Abstract
The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus provides a valuable framework for understanding the interconnectedness of environmental and resource systems. Within this context agroforestry systems emerge as promising integrated land-use practice to multiple sustainability goals—such as enhancing water security, optimizing energy use, increasing food production, and preserving ecosystem health. Due to the inherent complexity and multidimensionality of WEFE Nexus interactions, effective cartographic visualizations become crucial tools to clarify spatial relationships, potential synergies, and trade-offs.
This study aims to develop a spatially explicit visual analytics tool to explore WEFE Nexus interdependencies in a selected agroforestry system, supporting informed decision-making through interactive, multi-scale analysis of complex resource relationships. The proposed workflow integrates heterogeneous spatial and non-spatial datasets—including environmental indicators, socio-economic statistics, and remote sensing data—within a unified analytical framework. Key variables influencing WEFE Nexus interactions are identified, represented, and evaluated using a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) approach. The tool, built within a user-friendly Power BI business intelligence environment, enables stakeholders to evaluate WEFE Nexus components at local, watershed, regional, and even transboundary scales.
Data for the WEFE Nexus analysis were gathered from open-access sources relevant to agroforestry to ensure both reliability and alignment with multi-dimensional scope. Spatial layers on land use, vegetation and soils were retrieved from FAO’s GAEZ and SoilGrids. Water-related data came from AQUASTAT and national hydrological portal. Climate variables such as precipitation and temperature were obtained from CHELSA and WorldClim. Socioeconomic indicators—covering agriculture, political and resource use were sourced from FAOSTAT and national datasets.
An interactive visual analytics prototype is developed using various using a two-tier architecture. Data are integrated into a PostgreSQL DBMS, while the user interface and analytics are handled by Power BI, which serves as the core environment for semantic modeling and dashboard design. The prototype is enhanced with the outputs from ArcGIS/QGIS and integrated with web-based mapping tools such as Mapbox to support the interactive geospatial visualization. This system enables users to examine historical trends and explore simplified future scenarios, offering initial insights to support planning and agroforestry decision-making.
Visualization elements include choropleth maps, histograms, time-series plots and interactionbased filters. These components are organized into thematically linked pages—one for each WEFE Nexus pillar—allowing users to explore cross-sectoral dependencies by selecting different indicators or spatial units. Tunisia serves as the main case study area, with systematizes use of colors, symbology, and visual hierarchy to enhance user experience and ensure design consistency.
As part of future work, we aim to improve the tool’s policy relevance and practical applicability by gathering stakeholder feedback through participatory workshops. These sessions will inform iterative refinements to both the dashboard’s user interface and its underlying content. Specifically, this collaborative process is expected to improve the visualization of resource flows, identify key sustainability bottlenecks, and ensure the diverse needs of end users.
By translating complex WEFE Nexus relationships into clear, spatially grounded visualizations, this project highlights the vital role of geovisualization in bridging the gap between scientific insight and policy action. The interactive proposed may empower stakeholders to evaluate integrated resource management scenarios, navigate trade-offs, and design targeted agroforestry interventions. By fostering transparency and collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and local communities, this platform advances sustainable agroforestry planning and strengthens resilience in vulnerable regions, ensuring that water, energy, food, and ecosystem goals are addressed in unison.
This research is partially funded by the ERASMUS+ Student Mobility Program (Scholarship) and the carried out within the framework of TRANS-SAHARA project, funded by European Union under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme Grant Agreement Nº: 101182176.