Authors:
Rizzoli, A.E.;
Leavesley, G.;
Ascough, J.C.;
Argent, R.M.;
Athanasiadis, I.N.;
Brilhante, V.;
Claeys, F.H.A.;
David, O.;
Donatelli, M.;
Gijsbers, P.;
Havlik, D.;
Kassahun, A.;
Krause, P.;
Quinn, N.W.T.;
Scholten, H.;
Sojda, R.S.;
Villa, F.Source:
Environmental modelling, software and decision support: state of the art and new perspectives, Elsevier, p.101-107 (2008)
URL:
http://www.elsevierdirect.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780080568867
Keywords:
modelling frameworks; environmental integrated modelling frameworks; knowledge representation; model management; model engineering
Abstract:
Modern management of environmental resources defines problems from a holistic and integrated perspective, imposing strong requirements to Environmental Decision Support Systems (EDSSs) and Integrated Assessment Tools (IATs), which tend to be increasingly complex in terms of software architecture and computational power in order to cope with the type of problems they must solve. Such systems need to support methodologies and techniques ranging from agent-based modelling to participatory decision-making. Sometimes EDSSs and IATs are built from scratch, often with limited resources, by non-programmers. The disadvantages of this approach, which can quickly become overly expensive in terms of delivery time and resources required, have been addressed by the development of suites of software engineering tools called Environmental Integrated Modelling Frameworks (EIMFs).
EIMFs have typically been designed as a response to the increasing complexity of building and delivering EDSSs and IATs. Modelling and simulation tools and frameworks have been adopted at a large scale in the management science and operations research disciplines, and standards for developing and expanding them have been developed. In contrast, no modelling framework has been universally adopted within the environmental modelling domain, and the number of environmental modelling frameworks is still growing. In this book chapter, we strive to address the above issues and clearly identify the essential characteristics of an EIMF. This book chapter also advocates the development of open standards for the exchange and re-use of modelling knowledge, including data sets, models, and procedures in order to facilitate improved communication among the leading EIMFs
Notes:
ISBN-13: 978-0-08-056886-7
