Modelling: Approaches and Attitudes
A series of lectures (in English)
by
These lectures discuss modelling, describing different approaches and
methodologies, and focussing on how models are to be used and implemented. The
emphasis is on ecological modelling, but the material is not restricted to this
field.
Target Audience
These lectures are intended primarily for advanced science students,
especially those in the fields of fisheries and marine ecology. However the
treatment will be quite general, and could be of value to researchers in other
areas.
Topics to be covered include:
- What is Modelling?
- Who needs to know about Modelling?
- How does one choose the right model formulation for the purpose?
- Different approaches to model development
- Interaction between model developers and other scientists - workshop methods
- Data-driven modelling
- Modelling and Statistics
- Model testing, validation and falsification
- The role of expert systems and decision support
- Types of models, including:
Systems of differential equations
Finite difference equations
Individual-based models
Cellular automata
Object-oriented models
Dynamical vs. static models
- Stability, chaos and catastrophe theory in modelling
- Modelling software
This will review different computer-based modelling packages, such as
Stella and ECOPATH, and consider different programming languages, but will
not go into the technical details of using these packages and programs.
Examples:
Numerous examples, mostly from the published literature, will be discussed.
Prerequisites:
These lectures are intended for a general audience, but the emphasis and
examples will focus mainly on fisheries, ecology, and toxicology. Although there
will be some discussion of differential equations, these will be described in
terms that can be understood by individuals without a knowledge of calculus.
Similarly, although computers will be discussed, no knowledge of programming is
required.
If you are concerned about whether your mathematical skills are suitable for
ecological modelling, perhaps a short quiz will
help.
Mailing List:
There is a mailing list associated with this course (and all other material
at this site), to join click here or send a blank
message to modelling-subscribe@topica.com
- you will then receive information on how to use the list.
The lectures were supplemented with PowerPoint presentations. No lecture
notes per se were distributed, but the presentations are available.
To see the presentations download the ZIP
archive and unzip it in a directory on your computer. Then run the file 00Master.pps
by double-clicking on it. It contains links to all of the other presentations
organised in sequence.
Another ZIP archive contains three Excel
spreadsheets used during the course, which can be used to explore chaos theory,
investigate error propagation, and generate a Lotka-Volterra predator-prey
model.
You can of course view any of the individual presentations separately.
|