Preparation of an Initial Decision Support System for Evaluating Environmental Impacts Mathematically In Excel Software

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Dept. of Environment - Gorgan Univ. of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Iran

2 Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dept. of Environment - Gorgan Univ. of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Iran

3 Prof. Dr. Dept. of Environment - Gorgan Univ. of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Iran

Abstract

Evaluating the effects of development as an important and efficient management tool is at the disposal of planners to identify the potential environmental effects of a development plan and suggest effective options to eliminate or reduce its negative effects. One of the ways to improve the assessment of environmental impacts according to the conditions of our country is to improve the matrix method. To do this, a mathematical matrix is used and by using large factors, scope and duration of the effect, cumulative and cumulative effects, qualitative variables and compensatory factors of the effect and disagreement, constructive interaction between developers and evaluators is provided. More comprehensive results are obtained. Due to the time constraints in evaluating the effects and the need to make the right decisions and to make the results of the mathematical matrix more understandable, a decision support system was considered. The decision support system is a system that uses human resources and computer capabilities to help solve complex problems improves the quality of the decision and has direct interaction with the user; which Increases efficiency and can help improve learning and the ability to use them by experts and beginners. Excel software programming environment, macro writing, pivot tables and cell functions were used to prepare the initial decision support system. This system was designed in such a way that the project activities and the affected parameters are placed in two adjacent columns instead of in rows and columns. And only the mathematical method is used to evaluate the effects. Activities related to eighteen development projects subject to environmental impact assessment were added to the system. The use of Excel and its programming environment greatly contributed to the flexibility of this system. Using the features and tools of Excel, the evaluation results can be seen in the form of graphs and tables, and based on them, the decision-making process regarding the development plan will be greatly facilitated.
 

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