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Development and Adoption of a Simple Nonpoint Source Pollution Model for Port Phillip Bay, Australia

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Abstract

New computing tools and approaches allow tailored development of software to meet the needs of environmental managers. The processes required for such tailoring fit well with adaptive management concepts where, as knowledge and system understanding develop among managers, the software can be developed or replaced to match. This paper reports on development and adoption of a simple nonpoint source pollution modeling tool, including technical aspects of data support for modeling and social aspects of software design. The software, named FILTER, used a unit load model to generate expected pollutant loads from subcatchments of Port Phillip Bay, Australia. Monitoring data were used for calibration to modify the delivery of generated pollutants to receiving waters. Spatial, tabular, and charting software components were used to provide alternative forms of output visualization. FILTER was developed using a process that resulted in manager-stakeholders taking responsibility for setting of model parameter values and operation of the user interface, thereby encouraging uptake. The inclusive development process, tailoring of the software to manager needs and styles of usage, and matching of model complexity to data and knowledge, resulted in a successful application that has become the current agreed system representation among disparate stakeholder organizations.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of Melbourne Water Corporation in the development and maintenance of FILTER and the continued assistance of the Environment Protection Authority (Victoria), the Port Phillip Regional Catchment and Land Protection Board, and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Thanks are also due to “Jungle” Kate Driscoll for her interviewing of model users in May 2002. Three anonymous reviewers are thanked for their input and the resulting improvements to the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Robert M. Argent

  2. CSIRO Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology, P.O. Box 56, Highett, 3190, Australia

    V. Grace Mitchell

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  1. Robert M. Argent
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Correspondence to Robert M. Argent.

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Argent, R., Mitchell, V. Development and Adoption of a Simple Nonpoint Source Pollution Model for Port Phillip Bay, Australia . Environmental Management 32, 360–372 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-003-0024-3

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