Context

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DL09 The URBSOIL DST

• Context Description

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Basis of approach
Decision making for land management requires the
presence of a soil information, but recognises
that 1. Soil data is strongly guarded by its
owners (DL01), 2. Land assessment is site
specific DST development geared towards
acquisition of transient data sets and their
application in a series of scenarios/ models.
Above all it must be recognised that A soil
information system is a tool for soil and terrain
data analysis. A Decision Support Tool
aids/supports decision making for land management.
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In this presentation

• A review of DL02 foundation of URBSOIL DST
• An overview of the URBSOIL DST (DL09)
• outline of a realistic scenario used to test the
  tool description of the DST components involved
• Emphasis on links to other DLs
• Present the final phase of DST development (i.e.
  DL12)

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Specifications of the Decision Support System
(DL02)

• End users need to understand information quickly
  and simply so a flexible system was specified.
• Allowing each end-user access to a knowledge base
  that aids their understanding of the issues
  involved.
• The knowledge base is an expert pool of
  knowledge generated from the soil experts within
  the URBSOIL network.
• This knowledge base guides the end users through
  the process of urban soil evaluation
• presents the fundamental differences of opinion
  that may exist within the pool of soil experts.
• This allows knowledge acquisition and
  justification of decision options by the
  end-user.

End-user groups who might use the
DST Stakeholder any group with an interest in
the issue Often end-user stakeholder
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Specifications of the Decision Support System
(DL02)

• The end users - aided by the knowledge base -
  derive an estimation of urban soil quality and
  justify their reasons for their assessment via
  the ability to comment on line.
• The individuals assessment of a problem is
  disseminated to other stakeholders involved from
  an automatically generated report via an on line
  forum.
• In each subsequent round, the stakeholders have
  the ability to view the other stakeholder
  opinions from the automatically generated
  reports.
• each stakeholder, potentially armed with new
  knowledge, opinions and reasoning, have the
  ability to adjust their estimates for the
  numerical value of soil quality generated.
• the potential to achieve consensus is increased.

Both quantitative and ill-defined environmental
decision problems can be tackled, highlighted by
the recognition of "goals" modelling within the
system. In addition, the flexible system allows
for further input as and when required. For
example, companies displaying state of the art
remediation options for contaminated urban land
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DL09 The URBSOIL DST
www-communication
feedback
Data descriptors
GIS-display
Supporting data transient sources
Soil data (URBSOIL)
consultation
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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)

• URBSOIL DST incorporates data collection,
  handling and consultation tools
• Output in a visual form where ever possible
• Application illustrated with local environmental
  management scenario
• Designed to ensure future wide generic
  applicability and deal with the issues of
  information ownership and availability

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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)

• Using www-based techniques to increase
  transferability and accessibility
• A. data handling/display facility for
• Data generated during the project
• Data on the urban ecosystem (e.g. DL01)
• Specialised scenario-specific data
• B. the conferencing/consultation system
• To capture knowledge and aid decision making in a
  flexible and transparent manner
• Guidance and calibration data (manuals)
• to enable administrators to use the tool
• set questionnaires, collect data, interpret
  responses, guard against issues such as group
  think biasing the process, deliver consultation
  rapidly, maximise response rates

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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)

• A scenario was used to illustrate
• the application of the URBSOIL DST in decision
  making for urban environmental management
• the relationship between components and
  facilities available in the DST.
• Run as a role-play exercise during a network
  meeting in Glasgow, June 2004.

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The Scenario
Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)
To identify a suitable location of a city farm
within Urban Glasgow

• an on line conference is organised delivered
  through a series of timed, anonymous
  questionnaires, designed to gather opinion and
  capture knowledge on the wide range of issues
  associated with the scenario
• The conference administrator is the Local
  Authority Officer who uses this exercise to
  decide what location to recommend to the
  Management Committee, and is able to provide
  justification from the consultation exercise

City farm see http//www.farmgarden.org.uk/Abou
t/what-are/index.html
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The Scenario process
Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)

• The 12 conference participants were presented
  data
• spatially (using the www-GIS from 2 locations in
  the City of Glasgow, with access to associated
  URBSOIL soil data),
• a series of web links and data sets to other
  support materials.
• The conference administrator presents the
  participants with a series of questions, probing
  opinion on criteria against which to judge/
  comment/ vote i.e. how suitable is the site.
• This conference is split into two sessions
• Session 1 a questionnaire presented, asking for
  opinion on the merits of each location, measured
  against (Agenda 21) criteria, supported by
  additional data with a response deadline.
• Session 2 the results from the first
  questionnaire were presented back to the group
  and, additional opinion gathered.

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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)
Criteria Stakeholders
Criteria chosen come from the UK Recommended
Criteria for LA21 (plus soil conditions of the
site) to ensure the welfare of the community who
will use it. The team were split into 2 groups of
6, each member assigned briefing notes to role
play from a list of 8 stakeholders. In this
scenario, each group had two, different,
non-attendees.
Soil conditions!!
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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)
The Scenario result

• group total score
• Site 1 Elder Park 2.442
• Site 2 Linn Park 1.215

Elder Park wins!

• By considering all votes (both and -),
  although Elder Park is the favoured option, it
  can be seen that certain parameters are not
  reaching a desired standard (e.g. soil quality).
• The result can quickly alert the Management
  Committee to prioritised actions required for
  either Park to be made a satisfactory and
  sufficient (satis-ficing) option for all
  stakeholders.

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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)
The technology within the DST
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The URBSOIL web-based soil data management system
Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)

• The basic structure of the URBSOIL DST interface
• Display of data, data handling, databases
• Areas to further develop/validate

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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)
Platform Structure
A flexible, specifically programmed, software
environment to link and manipulate datasets in a
wide range of formats
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Scenario main page
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Zoom in detail of study site showing Pb data
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facility to select display any URBSOIL data
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location of second scenario site
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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)

• URBSOIL data (and other datasets) are linked to
  the GIS.
• Stored in a database that allows investigation
  and summary analysis of the data.
• Database provides route to collection of
  harmonised data sets and allows comparison
  between cities and for the conference
  administrator to select and define categories of
  information to be included in the conference.
• For the City Farm scenario, URBSOIL heavy metal
  databases were available through the GIS

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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)
The following slides show the main features of
the database
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Detail of main DST database
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Display of URBSOIL soil data Pb in main study
samples
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Summary of data statistics (part view)
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Summary of data display (part view)
Visually simple graphical summaries of URBSOIL
data. (e.g. Pb in all surface soil study sites
main sampling)
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Main down load/upload page access to (URB)soil
database
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Part view of URBSOIL database standard file
(summary worksheet)
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Facility to store data on urban ecosystem (see
DL01) (can be called into the GIS if geospatial
information is supplied)
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www-GIS system within DST toolkit
Area for instructions
Area for additional dataset display
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Further GIS display of URBSOIL data e.g. Glasgow
Pilot study (site 1)
Additional models to be added as appropriate
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b. consultation/conference tool
Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)

• e-Delphi-based (similar to some business
  knowledge management tools)
• administrator view of conference performance
  and collection of response data
• Questionnaire design, supply of exercise
  instructions and supporting information for the
  scenario,
• Data handling and display tools (section a.)
  incorporated as conference resources

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conference registration and participation
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Details of participant briefing note and
instructions (Instructions button)
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Details of additional information sources to
support scenario
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Conference entrance (once registered!)
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Part view of typical questionnaire (standard
version)
Rating scores
Free field comment options
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Part view of typical questionnaire with responses
from Round 1 included in Round 2 questionnaire
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administrators view of questionnaire data
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Development of the URBSOIL Decision Support Tool
(DL09)
The software architecture of the online
questionnaire methodology
programmed within an Active Server Page scripting
environment and utilised Java applets. Input
codes utilised were 1. Input ratings Where
the user could rate their agreement/disagreement
to a statement. 2. Expert ratings Similar to
input ratings, the user is asked to personally
rate own expertise within a particular domain.
an addition to increase the efficiency of the
Delphi process. 3. Comment boxes Where the user
could input their reasons for rating a particular
issue. 4. Preference boxes Where the user could
physically move variables into an order of
preference The scripts within each page were
programmed as html.
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Participation Rate During One Round of Delphi for
URBSOIL (arrows indicate reminders to the group)
Example of conference performance
characteristics (different exercise) This
response data is used to provide an evaluation of
tool potential, barriers to use etc and knowledge
gained will be included in guidance manuals as
well as dissemination activities
reminder messages
Note skew in completion due to late
registration just before conclusion of exercise
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DL12 URBSOIL Tool KitValidation Development
plans for the final phase

• Example of external validation of consultation
  tools
• Areas for refinement and application

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DL12 URBSOIL Tool KitExternal Validation
Example

• Application of the URBSOIL consultation/
  conferencing tools for stakeholder group decision
  support
• Applied to a National Society for Clean Air
  Environmental Protection (Scotland) (end user)
  consultation
• Wide stakeholder representation regulators,
  academics, industry
• Questionnaire supplied from a previous
  consultation in England Wales, was modified by
  NSCA expert panel and URBSOIL invited to include
  3 additional questions
• An on-line questionnaire was administered by
  Glasgow City Council, supported by URBSOIL
  Team-Paisley
• Positive feedback on tool performance high
  response (gt90), fast turn around (2 months, 2
  rounds)

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• example of NSCA membership/ consultation pool
• Local Authorities ( SEPA) in Scotland were the
  participants in the exercise

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Results from of a survey of and opinion on
Progress in Contaminated Land Assessment in
Scotland.
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User needs identified during exercise topics
prioritised and resourced, delivered as training
workshops (value of 20k)
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DL12 URBSOIL Tool KitValidation Development
plans for the final phase

• Additional programming of database to allow user
  definition of templates (further DL01-DL09
  development and interaction)
• Links and functionality between GIS, display
  areas and databases
• Validation and development activities
• Live City Farm scenario data capture exercises
  national and international user needs survey
• Completion of manuals/instructions via e-based
  training of remote user

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Example Outline of on-line Data manual (under
development)
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Final format application

• A www server-based facility
• A series of communication and visualisation
  tools, validated against urban soil decision
  making
• Extensive documentation and training manuals

• Just add an administrator with basic www
  skills, who could undertake knowledge capture
  exercises to support (environmental) management
  decisions
• ..who would be guided (from URBSOIL experience)
  in the pitfalls of and barriers to environmental
  decision making, to optimise success and at the
  same time provide true transparency.