Dear Bipin,

A general definition of "Decision Support System" can be any of the
following:

* Information technology and software specifically designed to help
people make decisions.

* A form of information technology that uses databases and decision
models to enhance the decision-making process.

* Software that speeds access and simplifies data analysis, queries,
etc. within a database management system.

* A computer program application that analyzes and presents data in a
form that helps users to make decisions more easily. A DSS may
present information graphically and may include an expert system or
artificial intelligence.

* An interactive system that includes information and modeling tools
to help people understand a problem, explore various courses of
action, predict the impacts of those actions, make decisions, and
analyze data.

* Information systems expressly designed to support individual and
collective decision making by making it possible to apply decision
models to large collections of data. These systems are designed to
support the decision-making process, rather than render a decision.

* A sophisticated computer program to assist managers in making
decisions. It may include simulation programs, mathematical
programming routines, and decision rules.

* A computer system designed to provide the user with all the
information relevant to a certain decision.

* Computer systems used to help managers consider alternatives when
making decisions on complicated problems.

* Systems designed to support a decision research process for complex
problems.

* A set of computer oriented tools designed to assist managers in
making decisions.

Thus the "Decision Support Systems" (DSS) are technical tools
intended to provide valid and sufficient information to decision
makers. A typical DSS for integrated water resources management
includes five main components: data acquisition system, user-data-
model interface, database, data analysis tools, and a set of
interlinked models (Source:
http://www.elet.polimi.it/IFAC_TC_Environment/Venice2004/papers/g_geo_
ven04.pdf).

1. The data acquisition system consists of all means by which generic
data are collected and made available through the DSS. Data may be
collected by conventional sensors (rain-gages, stream-gages, etc.),
remote sensors (satellite, radar), as well as by manual compilation
efforts (e.g., surveys, interviews, and literature reviews).

2. The purpose of the user-data- model interface is to (1) transfer
the data to the database, and (2) provide easy and meaningful access
to data, data analysis tools, and application programs (models).

3. The database is the depository of all data acquired by the data
acquisition system and generated by the data analysis tools and
application programs.

4. The data analysis tools provide user-friendly means to visualize
and analyze various data sets. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
packages are especially important for the visualization and analysis
of geo-referenced (spatial) data.

5. Lastly and most importantly, the purpose of the DSS models is to
quantify the holistic response of the water resources system to
alternative scenarios of basin development, hydrology, water use
levels, and management policies.

In some form, the above-described DSS elements exist in most useful
information and modeling tools for water resources planning and
management. However, beyond these elements, the effectiveness of a
DSS depends on its ability to provide valid, sufficient, and
consistent information at all level. The key DSS challenge is to
support decisions that are made by several decision makers, pertain
to various temporal and spatial scales, and concern multiple
stakeholder groups and water uses.

Regards
Kumar
================================================
C. P. KUMAR
Scientist 'E1'
National Institute of Hydrology
Jal Vigyan Bhawan
Roorkee - 247667 (Uttaranchal)
INDIA

Phone : +91-1332-272907*237
Fax : +91-1332-272123
Web Page : http://www.angelfire.com/nh/cpkumar/
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--- In dsshydrology@..., "bipingu" <bipingu@y...> wrote:
>
> Since the natural water resources are under constant strain due to
> increasing population and thus reduction in per capita
availability.
> Many decision support systems have been designed and put to use by
> different people and organisations.
> I couldn't find any discussion initiated in the group, therefore to
> start with, I would request if any one can describe features of a
> good Decision Support System ( DSS Hydrology)
>
> with regards a good wishes for happy diwali
>
> Bipin Upadhyay