title: Assessing water quality in rivers with fuzzy inference systems: a case study.
abstract: In recent years, fuzzy-logic-based methods have demonstrated to be appropriated to address uncertainty and subjectivity in environmental problems. In the present study, a methodology based on fuzzy inference systems (FIS) to assess water quality is proposed. A water quality index calculated with fuzzy reasoning has been developed. The relative importance of water quality indicators involved in the fuzzy inference process has been dealt with a multi-attribute decision-aiding method. The potential application of the fuzzy index has been tested with a case study. A data set collected from the Ebro River (Spain) by two different environmental protection agencies has been used. The current findings, managed within a geographic information system, clearly agree with official reports and expert opinions about the pollution problems in the studied area. Therefore, this methodology emerges as a suitable and alternative tool to be used in developing effective water management plans.
authors: School of Chemical and Process Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Avenida de los Países Catalanes 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain. waocampo@urv.net
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Ocampo-Duque
authors: Núria
authors: N
authors: Ferré-Huguet
authors: José L
authors: JL
authors: Domingo
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Schuhmacher