TRANSCAT DSS architecture and modelling services

The paper describes the essential features of the spatial information and decision support system, developed within the 5FP project TRANSCAT. The main goal of the TRANSCAT project was to create an operational and integrated comprehensive Decision Support System (DSS) for optimal water management of catchments in borderland regions. The analysis of system requirements was followed by the analysis of possible architecture of the complex system and its appropriate design. The core of the proposed system (ETRA GIS) contains gisToolkit, web server, DBS, database interface, web services application interface and remote components. The system utilises selected software tools of hydrological and hydrogeological modelling (HEC-HMS, ModFlow, GRASS GIS modules). The special wrappers for each of the model were developed, enabling communication among models. Decision-making is supported by integrated decision applications (mDSS, Mediator, ProDec, BarTend, ArgWar) facilitating mainly the process of evaluation of a wide spectrum of indicators and the process of decision-making. The core of the system utilises a database with special design. The object part of the database represents a data warehouse with multidimensional structure. Implementation of TDSS was undertaken in Bela/Biała Głuchołaska (CZ/PL), Pasvik (NO/RUS), Sumava (CZ/D), Mesta/Nestos (BG/GR) and Guadiana (P/ESP) pilot areas, where also respective models were calibrated.