Browsing by Author "Toaquiza Tigasi, Wilma Verónica"

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    Evaluación de la viabilidad para la implementación de un sistema de monitoreo de la calidad de agua de consumo humano basado en ciencia abierta y ciudadana en el sector Salache, provincia Cotopaxi
    (Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC). Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales. Ambiental, 2026-10-19) Toaquiza Tigasi, Wilma Verónica; Sarabia Lozada, Damián Josué; Fonseca Largo, Kalina Marcela
    Nationally, in rural areas, the distribution and protection of water for human consumption and irrigation are managed by community boards made up of users. However, these organizations face political, economic, social, technological, ecological, and legal (PESTEL) limitations that hinder their ability to guarantee safe water. An example of this is the communities in the Salache sector, including the campus of the Technical University of Cotopaxi, where there are limitations in access to water and a lack of continuous monitoring of its quality. In this context, the research evaluated the feasibility of implementing a monitoring system based on open science and citizen participation. A mixed-methods approach was used, integrating technical information and community perceptions. Through a literature review, the main PESTEL factors related to water availability and quality were identified. Subsequently, using purposive non-probability sampling with progressive selection of key participants, twenty community leaders from Salache Grande, Salache Rumipamba, Salache Angamarca, and Taniloma were selected to participate in workshops. The concepts were adapted to the community context and transformed into a Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM). Participants established causal relationships and weighed their influence using a traffic light-type visual system. The map was analyzed using Mental Modeler with graph theory to determine degrees of entry, degrees of exit, centrality, and density. Additionally, three scenarios were simulated using fuzzy inference: worst-case scenario, implementation of the system with open-source ESP32 hardware, and expansion of water storage. The results showed that the ecological dimension (32.58%) was the most influential, followed by the social dimension (17.50%). Poor community water management exhibited the highest centrality (CI=60.79). The system reached a density of 0.87 with 1467 connections. The optimal scenario improved 95.45% of the variables. Finally, the system's viability was confirmed, and a methodological manual for its community implementation was developed