Modeling the Environment, Second Edition

Modeling the Environment was the first textbook in anemerging field—the modeling techniques that allow managers andresearchers to see in advance the consequences of actions and policiesin environmental management. This new edition brings the bookthoroughly up to date and reaffirms its status as the leadingintroductory text on the subject.

System dynamics is one of the most widely known and widely usedmethods of modeling. The fundamental principles of this approach aredemonstrated here with a wide range of examples, includinggeo-hydrology, population biology, epidemiology and economics. Theapplications demonstrate the transferability of the systems approachacross disciplines, across spatial scales, and across time scales. Allof the models are implemented with stock and flow software programssuch as Stella and Vensim. These programs are easy and fun to learn,and they allow students to develop realistic models within the firstfew weeks of a college course.

System dynamics has emerged as the most common approach incollaborative projects to address environmental problems. The stock andflow structures and the emphasis on feedback control provide a commonlanguage that is understood by scientists from many disciplines.Although the interdisciplinary approach described here is widely usedin practice, there are few books to aid instruction. Modeling theEnvironment meets the urgent need for instructional materials ininterdisciplinary modeling of environmental systems.