Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2010MI166B

Blueprint for integration of models into a Watershed Management Spatial Decision Support System

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2010 Start Date: 2010-03-01 End Date: 2011-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $19,999 Total Non-Federal Funds: $40,779

Principal Investigators: Yi Shi, Phanikumar Mantha

Project Summary:

Problem and Research Objective

Problem: Numerous environmental models characterizing watershed processes have been developed. However, these models have not been linked with either their required databases or together to provide assistance in holistic watershed management that incorporates ecological and human well-being considerations. Thus, no holistic spatial decision support system exists to support local governments, NGO, or private land-owners with wise environmental and ecological planning and management decision making.

Methods: (1) Develop an overview of the characteristic questions and detailed answers/advice needed to assist local land-use decisions; (2) Assess and review well-developed (mature) environmental models that characterize watershed processes.; (3) Evaluate efficient and feasible approaches for the integration of these models; (4) Propose a prototype system (blueprint) that incorporates the models with the appropriate data at correct scales to yield useful information for natural resource decision-makers.

Objectives: (1) Determine the characteristic questions, scale, and details of guidance needed by typical local land-use decision-makers, (2) Select component models (hydrologic, nutrient, detailed spatial sediment) that can be linked to provide optimized guidance for planners, (3) Outline the specific steps in assessing model applicability/compatibility and the coupling process to yield the best outputs to guide planners, (4) Develop an effective blueprint (process) for utilization of the coupled models with their required input data.