Modeling Techniques for Complex Environmental Problems

Mathematical models can be useful in decision-making processes whenever the amount of data and relations are too complex to be analyzed based solely on experience and/or intuition. Models, when properly developed and maintained, and equipped with proper tools for their analysis can integrate relevant knowledge available from various disciplines and sources. Most environmental decision problems are complex. However, some of them pose additional challenges owing to the large amount of data, the complex relations between variables, the characteristics of the resulting mathematical programming problems, and the requirements for comprehensive problem analyses. Such challenges call for applications of advanced techniques for model generation and analysis. Several of these techniques are outlined in this chapter and illustrated by the RAINS model, a large non-linear model, which has been used in international negotiations about the reduction of air pollution.