12. A Decision Support System for Solving the Conflict Between Human and Environment

A new decision support system based on matrix representation for conflict resolution under three-degree preference is designed for analyzing and solving conflict in practice. Because decision and negotiation are common but important human activity, there is a great need for a flexible decision support system that can systematically investigate a wide range of real-world strategic conflicts. The decision support system GMCR II, based on logical representations, is capable of handling two-degree preference only. However, the two-degree structure is limited in its ability to depict the intensity of relative preference. The proposed decision support system may deal with more complex strategic conflicts such as conflict with three-degree preference. The new system is illustrated in this paper using an international environmental dispute that was resulted from the environmental pollution among US, Canada, and International Joint Commission. To irrigate land in the northeastern section of North Dakota, an irrigation project was proposed by the United States Support (USS) regarding construction of a canal and holding reservoir to transfer water from the Missouri River Basin to the Hudson Bay Basin. Due to different goals, the Garrison Diversion Unit (GDU) conflict arose among US, Canada, and International Joint Commission. The resolution to solve this conflict is suggested by the new decision support system.