The Mathematics of Multi-Criteria Analysis: A Tool for Conflict Resolution

February 28, 2008

The mathematics of multi-criteria analysis may help decision-makers identify the complex trade-offs that satisfy the needs of Canada's fishing industry as well as biodiversity conservation.

Dolphins and turtles, for instance, often become trapped in tuna nets. Known in fisheries science as a "by-catch," this killing of non-targeted catch is a serious problem that has resisted easy solution because of the conflict between commerce and conservation.

“We must certainly be mindful of the need to protect marine biodiversity, but we can’t forget those who are dependent on the fishery for their livelihoods,” said Suzana Dragicevic, director of the Spatial Analysis and Modeling Laboratory at Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, B.C., Canada).

The good news, apparently, is that “Many environmental problems, including by-catch, are spatial in nature," said Dragicevic. “To resolve them you need to build an accurate and objective view of the environment in question.”  One of her solutions makes use of digital maps and mathematical analysis in order to visualize the most vulnerable marine habitats. Dragicevic then employs a mathematical optimization process known as multi-criteria evaluation, which factors in the competing claims. The outcome helps administrators arrive at management decisions that could be acceptable to all parties.

“Multi-criteria analysis has long been successful in resolving conflicts over terrestrial resource management such as land-use suitability analysis and urban development," said Dragicevic. "Recently, we have shown how the approach can be applied to marine environments."

Dragicevic presented her ideas at the February 2008 meeting of the AAAS, in Boston, after publishing pilot results in the journal Biodiversity and Conservation.

Source: EurekAlert