, the characteristics and modeling requirements of conflict resolution in water resources planning are discussed. A method based on compound models is proposed for regional water resources planning involving multiple decision makers. This method combines modeling techniques such as multiobjective analysis and multicriteria and multiparticipant decision methods, and supports plan generation and evaluation, individual and group preference elicitation, and negotiation taking aim at a consensus plan. The method demonstrates that computer models can be effective and useful for group decisions in water resources planning by facilitating information sharing, participative model development, and learning processes.