Abstract

Effective community-based water resource management requires integrated, accurate, and accessible information to support evidence-based decision making. However, in many local contexts, water-related data remain fragmented across multiple agencies and are rarely designed to support community learning or participatory planning. This study aimed to (1) conduct a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of research related to holistic water information systems for community decision making, (2) design an educational technology–based holistic water information repository, and (3) evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the developed system in a real-world community context. The study followed the PRISMA 2020 framework and employed bibliometric analysis using data retrieved from the Scopus database, resulting in 175 eligible studies for synthesis. Insights from the review informed the design of a holistic system architecture integrating data management, knowledge management, learning management, and decision-support functions. The system was developed following the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) framework and implemented in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand. System evaluation involved expert assessment, a quasi-experimental design using pre-test and post-test measures, and user satisfaction surveys. The results indicated that the system architecture achieved the highest level of suitability (Mean = 4.61, S.D. = 0.48). Participants’ learning achievement significantly improved after system use (t = 7.21, p < .01), and user satisfaction was high across all evaluated dimensions. These findings demonstrate that integrating educational technology into a holistic water information repository enhances digital competencies, learning outcomes, and participatory community decision making in water resource management. This study contributes empirical evidence on how educationally grounded information systems can strengthen community capacity and support sustainable water governance.

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