M-SALD: A Novel Support Tool for Geo-driven Decision-Making in the Selection of Hydraulic Structures Location

Expert systems are fundamental tools in the fields of artificial intelligence and decision-making. In the context of the selection of areas for the location of dams, expert systems are especially relevant since they can integrate multiple variables for the detection of optimal locations that minimize environmental impacts and maximize the efficiency of the infrastructure. This research paper presents a new model of multicriteria and geospatial analysis (M-SALD). M-SALD is an expert system structured in three phases that can select from a set of areas the most suitable for the possible location of dams. In addition, it integrates the processes of multicriteria analysis and geospatial analysis, allowing multiple factors to be considered simultaneously, considering the spatial location of the data and the interaction between them. The model is applied to a case study in which a total of 29 watersheds (alternatives) were evaluated, considering 4 criteria and 25 sub-criteria. As a result of the application, it is evident that the model allows for the expansion of the number of possible factors, parameters, and alternatives to be evaluated, reducing the inconsistency from 80 to 20%. It eliminates the subjective evaluation performed by the experts during the weighing of the alternatives and reduces by up to 22% the number of candidate points (12,591) evaluated on the rivers. To obtain the results, the possible scenarios of hydrological development were considered, including promising areas to ensure the balance of water resources.