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Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Water Resources Management, Policy and Governance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 August 2025 | Viewed by 5982

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yejun Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Management and Economics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Interests: multicriteria decision making; group decision making; water resources management; conflict analysis; data analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório De Andrade Guerra

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Sustainable Development (Greens), University of Southern Santa Catarina (UNISUL), Florianópolis 88010-010, SC, Brazil
Interests: sustainable development goals; sustainable cities; water–energy–food nexus; education for sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the water–energy–food nexus has become an increasingly significant and active area of research in economic and management science. The safety of water, energy and food is another important problem. These problems can be considered as multi-criteria decision-making problems. However, there are few studies that consider these problems from the perspective of multi-criteria decision-making. Theories of decision-making are routinely based on the notion that decision-makers choose alternatives that align with their underlying preferences, and hence their preferences can be inferred from their choices. The aim of this Special Issue is to develop various decision-making theories and methodologies for water, energy and food, including the evaluation of water supply, wastewater management, energy, food risk management, safety management, etc.

Prof. Dr. Yejun Xu
Prof. Dr. José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório De Andrade Guerra
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • multi-criteria analysis
  • group decision-making
  • water resource management
  • water risk analysis
  • decision support systems
  • evalulation
  • safety

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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25 pages, 5719 KiB  
Article
Investigation of the Interaction of Water and Energy in Multipurpose Bio-Solar Green Roofs in Mediterranean Climatic Conditions
by Behrouz Pirouz, Seyed Navid Naghib, Karolos J. Kontoleon, Baiju S. Bibin, Hana Javadi Nejad and Patrizia Piro
Water 2025, 17(7), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17070950 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 259
Abstract
The advantages of green roofs and solar panels are numerous, but in dry periods, green roofs can place urban water resources under pressure, and the efficiency of solar panels can be affected negatively by high temperatures. In this context, our analysis investigated the [...] Read more.
The advantages of green roofs and solar panels are numerous, but in dry periods, green roofs can place urban water resources under pressure, and the efficiency of solar panels can be affected negatively by high temperatures. In this context, our analysis investigated the advantages of bio-solar green roofs and evaluated the impact of green roofs on solar panel electricity production and solar panels on green roof water consumption. The assessment was conducted through simulation in a selected case study located in Cosenza, a city with a Mediterranean climate, with solar panels covering 10% to 60% of the green roof. Analyses were performed on the power outputs of four kinds of photovoltaic panels: polycrystalline, monocrystalline, bifacial, and Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC). The energy production and shade frequencies were simulated using PVGIS 5.3 and PVSOL 2024 R3. The impact of photovoltaic (PV) shade on the water consumption of green roofs was evaluated by image processing of a developed code in MATLAB R2024b. Moreover, water–energy interconnections in bio-solar green roof systems were assessed using the developed dynamic model in Vensim PLE 10.2.1. The results revealed that the water consumption by the green roof was reduced by 30.8% with a bio-solar coverage area of 60%. However, the electricity production by the PV panel was enhanced by about 4% with bio-solar green roofs and was at its maximum at a coverage rate of 50%. This investigation demonstrates the benefits of bio-solar green roofs, which can generate more electricity and require less irrigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1658 KiB  
Article
A Data-Driven Decision Support System for Wave Power Plant Location Selection
by Gunganist Kongklad, Nguyen Van Thanh, Apichart Pattanaporkratana, Nattaporn Chattham and Chawalit Jeenanunta
Water 2025, 17(7), 948; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17070948 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 242
Abstract
Vietnam has a coastline of over 3260 km and an exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles, providing favorable conditions for the development of wave energy. Exploring and harnessing this endless energy source to maximize the use of the available resources is essential [...] Read more.
Vietnam has a coastline of over 3260 km and an exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles, providing favorable conditions for the development of wave energy. Exploring and harnessing this endless energy source to maximize the use of the available resources is essential for sustainable economic development. According to research conducted by the Institute of Marine and Island Research, the total global exploitable wave energy capacity is 212 TWh per year, accounting for nearly 1% of the global total and 90% of Vietnam’s annual electricity consumption needs. However, selecting the optimal location to construct wave energy production plants requires the consideration of various criteria, including efficiency potential, economic and social, technological, transport and environment factors. In this research, the authors propose a hybrid MCDM model including a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and Interactive Multi-Criteria Decision-Making method (TODIM) under a fuzzy environment for wave power plant location selection in Vietnam. A real-world application of the approach is given to showcase the effectiveness of the proposed method, where three potential locations are assessed based on 14 criteria. The research results propose priority locations for project implementation, while providing a scientific basis for policymakers and investors in the decision-making process. This study contributes to promoting the development of renewable energy and efficiently utilizing Vietnam’s marine resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security, 2nd Edition)
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24 pages, 1733 KiB  
Article
Urban FEW Nexus Model for the Otun River Watershed
by Camilo Torres, Margaret W. Gitau, Jaime Lara-Borrero, Diego Paredes-Cuervo and Bassel Daher
Water 2024, 16(23), 3405; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233405 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 909
Abstract
The food–energy–water (FEW) nexus has emerged as an alternative for managing resources in the food, energy, and water systems. However, there are limited case studies applying this approach in the Latin American and Caribbean region. This region stands to benefit significantly from the [...] Read more.
The food–energy–water (FEW) nexus has emerged as an alternative for managing resources in the food, energy, and water systems. However, there are limited case studies applying this approach in the Latin American and Caribbean region. This region stands to benefit significantly from the FEW nexus approach due to its heavy reliance on hydropower for electricity generation and unevenly distributed and poorly managed water resources. In this study, an urban FEW nexus framework was used in the Otun River Watershed (ORW) to evaluate changes in food, energy, and water demand for four scenarios. Additionally, regional climate models (RCMs) were used to forecast water availability in the ORW from 2030–2039. The results show that water demand could increase by 16% and energy demand will increase by roughly 15% for scenario 2, while water demand in scenario 3 will likely remain unchanged in relation to the current conditions (base scenario). Enhancing water resources management in the ORW will involve a variety of measures, including: implementing practices to reduce water losses in distribution systems, developing green infrastructure and decentralized wastewater systems, and embracing urban and peri-urban farming. Successful application of urban FEW nexus solutions requires involvement from stakeholders across the food, energy, and water systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security, 2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 6192 KiB  
Article
Blackout and Crisis Water Supply: Diversification of Water Intakes
by Krzysztof Boryczko, Natalia Wazna and Maciej Kawalerski
Water 2024, 16(23), 3370; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16233370 - 23 Nov 2024
Viewed by 872
Abstract
Ensuring a reliable water supply during crisis situations is an essential global challenge as disruptions can severely affect public health and safety. Despite advances in crisis management, significant gaps persist in the preparedness of many cities to maintain water access during emergencies such [...] Read more.
Ensuring a reliable water supply during crisis situations is an essential global challenge as disruptions can severely affect public health and safety. Despite advances in crisis management, significant gaps persist in the preparedness of many cities to maintain water access during emergencies such as blackouts. The aim of this work was to develop a concept of crisis water supply for the city of Lubaczow. The theoretical part presents legal aspects related to crisis management, a description of the blackout, the characteristics of the city and issues related to the water supply system in Lubaczow. Based on the data obtained, water balance calculations were performed based on a crisis situation and several variants of solutions for a crisis water supply were proposed. Based on the results of a survey conducted among city residents, the level of residents’ awareness of the blackout was determined. The graphic part includes the location of water intake points. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security, 2nd Edition)
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34 pages, 3716 KiB  
Article
Water, Energy and Food Nexus: A Project Evaluation Model
by Ruy de Castro Sobrosa Neto, João Paulo Bohner, Robert Samuel Birch, Ivone Junges, Clarissa Carneiro Mussi, Sandro Vieira Soares, Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra and José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra
Water 2024, 16(16), 2235; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162235 - 8 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1867
Abstract
The connections between universal rights to water supply, energy security, and food supply stand out as a challenge that requires project evaluation models that can capture the complex dynamics and interdependencies of these resources. This study proposes the elaboration of a nexus evaluation [...] Read more.
The connections between universal rights to water supply, energy security, and food supply stand out as a challenge that requires project evaluation models that can capture the complex dynamics and interdependencies of these resources. This study proposes the elaboration of a nexus evaluation model (NEM) for projects related to the water–energy–food nexus (WEFN) from the perspective of sustainability, Industry 4.0, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The model considers the three dimensions of sustainability—economic, environmental, and social; the three structuring factors of Industry 4.0—physical, biological, and digital; and the 17 SDGs proposed by the United Nations. A Design Science Research (DSR) approach was adopted in which the design and development of the model, and demonstration and evaluation phases, were supported by a group of experts. The model was applied to three different projects focused on sustainable technological innovation in energy and agriculture, with the results presented in the RGB color scale represented numerically as a number from 0 to 255. The results demonstrated that, in the relationship between nexus and sustainability, the projects presented scores between 162 and 217 for the environmental dimension, between 158 and 202 for the economic dimension and between 170 and 212 for the social dimension. In the nexus and Industry 4.0 relationship, the projects obtained scores ranging from 9 to 94 in the biological factor, from 13 to 141 in the digital factor, and from 13 to 141 in the physical factor. In the nexus and SDG relationship, scores ranged from 214 to 244 for water, from 195 to 255 for energy, and from 30 to 255 for food. These results from the model were consistent with the reality of the projects being evaluated, demonstrating a greater alignment of the projects with the dimensions of sustainability and the SDGs than with the factors of Industry 4.0. The proposal of the model contributes to broaden the understanding of how projects related to the nexus can be evaluated considering multiple contemporary dimensions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security, 2nd Edition)
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Review

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12 pages, 1070 KiB  
Review
The Evolution of Potable Water Security: A Temporal Analysis of Key Indices and Trends
by Jasna Bhargavan and Kasthurba Ayikkara Kizhakkayil
Water 2024, 16(21), 3023; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16213023 - 22 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1117
Abstract
Water security is a critical global issue that has gained increasing attention from researchers, policymakers, and practitioners over the past few decades. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of potable water security indices from the 1980s to the 2020s, focusing [...] Read more.
Water security is a critical global issue that has gained increasing attention from researchers, policymakers, and practitioners over the past few decades. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of potable water security indices from the 1980s to the 2020s, focusing on the key research themes, trends, and influential factors in the field. We conducted a comprehensive search of the relevant literature and examined the development of water security indices to provide insights into the current state of research and identify future research directions. This paper will explore the historical context, key indicators, sector-specific challenges, climate change implications, governance and policy considerations, technological advancements, community engagement efforts, and future directions for research in this critical field. Researchers and policymakers will find this review valuable as it offers insights into the existing knowledge and the areas that require further exploration to address global water security challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision-Making Theory and Methodology for Water, Energy and Food Security, 2nd Edition)
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