Synthesis model development in the context of management decision support system

Environmental problems pose a complex social challenge, especially when stakeholders have different understanding of the problems, approached from conflicting economic, social, and environmental objectives. Increasing shared understanding of environmental issues through a structured engagement with stakeholders is fundamental to finding appropriate solutions and reaching consensus on public policy. Synthesis modeling involves a strategic combination of best-available data, including geospatial data and model outputs, environmental monitoring, and socio-economic inputs from stakeholders, into an integrated modeling framework to address specific environmental management questions. This approach was applied to address the nonpoint source sediment pollution from an intensively managed agricultural watershed in Minnesota: through the development of a user-friendly model as a boundary object, complex environmental observatory information and data were translated into a decision-relevant impact assessment of spatially-explicit management allocations. The model was built by synthesizing multiple geospatial analysis and biophysical simulation models, including a topographic filtering sediment delivery model, a hydrologic routing model, and an empirical relation determined from stream gaging records, along with various earth observation data. The model structure and internal computational modules are selected to include only the essential elements necessary to answer the policy-relevant questions, thus restricting the model complexity for a better comprehension of the simulation processes among the engaged stakeholders. The resulting model, which is data-driven and reduced-complexity, was used effectively to bring consensus among stakeholders on the assessment of most efficient landscape management strategy. Similar modeling approach can be adopted, where scientists organize pertinent environmental observations for landscape management analysis, and engage the general public to increase their understanding of the environmental issues. Synthesis model development with stakeholder engagement can advance shared-understanding of the environmental problems and result in science-driven public policy decisions.