Publication (Technical report): Development of options for a quantitative lowland river model

Publication Type:	Technical report / Consultancy
Publication Name:	Development of options for a quantitative lowland river model

Reference Information

Harper, M.; Burden, F.; Lawrence, I. (2000) Development of options for a quantitative lowland river model. Progress report ScA1 2000.

Optional Information

Attached document(s):

- Devp of opts.pdf

Other information:

PDF report attached below.

Development of Options for a Quantitative Lowland River Model. Progress Report. ScA1.

Dr Michael Harper, Assoc Prof Frank Burden & Ian Lawrence

Summary

The provision of management models and other quantitative output is a priority for the CRCFE.
Traditional modelling strategies within the CRCFE have largely failed, and are likely to continue to do so without a fundamental shift in approach.
The CRCFE is in any case unable and/or unwilling to properly resource large scale modelling studies of this type.
There is a need for a ‘bottom-up’ approach to the development of research models.
For the establishment of a centralized group of modellers with a responsibility to support and direct modelling within the CRC.
Management requirements should be satisfied collaboratively by researchers and modellers outside the constraints of individual projects.

Introduction

The development of conceptual system models within IPs, while an effective tool for crystallizing and communicating our understanding of these systems, falls short of providing the quantitative answers increasingly demanded by the CRC, stakeholders, and the wider community. Mathematical models have been identified as a convenient way of communicating research findings to researchers and managers alike. This scoping study evolved out of the Combined Projects Workshop (IPs 1, 2, and 8) held at Monash in August last year, where the possibility of linking projects through such a model was discussed.

This study’s purpose is to look at the options for developing a mathematical model of lowland river systems. The CRCFE currently has virtually no skill base in quantitative modelling, and recent modelling based projects (e.g. IP2) have not been resounding successes. This report therefore starts with an examination of past failures and attempts to map out a viable
alternative strategy. Key requirements for the implementation of this strategy are discussed, and finally a number of recommendations made.

While the brief of this study specifies ’models’, these are but one method of packaging and delivering quantitative information that emerges from research activities. Other methods, such as decision support trees, expert systems, or empirical (as opposed to mechanistic) models, will prove more appropriate in some instances. While it is outside the scope of this report to discuss their relative merits, the term model as used here encompasses all such meanings.

Modelling is simply a means to an end. Within the CRC, two uses for models can be identified: research-oriented models and management-oriented models. Research models (e.g. mechanistic type models) are intended to assist in formulating and testing research hypotheses, as a framework for the interpretation of data, and furthering our understanding of
how complex systems work. Management models deliver quantitative answers to specific management questions. This is more than an arbitrary distinction, as is discussed below.

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