Agent decision-making: The Elephant in the Room - Enabling the justification of decision model fit in social-ecological models

Agent-based models are particularly suitable to reflect the dynamics of humans, nature, and their interactions, making them a crucial approach for understanding social-ecological systems. The formalisations of human decision-making are central to resulting model behaviours. Despite awareness of the complexity of human behaviour in social...

Co-design in the coastal context

In this research, we set out to investigate the phenomenon of ‘co-design’ and explore the applicability of co-design in the complex coastal context. We have turned to investigating design-oriented, collaborative activities aimed at innovative coastal solutions (co-design) and how they strengthen the development of solutions for coastal problems....

Shifting or drifting?: The crisis-driven advancement and failure of private smallholder irrigation from sand river aquifers in southern arid Zimbabwe

In recent years more recognition is given to the benefits and risks of private smallholder irrigation development across sub-Saharan Africa. It is acknowledged for its capacity to adapt to local circumstances and challenges. This study assesses the heterogeneous character of private smallholder irrigation in the challenging environment of...

Methods for simulation, planning, and operation of Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage under deep uncertainty

The building sector currently accounts for approximately one-third of the global demand for energy, and one-fifth of all energy-related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The development and adoption of energy-efficient technologies in this sector is therefore a key element towards efforts for the mitigation of climate change. In particular,...

A coupled simulation architecture for agent-based/geohydrological modelling with NetLogo and MODFLOW

The modelling of social-ecological systems can provide useful insights into the interaction of social and environmental processes. However, quantitative social-ecological models should acknowledge the complexity and uncertainty of both underlying subsystems. For example, the agent-based models which are increasingly popular for groundwater...

The Brisbane Declaration and Global Action Agenda on Environmental Flows (2018)

A decade ago, scientists and practitioners working in environmental water management crystallized the progress and direction of environmental flows science, practice, and policy in The Brisbane Declaration and Global Action Agenda (2007), during the 10th International Riversymposium and International Environmental Flows Conference held in...

Between aspirations and reality: Making farming, food systems and rural areas more resilient, sustainable and equitable

This paper explores the connections between farm modernisation, rural development and the resilience of agricultural and rural systems. The paper starts by ascertaining why agricultural and food systems need to change systemically. Evidence from case studies in fourteen countries is used to explore the possibilities for, and drivers and...