Although a scenario must be plausible, it does not necessarily have a probability of occurrence associated with it, but instead addresses key issues and, perhaps, reveals other problems that result from specific future models. 2.7 ASSESSMENT INTEGRATION/AGGREGATION TECHNIQUES The objective of integration/aggregation techniques is to analyze and focus the data assembled for the comparison of SPS with terrestrial technologies. A further objective is to begin reducing the complexity of the decision-making problem (which is aggravated by the large amounts of supporting data for each technology) by using techniques such as formal incorporation of preferences. There are a number of criteria for deciding the appropriate level at which to carry out such integration/aggregation techniques. These include: • The number of measurement categories desired; • The number of alternatives desired; • The manner in which views of priorities are determined, represented, and incorporated into the decision-making process; • The use of uncertainty; • The degree of inclusion of interactions between variables and priorities; and • The suitability of the aggregated information for describing dynamic and time-varying conditions. i The degree of appropriateness of any of these criteria is determined by the degree of quantification of variables and effects that is achievable. Cost-risk-benefit analysis, total social cost, minimum energy cost with environmental constraints, and decision analysis are some of the techniques that may be considered. These approaches are formalized techniques that require value judgments. Since these value judgments would mainly be those of the analysts, it was decided to present the comparative information in its entirety and permit the reader to use his or her own values for arriving at any aggregate evaluation.
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