Integrated Water Resources Assessment and Management (IWRAM) Project: Integrated Toolbox

Abstract

The integrated toolbox of the IWRAM Decision Support System links household scale socio-economic models with a biophysical modelling toolbox (Merritt et al., 2001). In the biophysical toolbox, land use decisions are "painted" onto the catchment by the user. By contrast, the integrated toolbox simulates land use decisions by using models of household decision making. This allows the user to investigate the social and economic constraints on land and water use, and to look at the impacts of climate, prices and management policies on households. The impact of household decisions on a range of biophysical indicators is able to be demonstrated and trade-offs between upstream and downstream users of water are also able to be investigated. Show more