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- A composite indicator to measure sustainable water use in Portugal: a compromise programming approachPublication . Costa Freitas, M. B.; Xavier, António; Fragoso, Rui; Antunes, CarlaClean water is an important resource for maintaining human life, economic activities, and ecosystems' survival. Nevertheless, its irregular distribution and occasional scarcity lead to the need to promote its sustainable use. To assess the current situation and the dynamics of sustainable water use, it is crucial to identify the main factors affecting it and to propose monitoring indicators. This paper develops an approach based on compromise programming to analyse water use sustainability at the municipal level, with a methodology that comprise a framework designed in five steps: 1 - indicators' choice; 2 - indicators's weights; 3 - definition of sustainability rankings with the application of a compromise programming approach; 4- application of a GIS analysis; 5 - identification of the main factors affecting sustainable water use. As a first result, the consensus weights of the chosen indicators were defined, indicating that the most important internal factors affecting sustainable water use are safe water, the percentage of housing served by water supply and water distributed by inhabitant. Then sustainability rankings at the municipality level were defined considering these factors. Finally, it was possible to conclude that tourism activity, income level, and young age population have a significant negative effect on sustainable water use, and municipal revenue has a positive effect. Irrigated farming shows a non-significant negative effect on sustainable water use. Population density, elderly population and education level did not show the expected effects on sustainable water use.
- A compromise programming approach for assessing territorial biophysical suitability: a Case StudyPublication . Xavier, António; Ferreira da Silva da Costa Freitas, Maria de Belém; Rolo Antunes, Carla MariaLand-use fragmentation is an important issue for land management and rural development. For the last few decades, the relationship between mankind and land has become more dynamic though the traditional cadastral system has been slow in responding to the changing needs of society. Associated with land-use fragmentation, there are different sizes of land parcels with different biophysical characteristics that will dictate different land management decisions, and, in many countries, it is a problem that constitutes a challenge for correct land management. This article proposes a compromise programming approach for determining the biophysical potential of land parcels. This approach was implemented in Loul & eacute; municipality, Portugal, in more than 50,000 parcels. Results were promising since the approach was able to build a ranking of parcels that have different biophysical conditions, proving that this approach is relevant and interesting for land management.