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== General System description == System name: Mesta === Brief overview === An internet-based [[DSS|decision-support application]] for (participatory) maker strategic-level natural resources discrete choice situations. === Scope of the system === Mesta has been designed to support multi-criteria decision making situations. It works in the Internet. It demands the decision maker to define his/her acceptance threshold (=border of approval) for all predefined criteria. The acceptance border definitions are continued until only one alternative exists that is above the acceptance borders. On the other hand, the functioning reminds approval voting. On the other hand, the functioning reminds feasible region reduction method. However, in Mesta, the alternatives and their criteria values have been created before the approval border definitions. === System origin === Mesta has been developed in Finnish Forest Research Institute. User rights can be applied from Mikko Kurttila (@metla.fi) It has real-life applications in four natural resources planning processes of Metsähallitus. The size of the planning areas have been several hundred thousand hectares and typically there has been some 15 participants. They have first used Mesta independently. After this phase and related learning process, group negotiation with Mesta has been carried out, where the final accepted solution for the area has been searched. === Support for specific issues === The Mesta DSS is a general system and it can be applied to numerous decision situations (buying a car, selecting a treatment schedule for stand, and selecting a strategy for a region etc.). === Support for specific thematic areas of a problem type === Strategic planning processes and general discrete choice situations with multiple criteria. === Capability to support decision making phases === Supports the selection phase. Criteria selection, definition of alternatives and estimating the impacts of alternatives has to be carried out before using Mesta. == Data and data models == [[Image:Mesta interface.png|thumb|500px|Mesta interface showing the threshold values which were used as the starting point of the negotiation process in a case study. (Source: HILTUNEN ''et al.'' 2009)]] === Typical spatial extent of application === Varies a lot, from stand level to region or country level. === Forest data input === So called result matrix that includes: # selected evaluation criteria # predefined alternatives # estimated outcome from alternative for each criteria Numerical criteria needs to be used. The aim can be either to maximize or to minimize the criteria value. === Type of information input from user (via GUI) === Two types of users exist: # A facilitator that defines the decision problem and gives the information of the result matrix. In addition, a facilitator defines the participants. # A participant gives his/her acceptance border values for each criteria. == Decision Support == [[Image:Mesta final thresholds.png|thumb|500px|Mesta interface showing the final threshold values in a case study. (Source: HILTUNEN ''et al.'' 2009)]] === Types of decisions supported === *Management level **applicable to all levels * Management function * discrete choice situations (select one of the alternatives) *Decision making situation ** Unilateral ** Participatory decision making === Decision-making processes and models === *Multiple criteria decision support ** Based on acceptance border definitions from the users and group negotiation == Output == === Types of outputs === * Points out the selected alternative == System == === System requirements === * Operating Systems: Web-based * Development status: System in use === Architecture and major DSS components === Web-based system. Utilizes flash-application. === Usage === Used in practical decision making, in projects as well as in research. === Computational limitations === At maximum 10 criteria and 30 alternatives. === User interface === Easily understandable interface, small amount of information demanded from the participant. === Installation === * Directly usable after the user has username and password * Cost: Case-specific, to be negotiated * Demo: see www.mesta.metla.fi where a small decision problem is available ==References== ===Cited references=== HILTUNEN, V., M. KURTTILA, P. LESKINEN, K. PASANEN et J. PYKÄLÄINEN (2009): Mesta: An internet-based decision-support application for participatory strategic-level natural resources planning. ''Forest Policy and Economics'' 11: 1-9. PASANEN, K., M. KURTTILA, J. PYKÄLÄINEN, J. KANGAS, et P. LESKINEN (2005): MESTA - Non-industrial private forest owners' decision-support environment for the evaluation of alternative forest plans over the internet. ''International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making'' 4(4): 601-620. KANGAS ,A., J. KANGAS et M. KURTTILA (2008): ''Decision support for forest management''. Managing Forest Ecosystems 16. Springer. 222 p.
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