Logo des Repositoriums

Auflistung nach Autor:in "Simon, Karl-Heinz"

1 - 4 von 4
  • Konferenzbeitrag
    A Short History of Sustainability Oriented Modelling Endeavours
    (Innovations in Sharing Environmental Observations and Information, 2011) Simon, Karl-Heinz
    Since the beginning of systems analytic activities aiming at understanding environmental problems and generating solutions the role of models has become more and more important. The first prominent example was the WORLD2 and 3 models of the MIT group (Forrester, Dana and Dennis Meadows). The authors of these models wanted to comprehend the dynamics around resources depletion and overload in sinks (like the atmosphere). In integrating natural and social factors they developed an interdisciplinary model approach that brought up new insights and was, at the time of first publication, an inspiration for intensive public discussions and responses in the mass media. In the following years the methodology, at the beginning “pure system dynamics”, was refined and extended, e.g. by multi-level approaches (Mesarovic) or the so-called sensitivity model (Vester). In more recent developments, like those of the integrated modelling community, meta-structures (“architectures”) are defined that assign several specific models their place within such a map of models. With these projects, applied to the problem of climate change or the analysis of ecosystem services, a powerful instrument became available, to work on rather complex sustainability problems.
  • Konferenzbeitrag
    Meta-Modeling as a Tool to Access the European Environmental Information Space
    (Integration of Environmental Information in Europe, 2010) Pillmann, Werner; Simon, Karl-Heinz
    To build a framework for the manifold topics comprised in Environmental Informatics a conceptual environmental Meta-Model is designed. In this paper, the model is exemplified in two case studies: (1) in the area of air quality control and management and (2) applied to structure results from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. For air quality management the complete control loop is modelled describing data gathering from emission sources, air emission statistics, the diffusion and transport of air pollutants, measurement networks, simulation models and the distribution of air quality information in science, business, administration and politics. To demonstrate the applicability of complex topics in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Meta-Model is applied to structure its subject matters and results. The Meta-Model is developed in the ICT-ENSURE project with the objective to associate environmental research with ICT methods and services. This interdisciplinary approach should facilitate insights in the dynamics of environmental sustainability and should enable the systemic organisation of access to proven environmental information.
  • Konferenzbeitrag
    On the Influence of System-Dynamics-Based Modelling on Sustainability Discourse – Relevance Today
    (EnviroInfo Dessau 2012, Part 1: Core Application Areas, 2012) Simon, Karl-Heinz
    The report to the Club of Rome on the “Limits to Growth” was issued in the year 1972. The modelling work underlying the warnings and recommendations in the report were produced using the System Dynamics “philosophy”, e.g. a specific view on how to analyse system structures, how to apply scenario methodology to global environmental problems, and a technical tool to unveil the dynamics of the system behaviour. The report was extremely influential on early environmental discussions and establishing an ecological movement in the 1970ies. Later on, revised versions of the model were published in 1992 and 2004, the earlier one under the title “Beyond the Limits”. Several events are organized in 2012 to celebrate the 40 years period of influence of the reports. In my opinion there are two aspects with which their influence can be described. Firstly, there is the System Dynamics machinery itself. Thinking in feedback loops, positive and negative circles, different types of dynamics (changing from growth periods to stabilized stages), considering the interplay of sub-systems in order to show the general system behaviour, are nowadays proven elements in several system studies, like the Syndroms approach and numerous environmental simulation studies. Secondly, the involvement of stakeholders is another important aspect. Dana and Dennis Meadows, the main authors of the studies mentioned, attached great importance to team working in interpreting results and distributing knowledge about the system behaviour. Shortly after having published the reports they started to organize meetings with decision makers, opinion leaders, and affected people to discuss results and consequences and give support to a dissemination of their insights.
  • Konferenzbeitrag
    Umwelt und Sicherheit – ein Thema für die Umweltinformatik?
    (Umweltinformatik ’00 Umweltinformation für Planung, Politik und Öffentlichkeit, 2000) Endejan, Marcel; Simon, Karl-Heinz
    In den letzten Jahren sind verschiedene Stränge der Umweltforschung in einem neuen Themenbereich zusammengeführt worden, der als „Umwelt und Sicherheit” bezeichnet wird. Es geht unter diesem Titel darum, zu untersuchen, ob und in welcher Weise (globale) Umweltveränderungen menschliche Lebensgrundlagen beeinflussen bzw. gefährden. Damit ergibt sich eine interessante Herausforderung auch unter methodischen Gesichtspunkten, weil verschiedene fachdisziplinär bearbeitete Fragestellungen zusammengeführt werden müssen. Methoden und Werkzeuge der Umweltinformatik können an verschiedenen Aspekten des Problemfeldes ansetzen und versprechen adäquate Antworten auf die Komplexität der Problemstellungen.