“Till the muddle in my mind have cleared awa”: can we help shape policy using systems modelling?

This paper considers how some well-documented deficiencies of mental models make it difficult to create effective policies, and suggests that systems modelling can begin to address this issue. To illustrate the argument three short cases are presented. These relate to specific domains but demonstrate how systems modelling can illuminate different general phenomena: effects on labour costs (unintended consequences and feedback); fishery management (accumulation and non-linearity) and child protection (worldviews and sense-making). Six levers for increasing the use of systems modelling in the policy arena are then discussed. The paper closes by emphasising the opportunities for systems modellers in the Anthropocene Era

New truths begin as heresies: first thoughts on system dynamics and global modelling

Starting from an example of biosphere modelling, the paper considers the contribution of system dynamics to global modelling. The different purposes of modelling approaches are first considered. These are then related to a specific example—which is then seen to derive from the founding works in this area: “World Dynamics” and “The Limits To Growth.” The response to those publications is considered, both the contemporary reactions to them and the myths that have grown up around them. The paper discusses the general cultural acceptance of the perspective offered by these books and the continuing—and decidedly mixed—significance of these works to the field of system dynamics

An evaluation of the operating effectiveness of a computer-controlled traffic network

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to [email protected], referencing the URI of the item.Not availabl

Semi-Arid Rangelands and Carbon Offset Markets: A Look at the Economic Prospects

The Rangelands archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform March 202

Social Network Analysis: A Tool to Improve Understanding of Collaborative Management Groups

Social network analysis (SNA) is a tool used to analyze the connections between people and organizations. However, despite its usefulness to the study of these relations, there have been relatively few applications to situations in agriculture and natural resources. SNA was applied to the study of a watershed collaborative group in southern Arizona. We found that even a fundamental application of SNA was valuable to a watershed initiative and, furthermore, believe that U.S. Extension professionals are positioned to advance the effectiveness of participatory resource management groups through more widespread use of this methodology

Enhancing the Sustainability of Community-Based Watershed Initiatives through Social Network Analysis

From the Proceedings of the 2009 Meetings of the Hydrology Section - Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science - April 4, 2009, University of Arizona, Tucson, ArizonaThis article is part of the Hydrology and Water Resources in Arizona and the Southwest collections. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science and the University of Arizona Libraries. For more information about items in this collection, contact [email protected]

Increasing forestry investments by means of public policy programs.

XVIII IUFRO World Congress, Ljubljana 1986