A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar

<p>Rapid global population growth and extensive urbanization threaten water sustainability, hindering sustainable development. This issue is particularly acute in arid regions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where the scarce natural water resources are overexploited. Effective wate...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Khawar Naeem (17984062) (author)
Other Authors: Sarra Aloui (17337901) (author), Adel Zghibi (17337910) (author), Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504) (author), Chefi Triki (14158860) (author), Adel Elomri (8984063) (author)
Published: 2024
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1864513516041404416
author Khawar Naeem (17984062)
author2 Sarra Aloui (17337901)
Adel Zghibi (17337910)
Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)
Chefi Triki (14158860)
Adel Elomri (8984063)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author_facet Khawar Naeem (17984062)
Sarra Aloui (17337901)
Adel Zghibi (17337910)
Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)
Chefi Triki (14158860)
Adel Elomri (8984063)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Khawar Naeem (17984062)
Sarra Aloui (17337901)
Adel Zghibi (17337910)
Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)
Chefi Triki (14158860)
Adel Elomri (8984063)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.024
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_system_dynamics_approach_to_management_of_water_resources_in_Qatar/25826914
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Environmental sciences
Environmental management
Water resource management
System dynamics modeling
Policy scenario design framework
Groundwater conservation policies
Stakeholder engagement
Gulf cooperation council
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p>Rapid global population growth and extensive urbanization threaten water sustainability, hindering sustainable development. This issue is particularly acute in arid regions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where the scarce natural water resources are overexploited. Effective water resource management (WRM) is pivotal in overcoming this challenge. This holistic study presents an innovative approach to address water sustainability at a national scale by developing a WRM decision support system (DSS) leveraging system dynamics modeling (SDM). Employing a unique scenario design framework developed in this study, the DSS simulates Qatar's water resource system behavior for 2021 to 2070 according to nine clustered policy scenarios presenting different degrees of sustainability designed accounting for changes in physical, environmental, and socioeconomic patterns. Our results reveal that the “business-as-usual” (BAU) WRM policy can balance water supply and demand for only 32 years. According to the best policy scenario, the sustainability of the water supply could be ensured for up to 50 years by increasing the water supply by 10 % and reducing consumption by 10 %. Additionally, to aid policymakers in fostering water resource sustainability, groundwater conservation strategies are proposed using the unique scenario design framework by limiting the yield to the safe abstraction level and emphasizing the significance of preserving non-renewable groundwater resources as a “backstop” resource for the country. While marking the first holistic research study in Qatar by utilizing the SDM approach to tackle national-scale WRM challenges, the established WRM DSS model is equally applicable to other GCC countries and similar arid regions.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Sustainable Production and Consumption<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.024" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.024</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_4f02b4903f6f3420dbccd952be02d6b5
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.024
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/25826914
publishDate 2024
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository_id_str
rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in QatarKhawar Naeem (17984062)Sarra Aloui (17337901)Adel Zghibi (17337910)Annamaria Mazzoni (13751504)Chefi Triki (14158860)Adel Elomri (8984063)Environmental sciencesEnvironmental managementWater resource managementSystem dynamics modelingPolicy scenario design frameworkGroundwater conservation policiesStakeholder engagementGulf cooperation council<p>Rapid global population growth and extensive urbanization threaten water sustainability, hindering sustainable development. This issue is particularly acute in arid regions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where the scarce natural water resources are overexploited. Effective water resource management (WRM) is pivotal in overcoming this challenge. This holistic study presents an innovative approach to address water sustainability at a national scale by developing a WRM decision support system (DSS) leveraging system dynamics modeling (SDM). Employing a unique scenario design framework developed in this study, the DSS simulates Qatar's water resource system behavior for 2021 to 2070 according to nine clustered policy scenarios presenting different degrees of sustainability designed accounting for changes in physical, environmental, and socioeconomic patterns. Our results reveal that the “business-as-usual” (BAU) WRM policy can balance water supply and demand for only 32 years. According to the best policy scenario, the sustainability of the water supply could be ensured for up to 50 years by increasing the water supply by 10 % and reducing consumption by 10 %. Additionally, to aid policymakers in fostering water resource sustainability, groundwater conservation strategies are proposed using the unique scenario design framework by limiting the yield to the safe abstraction level and emphasizing the significance of preserving non-renewable groundwater resources as a “backstop” resource for the country. While marking the first holistic research study in Qatar by utilizing the SDM approach to tackle national-scale WRM challenges, the established WRM DSS model is equally applicable to other GCC countries and similar arid regions.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Sustainable Production and Consumption<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.024" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.024</a></p>2024-05-01T00:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.spc.2024.03.024https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/A_system_dynamics_approach_to_management_of_water_resources_in_Qatar/25826914CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/258269142024-05-01T00:00:00Z
spellingShingle A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
Khawar Naeem (17984062)
Environmental sciences
Environmental management
Water resource management
System dynamics modeling
Policy scenario design framework
Groundwater conservation policies
Stakeholder engagement
Gulf cooperation council
status_str publishedVersion
title A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
title_full A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
title_fullStr A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
title_full_unstemmed A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
title_short A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
title_sort A system dynamics approach to management of water resources in Qatar
topic Environmental sciences
Environmental management
Water resource management
System dynamics modeling
Policy scenario design framework
Groundwater conservation policies
Stakeholder engagement
Gulf cooperation council