Ecological Model Development: Evaluation of System Quality
Abstract
Ecological models are used throughout the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to inform decisions related to ecosystem restoration, water operations, environmental impact assessment, environmental mitigation, and other topics. Ecological models are typically developed in phases of conceptualization, quantification, evaluation, application, and communication. Evaluation is a process for assessing the technical quality, reliability, and ecological basis of a model and includes techniques such as calibration, verification, validation, and review. In this technical note (TN), we describe an approach for evaluating system quality, which generally includes the computational integrity, numerical accuracy, and programming of a model or modeling system. Methods are presented for avoiding computational errors during development, detecting errors through model testing, and updating models based on review and use. A formal structure is proposed for model test plans and subsequently demonstrated for a hypothetical habitat suitability model. Overall, this TN provides ecological modeling practitioners with a rapid guide for evaluating system quality.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 14, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1180096
Entities
People
- Nate Richards
- S. Kyle McKay
- Todd M. Swannack
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center
- Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers