Decision Support Systems for Land Resources Analysis and Management

Dr. Bruce Maxwell

I. Issues -> Research Questions

• Exotic weed species cause economic losses in agriculture and disrupt ecosystem function. We need effective ways to manage these species.
•  
• Urbanization is causing a decline in ecosystem integrity as well as loss of productive agriculture land.

        Research Questions:

        1. Do weeds cause economic losses in agriculture?

• Which weeds?
• How much loss?
• When? Under what environmental conditions?
• Where? Associated with what environmental conditions?

   2. Do weeds disrupt ecosystem function?

• Which weeds?
• How much disruption?
• When? Under what environmental conditions?
• Where? Associated with what environmental conditions?

II. Information Needed to Address the Research Question

1. Identify dependent variables.

Do weeds cause economic losses in agriculture?

• Net returns to the farmer from the land ($/acre).
• Net returns to agriculture industry per year ($/year).

    2.   Identify independent variables.

• Net Return to farmer (NR) is dependent on:

Gross Returns - Costs

NR = [Y * (P - D)] - [S + F + H + O]

Y = crop yield (bu/acre)	S = crop seed cost ($/acre)
P = price received for cop yield ($/bu)	F = fertilizer cost ($/acre)
D = dockage = price discount ($/bu)	H = herbicide cost ($/acre)
	O = all other costs ($/acre)

Y = f(N_w, SR, FR, H₂O)      

• N_w = weed density
• SR = crop seeding rate
• FR = fertilizer rate
• H₂O = moisture availability for crop growth

III. Information Synthesis and Analysis

IV. Interpretation of Results

V. Predicted Outcomes = Decision Support System

        NR = f(N_w, SR, FR, H₂O, Costs)

  Link to Slide Show

I. Issues -> Research Questions

• Urbanization is causing a decline in ecosystem integrity as well as loss of productive agriculture land.

        Research Questions:

        1. Does urbanization affect ecosystem integrity?

• What is urbanization?
• What is ecosystem integrity?
• Are affects constant over space and time?
• How do affects vary over different land uses or management practices?

II. Information Needed to Address the Research Question

1. Identify dependent variables.

• Species diversity
• Bare soil CO₂ production

    2.   Identify independent variables.

• House density
• Road density
• Species habitat distributions
•  

III. Information Synthesis and Analysis

IV. Interpretation of Results

V. Predicted Outcomes = Decision Support System