Institute of Systems Engineering
Tianjin University
Tianjin, China 300072
 

Abstract: The process of information management and decision making in regional sustainable development is discussed. Based on this discussion we propose a framework and analyze features of an Integrated Information System for Regional Sustainable Development (IIS-RSD). We further discuss specific functions of one of the IIS-RSD subsystems, the Capacity Evaluation System (CES). This paper is part of a more general discussion on sustainable development research in China and we conclude with an outline of the IIS-RSD implementation issues in a Chinese setting.

Keywords: sustainable development, integrated information systems (IIS), decision making, coordinated development

Since the time Norwegian Prime Minister, Gro Harlem Brundtland, introduced the concept of sustainable development in her report to the World and Development
Council entitled "Our Common Future"[2], it has become an accepted new perspective by more and more people worldwide for the future of development. Both developed and developing countries are moving in this direction as we reach the 21st century.

A considerable amount of work has been done in formulating and clarifying the concept of sustainable development and discussing related theoretical and research issues, such as the indicators of sustainability, the evaluation of sustainable development and sustained agriculture, etc. And there remains no doubt that the research issues on sustainable development are complex and its application fields are varied.

After introducing the process of information management and decision making for regional sustainable development, the idea of an Integrated Information System for Regional Sustainable Development (IIS-RSD) is proposed. An overall framework and analysis of the features of IIS-RSD and the functions of its subsystem, Capacity Evaluation System (CES), are then described. After describing research results on sustainable development in China, we conclude with an outline of the IIS-RSD in China.

The intricacy of the research issues on sustainable development can be summarized as multi-factor, structurally complex, and very diverse. Therefore, when discussing the theories and methodologies for sustainable development, systems science should be applied to analyze the relationship between economy, society, ecology, environment and natural resources, and to explore the law of this composite system's development.

The criteria for regional sustainable development, on the other hand are based on the process of information management and decision making in that particular region. This includes data collection and management, evaluation of sustainability, systems optimization and decision making for sustainable development, etc. A schematic representation of the decision-making process and control for sustainable development is shown in Fig.1.

Figure 1. A conceptual model of the IIS-RSD

Data Collection & Management: collecting and gathering necessary data about all subsystems of a sustainable development system, including economy, society, ecology, environment and nature resources; using computer sciences and information technologies to manage and to process the data or information.

Evaluation of Sustainability: establishing an indicators system for the evaluation of sustainable development and using correct systems methods and models to analyze the current status of the region¢ s development and to forecast the trend and the capacity for regional sustainable development.

Systems Optimization & Decision-Making for Sustainable Development: analyzing the interrelated influences in each subsystem and between subsystems for sustainable development, and developing an overall systems model to support effective planning and decision making for regional sustainable development.

Feedback, Control, Coordinating: comparing the goal and the present situation and finding the differences between them, then taking prompt action in such a way that regional sustainable development can be achieved.

Sustainable development calls for harmony between humans and nature. Its aim is both economic development and protection of the environment and natural resources upon which mankind is dependent, in order to achieve a well-coordinated state of the economy, society, ecology, environment and natural resources. The entities and objects involved in the creating of the state are complex systems. Therefore their modeling and analysis are issues of complex systems engineering. The basic study among these, however, is the information supporting for sustainable development----how to use Information technologies (IT) and related technologies to support the planning and decision making at all levels of human activities in such a way that local and global sustainable development can be achieved.

To support the process of information management and decision making for regional sustainable development, we propose a framework for an Integrated Information System for Regional Sustainable Development (IIS-RSD). IIS-RSD is conceived to be a human-machine integrated information system that represents sustainable development issues for a certain region. Figure 2 provides a conceptual model and an overall framework for IIS-RSD.

Figure 2. An Overall Framework for IIS-RSD

In view of the difficulties in the development of such a complex and tightly integrated system, the subsystems are illustrated in both a vertical and horizontal manner. In the horizontal perspective we see the Economic Development (ED) Subsystem, Social Development (SD) Subsystem and the Resource and Environment Protection (REP) Subsystem. In the vertical perspective, the Information Management subsystem (IMS), the Capacity Evaluation Subsystem (CES), and the Decision Support Subsystem (DSS) are defined. As it is the case with other computer-based integrated information systems, an IIS-RSD consists of at least four data bases, i.e., database (DB), including spatial data and non-spatial data; model-base (MB); knowledge-base (KB), and text & graphic- data base (TB).

The interrelated influences between the subsystems of IIS-RSD are described in Fig. 3.

3.2.1 Openness, complexity and size

The concept of ² open complex giant system² was introduced by the famous Chinese scientist Qian Xuesen in the 1980s [3]. This type of system is the global representation of complex activities emerging between the environment, society and human beings.

The concept of sustainable development is to achieve a coordinated development of human society and the environment. Both social system and environment are open complex giant systems according to Qian [3]. Therefore an IIS-RSD is an open complex giant system. The study and exploration of this system is a new scientific field that integrates basic research, with high and new technologies and practical applications.

Similar to CIMS for enterprises, IIS-RSD is an integrated system that supports information management, systems analysis and decision making for regional governments and organizations in order to make and implement their sustainable development strategies.

The functions of IIS-RSD are tightly integrated. They include measuring, managing, processing, and analyzing all sorts of indexes or factors in society, economy, ecology, environment and other related fields, and also include evaluating, planning, controlling, coordinating and decision making related to sustainable development.

The Capacity Evaluation System (CES) has its own set of functions:

1. the establishment of an indicators system for sustainable development;
2. the collection and extraction of data or information for the evaluation;
3. the choice and formulation of models and determination of the evaluation results; and
4. presentation of the results to users.

Methodology used in open complex giant systems is "meta-synthesis from qualitative to quantitative" and "hall for workshop of meta-synthetic engineering" according to Qian [3]. The methodology in its essence integrates experts systems, statistical data and information, and computer technologies [4].

In order to efficiently support decision making, different types of methods can be used in an IIS-RSD. For example, AHP, DELPHI and ANN can be combined to evaluate sustainability and coordination development. The integration of such methods will be very helpful in assisting users choose different methods or combine methods to solve different problems.

There are a few methodologies, such as structured systems analysis and design (SSAD), prototyping, object-oriented methodology (OOM) and strategy set transformation (SST), which are effectively being used in the development of large scale information systems. These methodologies may use GIS as a software platform, and also network and multimedia technologies. They form the technological basis for the development of an IIS-RSD.

It is of great international and historic significance for China, with its large population, weak economy and a shortage of natural resources, to take the road of sustainable development.

The 1992 United Nations Environment and Development Conference held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, passed the framework document called ² Agenda 21² , which marked a shift from traditional development and life styles to the start of sustainable development. At that conference, Chinese Premier Li Peng, on behalf of the Chinese government, vowed China would seriously fulfill its international obligations. Two years later in July 1994, China enacted Agenda 21 of China and the Plan for Priority Projects in China¢ s Agenda 21[1].

Nearly four years have now passed since Agenda 21 of China was promulgated. In those four years the Chinese government and its people have made painstaking efforts to execute the Agenda. By the end of 1996, more than two-thirds of China¢ s 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions had set up leading groups to implement Agenda 21 programs and drawn up specific plans [5].

The Chinese government, with support from the UNDP, has researched action plans for sustainable development in key areas. The UNDP recently approved a project for Agenda 21 of China. In this plan, China will transfer its sustainable development from a national to a local level. The UNDP will help China attain sustainable development by finding local models and spreading them throughout the country and the rest of the world [6].

Some of China¢ s universities and institutes, including Peking University, Tsinghua University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have founded research centers or special agencies for sustainable development. Since 1991, a quarterly journal entitled ² China Population, Resources and Environment² sponsored by the Social Development Department of State Science and Technology Commission, is being published nationwide.

In the first part of Agenda 21 of China, capacity building of sustainable development is emphasized. It includes setting up the Chinese system and establishing an information system for sustainable development. One of the actions is to establish an evaluation methodology and computer software package and database for sustainable development. One of the objectives is to set up an integrated information network about sustainable development throughout the country by the end of 2000 [1].

On the other hand, computer-based systems, such as MIS and DSS, have been used in thousands of companies, enterprises and government departments in China. They are playing an important role in management, decision-making and policy-making. Several systems [7], [8], [9], [10] and [11] related to one or two aspects of sustainable development have been designed or developed.

As the largest developing country, it is not easy for China to establish and implement an IIS-RSD. This is because it faces a serious cash shortage and lags behind in technology. Here we would like to conclude with an outline of the IIS-RSD issues for China.

The work of establishing an IIS-RSD should be divided into several phases, step by step. In the first stage, results already achieved should be summarized and disseminated throughout the country to avoid overlapping efforts and unnecessary expenditures. On the basis of this, systems for different special purposes should be integrated to support the development of an IIS-RSD. Then, setting up a comprehensive information network for sustainable development throughout the country will be put into practice.

We stress that China should pay more attention to the basic management and the development of information resources in order to use the available computing power effectively. We also hope that governments, international organizations, and large enterprises from developed countries will provide funds and technical help for China¢ s efforts in the construction of IIS-RSD. If we can achieve sustainable development, it will be a valuable contribution to other developing countries and even to world development. as a whole.

1. The State Council, China¢ s Agenda 21, China Environmental Science Press, Beijing, 1994, (in Chinese).
2. WCED, Our Common Future, Oxford Press, 1987
3. Wang Shouyun, Open Complex Giant Systems, Zhejiang Science & Technology Publishing House, 1996, (in Chinese).
4. Dai Ruwei, Metasynthesis of Intelligent Systems, Zhejiang Science & Technology Publishing House, 1995, (in Chinese).
5. Li Xia, Can China Achieve Sustained Development?, http://www.chinanews.org/ChinaToday/ct97/97-8-3.html, 1998.
6. Sun Lina, China¢ s Role in the 21^st Century, http://www.chinanews.org/ChinaToday/ct97/97-8-3.html, 1998.
7. Yu Junhai, Forecasting Decision Support System for Regional Planning of Economy Development, Systems Engineering----Theory and Practice, No.11, 1996, (in Chinese).
8. Li Da, Data Management System for Water Resource in Beijing, Environment Science, Vol.18, No.1, 1997, (in Chinese).
9. LI Li, Environmental Information Management System in Tianjin, Information Systems Engineering, Vol.9, No.4, 1997, (in Chinese).
10. Hao Guocai, Social Development Comprehensive Evaluation Decision Support System, Decision Making & Decision Support System, Vol.6, No.3, 1996, (in Chinese).
11. Cao Guifa, Urban Traffic Information System in Beijing, Systems Engineering----Theory and Practice, No1, 1997, (in Chinese).
12. Cheng Jianquan, GIS Support Multi-Criteria Evaluation, Systems Engineering, Vol.15, No.5, 1997, (in Chinese).