Discussion

To my knowledge, this report is the first known demonstration of applying OnTheMap to regional water resource planning and virtual water visualization.  Depicting the intersection between water resource management and flows of economic activity – such as labor supplies – can educate watershed stakeholders in on how water resources could have such comprehensive impacts on human and economic activity.  Virtual water and embedded water are difficult concepts to contextualize, but the commute shed approach could make them more relatable to the lay audience.

The illustration of the interdependence of Upper Neuse and regional water utilities alone can assist ongoing dialog on Basin-wide water supply management.  As water and sewer utility managers begin to reach across city boundaries or even basin boundaries to discuss long-term collaboration, they should find commute shed analysis to be useful.  City halls may be more likely to cooperate with a counterpart that is known to have both physical and virtual benefit ties.  Commute shed analysis could facilitate cooperative decision making for several scenarios in particular:

CONTINUE READING: Applications for Regional Planning: Water Allocation and Transfer Agreements