INF-32806 Models for Environmental Systems

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Studiepunten 6.00

OnderwijstypeContacturen
Lectures24
Practical extensively supervised15
Practical intensively supervised67
Tutorial6
Course coordinator(s)ir. MA Zijp
Lecturer(s)dr. ir. PA Leffelaar
ing. G Bier
dr. ir. AF Moene
drs. PJJF Torfs
dr. HM Scholten
Examiner(s)dr. HM Scholten
dr. ir. PA Leffelaar
dr. ir. AF Moene

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

MAT-23306, HWM-23806

Continuation courses:

SEG-31306 Advanced Hydrological Systems Analysis. MAQ-31806 Mesoscale Meteorological Modelling

Contents:

Systems approaches are widely used in education, research and management to understand, analyse and manage systems with the help of simulation models.
The first topic is related to the content of simulation models of eco-environmental systems and the associated (agro)ecological, chemical and physical processes.
The second topic introduces a Good Modelling Practice approach, i.e. how to design, build, analyse, and use simulation models to solve certain aspects of problems. Good Modelling Practice facilitates the (re)construction of a model based management study, which allows others to audit and evaluate the overall quality of these studies.
The third topic studies the numerical solution techniques for flow problems in one, two and three dimensional space in the context of hydrology and meteorology. Flow problems form a special class of differential equations as the description of the states involves both storages and vector fields of flows. Solution domains and boundary conditions should be defined in terms of these. Numerical techniques as finite volumes especially suited for this type of problems will be discussed. Calibration methods and, derived from this, parameter uncertainty (standard deviations, correlations, equifinality) will be discussed in this context.
Furthermore, attention will be given to the fact that some processes that affect the flow cannot be described from first principles: they have to be parameterized in terms of known model variables using (semi-) empirical relationships.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- apply modelling according to Good Modelling Practice. This includes problem analysis, data requirement analysis, conceptual modelling, mathematical modelling, numerical integration, model analysis, model application, interpretation of results and activities to enable re-use of models and model components;
- practice mathematical formulations of some elementary (agro)ecological, chemical and physical processes;
- explain the concepts and basics of mathematical simulation models consisting of algebraic and/or differential equations. This includes state variables, rate variables and driving variables, feedback, time coefficient, conceptual model diagram, analysis of units, and numerical integration methods;
- develop, test and analyse small models;
- describe and apply numerical techniques for spatial flow problems;
- critically analyze and appraise results obtained in this context;
- asses the uncertainty involved in the model parameters in terms of standard deviation and their correlation.

Activities:

Classroom lectures, tutorials, practical training.

Examination:

Written tests and exam.

Literature:

Reader and course outline available, see www.ldi.wur.nl

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