Systems Science and Modeling for Ecological Economics

Download or read book Systems Science and Modeling for Ecological Economics written by Alexey A. Voinov and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2010-07-27 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Modeling is a key component to sciences from mathematics to life science, including environmental and ecological studies. By looking at the underlying concepts of the software, we can make sure that we build mathematically feasible models and that we get the most out of the data and information that we have. Systems Science and Modeling for Ecological Economics shows how models can be analyzed using simple math and software to generate meaningful qualitative descriptions of system dynamics. This book shows that even without a full analytical, mathematically rigorous analysis of the equations, there may be ways to derive some qualitative understanding of the general behavior of a system. By relating some of the modeling approaches and systems theory to real-world examples the book illustrates how these approaches can help understand concepts such as sustainability, peak oil, adaptive management, optimal harvest and other practical applications. Relates modeling approaches and systems theory to real-world examples Teaches students to build mathematically feasible models and get the most out of the data and information available Wide range of applications in hydrology, population dynamics, market cycles, sustainability theory, management, and more