System Dynamics Simulation of Environmental and Resource Sustainability
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Resources and Sustainable Utilization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2011) | Viewed by 110849
Special Issue Editors
Interests: system dynamics modeling; fishery management; small scale fisheries; natural resources management; international development; conservation
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Sustainability is a complex subject -- an idea meaning many things to many people. Discussion of specific suggestions, plans, or actions which might lead to sustainable outcomes can become bogged down when details of these are viewed by different stakeholders with differing opinions. If such discussions can be carried out within a clear, agreed upon, framework, then the ability to reach reasonable consensus can be enhanced. Of the tools available to build that framework, system dynamics modeling stands out. It is well established, is based on a solid mathematical footing, is flexible, and has well developed protocols for model building, verification, and analysis. In particular, system dynamics modeling is an ideal tool for examining complex systems characterized by feedbacks and delayed effects, characteristics that underlie so many sustainably issues.
System dynamics modeling was first used to address sustainability in the Limits to Growth models of the early 1970s. Since then system dynamics modeling has become more sophisticated and easier to use. Over the same period sustainability has become an influential paradigm for examining possible future scenarios. As a consequence this special issue is dedicated to highlighting works which examine sustainability through the lens of system dynamics.
Dr. Allyson Beall
Dr. Richard G. Dudley
Guest Editors
Keywords
- simulating sustainability
- simulation
- environmental modeling
- system dynamics
- system dynamics modeling
- natural resource simulation