An environmental decision support system for an efficient monitoring and planning of woody biomass for energy production, with remote sensing aid

The proposed paper describes the architecture of a GIS-based Environmental Decision Support System (EDSS) that integrates software tools and sensors, such as: remote sensing for environmental monitoring and support to mathematical models, optimization models (for planning plant size, kind, and biomass harvesting), dynamic forest growth models, and models for carbon dioxide balance calculation. The proposed EDSS is innovative as regards the current literature because it will be a tool for operational monitoring, cost minimization and efficient planning intervention, in accordance with natural and anthropogenic events that occur on the sites. The features of the EDSS and of the user-friendly interface are showed in connection with a case study.