Participatory Design of Multi-Use Platforms at Sea
Journal article, 2016
European oceans are subject to rapid development. New activities such as aquaculture and ocean energy have gained importance. This triggers interest in “multi-use platforms at sea” (MUPS), i.e., areas at sea in which different activities are combined. MUPS are complex features with regards to technology, governance, and financial, socioeconomic, and environmental aspects. To identify realistic and sustainable solutions and designs for MUPS, the MERMAID project applied a participatory design process (PDP) involving a range of stakeholders representing companies, authorities, researchers, and NGOs. This paper evaluates if and how the participatory design process contributed to the design of multi-use platforms. It is based on interviews with the managers of the case study sites and a questionnaire administered to all stakeholders participating in the PDP workshops. Analyzing the four case studies, we conclude that the participatory design process has had a valuable contribution to the development of the four different designs of MUPS, even though the preconditions for carrying out a participatory design process differed between sites. In all four cases, the process has been beneficial in generating new and shared knowledge. It brought new design issues to the table and increased knowledge and understanding among the different stakeholders.
Author
S. van den Burg
LEI Wageningen UR
M. Stuiver
Wageningen University and Research
Jenny Norrman
Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics
Rita Coelho Steiger Garção
Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics
T. Soderqvist
Enveco Environmental Economics Consultancy
C. Rockmann
Wageningen University and Research
J. J. Schouten
Deltares
O. Petersen
DHI
R. G. Garcia
University of Cantabria
P. Diaz-Simal
University of Cantabria
M. de Bel
Deltares
L. M. Aja
University of Cantabria
F. Zagonari
University of Bologna
B. Zanuttigh
University of Bologna
J. Sarmiento
University of Cantabria
A. Giannouli
International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy
Athens University of Economics and Business
P. Koundouri
International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy
London School of Economics and Political Science
Athens University of Economics and Business
Sustainability
20711050 (eISSN)
Vol. 8 2 Art. no. 127- 127Innovative Multi-purpose off-shore platforms: planning, Design and operation (MERMAID)
European Commission (EC) (EC/FP7/288710), 2012-01-01 -- 2015-12-31.
Subject Categories
Ecology
DOI
10.3390/su8020127