Indicators are more and more applied to describe and analyze complex systems. Typical examples: Innovation potential of nations, child-well being, Environmental health, poverty, chemical pollution, corruption of nations. The task is: How can a system of indicators be defined in order to fulfill the above expectations. One possibility is the application of the mathematical theory of partial order, especially when the indicator system shall be used for ranking purposes.

Indicators are more and more applied to describe and analyze complex systems. Typical examples: Innovation potential of nations, child-well being, Environmental health, poverty, chemical pollution, corruption of nations. The task is: How can a system of indicators be defined in order to fulfill the above expectations. One possibility is the application of the mathematical theory of partial order, especially when the indicator system shall be used for ranking purposes.

This book explains the theory and practice of order relations in such a way that no specific mathematical skill is needed to understand the advantages of this algebraization. It acts as a primer in a mathematical technique which is useful in many expanding disciplines, like genomics, techniques of decision support, and sustainability. This book is recommended to those who are interested in the interface between sciences and management.

The environmental and chemical sciences are ever more reliant on computers. This dependence needs formalization, and the theory of algebraic relations is one possibility. Under algebraic relations, "order" turns out to be of special interest in many applicational fields. Internationally renowned authors explain the theory and practice of order relations in such a way, that no specific mathematical skill is needed to understand the advantages of this algebraization. As the order relations are very general and simple, they can be used quite universally. For example, the structure of chemicals and their properties; evaluation of waste disposal sites, decision support for river management; and the way to measure biodiversity are examples of the broadness of the concept.
This book is recommended to those, who are interested in the interface between sciences and management.

"Multi-indicator Systems and Modelling in Partial Order" contains the newest theoretical concepts as well as new applications or even applications, where standard multivariate statistics fail. Some of the presentations have their counterpart in the book; however, there are many contributions, which are completely new in the field of applied partial order.