Research article // Methods of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
By Aiko Endo, Kimberly Burnett, Pedcris M. Orencio, Terukazu Kumazawa, Christopher A. Wada, Akira Ishii, Izumi Tsurita and Makoto Taniguchi. This article presents the key methodological results from the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEFN) project by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). The objective of the project is to maximize human-environmental security (i.e., minimize risk) in the Asia-Pacific region by choosing policies and management structures that optimize WEF links, including water-energy (water for energy and energy for water) and water-food (water for food) connections.
Beppu Bay—Multiple overlay map. © Oita Prefectural Government
Abstract
This paper focuses on a collection of methods that can be used to analyze the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. We classify these methods as qualitative or quantitative for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches. The methods for interdisciplinary research approaches can be used to unify a collection of related variables, visualize the research problem, evaluate the issue, and simulate the system of interest. Qualitative methods are generally used to describe the nexus in the region of interest and include primary research methods such as Questionnaire Surveys, as well as secondary research methods such as Ontology Engineering and Integrated Maps. Quantitative methods for examining the nexus include Physical Models, Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA), Integrated Indices, and Optimization Management Models. The authors discuss each of these methods in the following sections, along with accompanying case studies from research sites in Japan and the Philippines. Although the case studies are specific to two regions, these methods could be applicable to other areas, with appropriate calibration.
Keywords
Water-energy-food nexus (WEF); integrated tools; integrated indices; benefit-cost analysis (BCA); optimization management models; integrated maps; ontology engineering; physical models; interdisciplinary; transdisciplinary
Published
October 2015
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Citation
Endo, A., Burnett, K., Orencio, P., Kumazawa, T., Wada, C., Ishii, A., Tsurita, I., et al. (2015). Methods of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus. Water, 7(10), 5806–5830. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w7105806
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Methods of the Water-Energy-Food Nexus
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