Widener Jeffrey M, Gliedt Travis J, Hartman Preston
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK USA.
Sustain Sci. 2017;12(2):203-219. doi: 10.1007/s11625-016-0408-y. Epub 2016 Nov 4.
This study seeks to expand empirical research on how municipalities have adapted and innovated (or not) their water systems as a result of climate change. We analyze characteristics of water governance at the municipal scale in Oklahoma, USA. ArcMap 10.3 was used to build a qualitative geographic information system (GIS) based on fieldwork, including interviews and site-observations, to compare dynamic capabilities that lead to innovation in 38 cities in the state. The GIS enables visualization of our digitalized research to understand the interconnections between drivers of innovativeness-the combination of dynamic capabilities and innovation rates-and state of water resource infrastructure in place specific and regional planning contexts. In particular, the GIS takes into consideration income level, the influence of state-level water policy (Water for 2060 Act), water manager certification levels, population, dynamic capabilities, and perceptions of risk and vulnerability to water system change. Digitizing this information provides a diverging perspective on the historical lack of innovation in the public sector, as different socio-cultural, socio-economic, and socio-political contexts occur throughout Oklahoma, a state notorious for its oil centered economy and its climate change deniers. The findings suggest that innovativeness is directly related to dynamic capabilities and indirectly related to population size, income level, and the educational backgrounds of water decision-makers. The visualizations also show that some cities have surplus capacity for adaptation, while others were able to more efficiently turn capacity into water management innovations. Seeing representations of water governance success and failure in communities affords the opportunity to educate citizens and decision-makers to adapt water infrastructures to the effects of climate change, showcasing the utility of digitalization in a quest for sustainable solutions.
本研究旨在拓展实证研究，探讨市政当局如何因气候变化而对其供水系统进行调整和创新（或未进行创新）。我们分析了美国俄克拉荷马州市政层面的水治理特征。利用ArcMap 10.3，基于实地调查（包括访谈和现场观察）构建了一个定性地理信息系统（GIS），以比较该州38个城市中导致创新的动态能力。该GIS能够将我们的数字化研究可视化，以便在特定地点和区域规划背景下理解创新驱动因素（动态能力与创新率的结合）与水资源基础设施状况之间的相互联系。特别是，该GIS考虑了收入水平、州级水政策（《2060年水资源法案》）的影响、水管理人员的认证水平、人口、动态能力以及对水系统变化的风险和脆弱性认知。将这些信息数字化，为公共部门历史上缺乏创新提供了一个不同的视角，因为俄克拉荷马州各地存在不同的社会文化、社会经济和社会政治背景，该州以其以石油为中心的经济和气候变化否认者而闻名。研究结果表明，创新能力与动态能力直接相关，与人口规模、收入水平以及水决策者的教育背景间接相关。可视化结果还显示，一些城市有过剩的适应能力，而另一些城市能够更有效地将能力转化为水管理创新。看到社区中水治理成功与失败的表现，为教育公民和决策者使水基础设施适应气候变化的影响提供了机会，展示了数字化在寻求可持续解决方案中的效用。
