Object-oriented decision support system modelling for multicriteria decision making in natural resource management

There is a great need for domain analysis and modelling for decision support systems (DSSs) with an effective methodology to assist the development of DSSs. This paper discusses the object-oriented modelling of DSSs for multicriteria decision making (MCDM) in natural resource management. This approach of DSS modelling is integrated into the uniform framework based on object orientation for both MCDM and DSS modelling. The general system requirements for DSSs for MCDM in natural resource management decision problems are captured. Primary classes, including decision elements and DSS components, for both MCDM decision analysis and DSS modelling are then extracted. General DSS system architecture is proposed. The system development of a DSS for water resources management based on the DSS model has demonstrated both efficiency of the development process and effectiveness of the system developed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.