Class 1.1

• Tuesday and Thursday 2.00-3.15 Votey 367
• http://giee.uvm.edu/AV/CS.html
• http://www.likbez.com/AV/Simmod.html(*)

Books and readings

• Haefner, J. W. 1997. Modeling biological systems: principles and applications. Chapman and Hall, New York.
• Ford, Andrew. 1999. Modeling the environment: an introduction to systems dynamics modeling of environmental systems. Island Press. Washington, DC
• Hannon, B. and M. Ruth. 1994. Dynamic modeling. Springer-Verlag, New York
• STELLA manuals. High Performance Systems, Inc.

Model

• A model is a simplification of reality
• "The best explanation is as simple as possible, but no simplerÓ A. Einstein
• "All models are wrong... Some models are usefulÓ Deming
• Understand, predict, control
• The modeling process

System

• "Any phenomenon, either structural or functional, having at least two separable components and some interaction between these components may be considered a system.Ó Hall, Day
• "The whole is more than the sum of parts.Ó Bertalanffy
• "The features of the complex, compared to those of the elements, appear as "new" or "emergent"Ó Bertalanffy

Modeling Process

• Scales
• Boundaries
• Variables
• Parameters
• Forcing functions
• Controls