PhD Theses

Using Earth Observation-Informed Modeling to Inform Sustainable Development Decision-Making

2023-09-01T03:28:23Z

Using Earth Observation-Informed Modeling to Inform Sustainable Development Decision-Making Reid, Jack This work aims to demonstrate the viability of a methodology for supporting local, sustainable development decision-making through the development of clearer linkages between environmental modeling and societal impact, with a particular emphasis on the use of earth observation data. To accomplish this, it explores the efficacy and difficulties of collaboratively developing a systems-architecture-informed, multidisciplinary GIS decision support system for sustainable development applications that makes significant use of earth observation data. This is done through the development and evaluation of decision support systems (DSSs) for two applications: (1) mangrove forest management and conservation in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and (2) coronavirus response in six regions around the world. In both cases, the methodology involves the application of the System Architecture Framework, which includes analyzing the stakeholders to inform the design of the DSS in question. Other components of the methodology are developing the DSS through a collaborative process with stakeholders; pursuing targeted analyses; and evaluating the usefulness of both the DSS and the development process through interviews, workshops, and other feedback mechanisms. All of this takes place under the umbrella of the Environment, Vulnerability, Decision-Making, Technology (EVDT) Framework for combining remote observation and other types of data to inform decision-making in complex socio-environmental systems, particularly those pertaining to sustainable development. As the name suggests, EVDT integrates four models into one tool: the Environment; Human Vulnerability and Societal Impact; Human Behavior and Decision-Making; and Technology Design for earth observation systems including satellites, airborne platforms and in-situ sensors. The data from each of these domains is used by established models in each domain, which are adapted to work in concert to address the needs identified during the stakeholder analysis. The capabilities provided by this framework will improve the management of earth observation and socioeconomic data in a format usable by non-experts, while harnessing cloud computing, machine learning, economic analysis, complex systems modeling, and model-based systems engineering.

Remote Sensing and Integrated Systems Frameworks for Decision Support in Sustainable Development

2023-08-01T03:41:41Z

Remote Sensing and Integrated Systems Frameworks for Decision Support in Sustainable Development Lombardo, Seamus Local leaders in sustainable development face challenging decisions due to complex environmental phenomena, intersecting socioeconomic factors, diverse stakeholders, data scarcity, and constrained financial resources. Decision Support Systems (DSS) software can aid these stakeholders by improving understanding of systems dynamics and interrelated societal factors. However, flaws in existing DSS development and functionality often produce DSS that do not meet the objectives of local stakeholders, leading to DSS disuse. This research implements a novel DSS development process to address these issues in two case studies: flood resilience in Pekalongan, Indonesia, and natural resource management for the Yurok Tribe in California. First, System Architecture Framework (SAF) uses inputs of stakeholder interviews to translate stakeholder objectives into DSS functions and forms. Targeted satellite remote sensing (SRS) of permanent water, shoreline change, and mangrove trends are conducted in Pekalongan, and forest trends and above ground biomass are analyzed for the Yurok Tribe. Classification analyses achieve high overall accuracy (>= 84%) and trend analyses have correlations to high resolution data at a significance level of 𝛼 > 0.05. The Environment-Vulnerability-Decision-Technology (EVDT) integrated modeling framework is used to integrate local infrastructure and land use data towards insights for environmental impact mitigation decisions and community aid allocation. DSS user evaluations with Boston-area (n = 20), Indonesian (n = 37), and Yurok Tribe users (n = 9), are conducted to assess DSS utility and verify the mapping of SRS analyses to specific stakeholder decisions and economic metrics. \ High user information-relevancy (<= 94%) and information-sufficiency (<= 81%) ratings, 5 specific decisions mapped to the SRS analyses via dedicated stakeholder interviews, and 57 actionable comments from user studies, provide strong support for the use of SAF and user studies to improve DSS usefulness and accessibility. Higher understanding scores achieved by DSS users compared to control-briefing users on environmental (p = 0.0012), socioeconomic (p = 0.0093), and policy (p = 0.0043) questions, analyses of integrated SRS and local data that provide concrete insights for stakeholder decisions (such as inundation trends for agricultural adaptation budget allocation and forest trends for carbon sequestration project management), and positive stakeholder comments regarding DSS capabilities, support the theory that SRS data and EVDT can improve DSS functionality. Demonstrating the utility of a novel DSS design process in overcoming previous roadblocks to DSS use in sustainable development is this work’s core contribution. SAF to target stakeholder objectives, integration of accessible SRS analyses and local socioeconomic data via EVDT for actionable insights, and user studies to gather stakeholder feedback are the core elements of this novel design process. The DSS developed also provide tangible benefits to users, with local stakeholders expressing a strong desire for DSS institutionalization. Future work includes ensuring DSS longevity and the application of the DSS design process to other relevant case studies. Overall, this research collaborates directly with communities to confront environmental impacts, address challenging decisions, and advance sustainable development.

Building technological capability within satellite programs in developing countries

2022-01-13T07:54:46Z

Building technological capability within satellite programs in developing countries Wood, Danielle Renee Global participation in space activity is growing as satellite technology matures and spreads. Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are creating or reinvigorating national satellite programs. These countries are building local capability in space through technological learning. They sometimes pursue this via collaborative satellite development projects with foreign firms that provide training. This phenomenon of collaborative satellite development projects is poorly understood by researchers of technological learning and technology transfer. The approach has potential to facilitate learning, but there are also challenges due to misaligned incentives and the tacit nature of the technology. Perspectives from literature on Technological Learning, Technology Transfer, Complex Product Systems and Product Delivery provide useful but incomplete insight for decision makers in such projects. This work seeks a deeper understanding of capability building through collaborative technology projects by conceiving of the projects as complex, socio-technical systems with architectures. The architecture of a system is the assignment of form to execute a function along a series of dimensions. The research questions explore the architecture of collaborative satellite projects, the nature of capability building during such projects, and the relationship between architecture and capability building. The research design uses inductive, exploratory case studies to investigate six collaborative satellite development projects. Data collection harnesses international field work driven by interviews, observation, and documents. The data analysis develops structured narratives, architectural comparison and capability building assessment. The architectural comparison reveals substantial variation in project implementation, especially in the areas of project initiation, technical specifications of the satellite, training approaches and the supplier selection process. The individual capability building assessment shows that most trainee engineers gradually progressed from no experience with satellites through theoretical training to supervised experience; a minority achieved independent experience. At the organizational level, the emerging space organizations achieved high levels of autonomy in project definition and satellite operation, but they were dependent on foreign firms for satellite design, manufacture, test and launch. The case studies can be summarized by three archetypal projects defined as "Politically Pushed," "Structured," and "Risk Taking." Countries in the case studies tended to start in a Politically Pushed mode, and then moved into either Structured or Risk Taking mode. Decision makers in emerging satellite programs can use the results of this dissertation to consider the broad set of architectural options for capability building. Future work will continue to probe how specific architectural decisions impact capability building outcomes in satellite projects and other technologies. Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2012.; Vita. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.; Includes bibliographical references.