Construct conceptual models of the CZ systems response to the Policy Issue(s) that will allow visualization of its primary characteristics.

Subtask Description:
Construct conceptual models of the CZ systems response to the Policy Issue(s) that will allow visualization of its primary characteristics.

Action points of the implementation:

Sketch diagrams showing relationships amongst system components, and system boundary exchanges, for the parts of the ‘natural ecosystem’ that are relevant to the Issue and thus which need to appear in the ‘virtual system’.

Area:
Barcelona Coast, Spain.

Policy Issue:
Investigation of the effects of changes in water quality on the aesthetic & recreational aspects of the beaches.

Human Activities:
Large scale urban & industrial activity, tourism.

General Information:
The quality of the water in the various beaches is affected significantly during heavy storms. Wastewater treatment plants are unable to deal with the sudden increase of inflow and the capacity of storm collectors is often insufficient to temporarily store this water for later treatment. This results in large quantities of untreated wastewater being released into the coast, causing bacteria concentration to exceed safety levels thus obliging the beach authorities to temporarily prohibit bathing or just causing aesthetic degradation that prohibits beach users from bathing. Reduced use of the coastal water influences the beach users decision whether to stay at the beach or to leave, thus affecting the revenue received by the local businesses and being an important stakeholder concern.

Example of Implementation (click for full sized version):

Comments:
Conceptual modelling using Odum diagrams (Odum,1967a,b). The conceptual models of the integrated system can be more than one and it is likely that they change form during the process.

Odum, H.T., 1967a. Biological circuits and the marine systems of Texas. In: ed. T.A. Olson and F.J. Burgess Pollution and Marine Ecology. Wiley Interscience. NY. pp. 99-157.

Odum. H.T., 1967b. Energetics of world food production. In: Problems of World Food Supply, President’s Science Advisory Committee Report, Vol. 3. White House. Washington, DC, pp. 55-94

Contact:
Ben Tomlinson, Tomlinson@icm.cat