Topics on System Analysis and Integrated Water Resources Management

The Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) paradigm has been worldwide recognized as the only feasible way currently available to ensure a sustainable perspective in planning and managing water resource systems. It is the inspiring principle of the Water Framework Directive, adopted by the European Union in 2000, as well as the main reference for all the water related activity of UNESCO in the third world countries. However, very often, real world attempts of implementing IWRM fail for the lack of a systematic approach and the inadequacy of tools and techniques adopted to address the intrinsically complex nature of water systems. This book explores recent and important contributions of System Analysis and Control Theory to the technical application of such paradigm and to the improvement of its theoretical basis. Its prior aim is to demonstrate how the modelling and computational difficulties posed by this paradigm might be significantly reduced by strengthening the efficiency of the solution techniques, instead of weakening the integration requirements. The first introductory chapter provides the reader with a logical map of the book, by formalizing the IWRM paradigm in a nine-step decisional procedure and by identifying the points where the contribution of System Analysis and Control Theory is more useful. The book is then organized in three sections whose chapters analyze some theoretical and mathematical aspects of these contributions or presents design applications. The outstanding research issues on the border between System Analysis and IWRM is depicted in the last chapter, where a pull of scientists and experts, coordinated by Prof. Tony Jakeman describe the foreseeable scenario. The book is based on the most outstanding contributions to the IFAC workshop on Modelling and Control for Participatory Planning and Managing Water Systems held in Venice, September 28- October 1, 2004.

The Integrated Water Resources Management paradigm has entered the lexicon of water managers and stakeholders as the mainstream approach to the planning and management of water resource systems. It is the central pillar of the EU Water Framework Directive, which is widely accepted as the most significant piece of water legislation produced in the past 20 years, as well as the inspiring principle of all the water related activities sponsored by many international organizations in developing countries. However, despite huge inputs of financial resources, implementation of full IWRM remains elusive in most of the cases owing to the lack of a systematic approach and the inadequacy of tools and techniques to address the intrinsically complex nature of water resource systems.
This book explores recent and important contributions of System Analysis and Control Theory to the technical application of such paradigm and to the improvement of its theoretical basis. Its prior aim is to demonstrate how the modelling and computational difficulties posed by this paradigm might be significantly reduced by strengthening the efficiency of the solution techniques, instead of weakening the integration requirements.
In order to emphasize the role of System Analysis and Control Theory methodologies as different stages of an integrated, multi-objective approach to planning and management, within a participatory decision-making prospective, the book is composed of three parts, Modelling, Managing and Planning, plus an opening and a closing chapter. The introductory chapter formalizes the IWRM paradigm in a nine-step decision-making procedure that provides the reader with a conceptual map of the book and shows the value of its subject matter. Each part is opened by an invited contribution from an outstanding scientist in the field: Prof. Peter Young from Lancaster University, UK, Prof. Aris Georgakakos from GeorgiaTech, USA, and Prof. Slobodan Simonovic from Western Ontario University, Canada. Present and future research directions on the border between System Analysis and IWRM are surveyed in the chapter that closes the volume, where a pool of scientists and experts, coordinated by Prof. Anthony Jakeman from the Australian National University, suggests a research agenda to achieve sustainable (environmental, economic and social) outcomes in the implementation of the IWRM paradigm.