Ahmadi, A., Moridi, A., Han, D., (2015) Uncertainty Assessment in Environmental Risk through Bayesian Networks, Journal of Environmental Informatics 25(1) 46-59.

Uncertainty Assessment in Environmental Risk through Bayesian Networks

A. Ahmadi^1*,A. Moridi²,D. Han³

1. Department of Civil Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156, Iran
2. Department of Water and Environmental Engineering, Abbaspour College of Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran 16765-1719, Iran
3. Water and Environmental Management Research Centre, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Bristol BS8 1TR, UK

Abstract

Assessing environmental risks on large dams is a challenging task. This paper describes a study on a novel and comprehensive application of Bayesian Networks (BNs) on the Abolabbas dam in Iran. Bayesian networks are based on probability theory and provide a powerful tool for structuring conceptualizations of the interactions between variables with uncertainties. Firstly, the interaction-based structure of variables is developed using the graphical model. Then, the Bayesian Network input variables, which affect the risk in two categories ("hazards index" and "consequences index"), are determined and the relations between different variables are modeled. The probability values for the risk levels are derived from a novel fuzzy set analysis. The results show that the environmental risk of the Abolabbas dam is considered at a high level with 12.8 percent probability. Also, the sensitivity analysis is used to find out the most effective variables on the environmental risk of the dam site. Finally certain important action plans are suggested to reduce and control the risk which represents a novel way for the risk reduction.

Keywords: risk assessment, environmental risk, Bayesian network, Entropy theory

http://www.jeionline.org/index.php?journal=mys&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=201500294