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Water is a key resource in the Mediterranean region,
and efficient use and allocation are
paramount to sustainable development, in particular in the coastal zone of the South and
East, undergoing fast economic development, land use and demographic change.
The overall aim of OPTIMA is to develop, implement, test, critically evaluate, and exploit
an innovative, scientifically rigorous yet practical approach to water resources
management intended to increase efficiencies and to reconcile conflicting demands.
Based on the European Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) the approach equally
considers economic efficiency, environmental compatibility, and social equity as the
pillars of sustainable development.
The project also aims at building a wide dissemination network of expertise and
knowledge exchange sharing its findings, generic data, and best practice examples.
For a broad geographical coverage and a good basis for comparative analysis,
OPTIMA brings together partners from
Austria,
Italy,
Greece,
Cyprus,
Malta,
Turkey,
Lebanon,
Jordan,
Palestine,
Tunisia, and
Morocco.
OPTIMA is extending classical optimisation and mathematical
programming methodology in several respects, by:
- Using a full-featured dynamic and distributed simulation model
as the core to generate feasible and non-dominated alternatives
in a two-step approach, combining satisficing and genetic programming with
a discrete multi-criteria DSS.
Water technology alternatives including their cost structure, and
economic valuation of water supply and use are the core components.
- Extending the set of objectives, criteria and constraints by
economic evaluation estimating direct monetary and indirect costs
derived with different valuation methods, including environmental and
recreational benefits, penalties for shortfalls or flood damages,
using expert systems technology to include difficult to quantify
environmental and social dimensions;
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