Decision Support System for Estuarine Water‐Quality Management

Abstract

A decision support system for the water‐quality management of the Tejo estuary, named Hypertejo, is presented. Hypertejo is based on a chain of data bases, dispersion, nonpoint pollution, and regional water‐quality management models. Due to large running times of some of the models, making their interactive use impossible, Hypertejo was designed as a synthesis of the interconnected data bases and models. This synthesis was achieved by applying descriptive statistics and transfer function concepts. The system, implemented using HyperCard, provides answers to questions posed by three levels of users: member of the government, mayor, and technical manager. Hypertejo implementation for a pilot zone in the estuary is used to illustrate the potential applications of similar systems in water‐quality management studies.