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A timber truck fully loaded with logs drives over a very simple wooden bridge in a forest.
A timber truck fully loaded with logs drives over a very simple wooden bridge in a forest.
Institute of

WF Forestry

New publication: “Chimaera Modelling – when the modellers must reconcile inconsistent elements or purposes”

Socio-Ecological System modelling projects are becoming increasingly complicated, with multiple actors and aspects being the norm.

Image of a chimera as an example of modelling socio-ecological systems, in which the different heads and limbs can point in different directions and pursue different goals.
© https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ligozzi_(Una_quimera)

Image of a chimera as an example of modelling socio-ecological systems, in which the different heads and limbs can point in different directions and pursue different goals.

Such projects can cause problems for the modellers when this involves different elements, goals, philosophies, among others, all pulling in different directions. 
This can be called “Chimaera Modelling.” Subsequently, this study discusses different aspects which may be relevant to this problem, including: the underlying philosophy, modelling goals, extent of choice the modellers have, different stages of modelling, and kinds of actors being involved. 
It further proposes a way forward in how to tackle the Chimaera Modelling challenge. An important consideration to avoid Chimaera Modelling is to cater for it from the beginning of a modelling project by outlining a model project plan as well as the integrative efforts that have to be done collectively to achieve this goal.
(Published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License)

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