| A decision support system which can assist in the process of generating and evaluating alternative flood control measures for flood management is developed. The system incorporates the technologies of geographic information systems and expert systems, both of which have achieved recent successful application in several aspects of watershed management, and integrates these tools with the use of a relational database management software and optimization to facilitate the generation and selection of suitable flood control solutions. The system takes advantage of the increases in computing power currently available to the everyday user to enhance the intercommunication between each module for improved system design and operation.; A case study of the application of the decision support system to a flood management problem located near the City of Winnipeg flood control system is subsequently carried out. Several suitable flood control alternatives are generated for the area, and a methodology by which these solutions may be evaluated is put forward. Final results confirm the usefulness of developing such integrated tools to address the flood management problem and indicate that such tools can aid in the comprehension, analysis, generation and evaluation processes. |
