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Modular and Spatially Explicit: A Novel Approach to System Dynamics
Citation:
Wingo, P., A. Brookes, AND J. Bolte. Modular and Spatially Explicit: A Novel Approach to System Dynamics. ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING AND SOFTWARE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 94:48-62, (2017).
Impact/Purpose:
The Open Modeling Environment provides a way for systems dynamic modelers to run their existing model in an open source environment. In an open source environment, the source code is available to those outside the project, either for viewing or to contribute to the project. In addition modelers can link their models with other models through an open application programmer’s interface (API), either through existing modeling frameworks such as Envision or through custom code. An open API allows others to link their own software projects directly to OME making the parts into a single application. A closed API would only be available to the programmer in the project providing no opportunities to link with other software. OME provides explicit spatial modeling capabilities so modelers will no longer have to reinvent spatial modeling forms each time they create a new model. The EPA uses systems dynamics modeling in many different ways. OME will allow EPA modelers to link these models to other models or software. Just one example is the linking of the systems dynamics model for the Durham light rail project to a graphical user interface that allows users to dynamically change parameters and see how the model outputs change.
Description:
The Open Modeling Environment (OME) is an open-source System Dynamics (SD) simulation engine which has been created as a joint project between Oregon State University and the US Environmental Protection Agency. It is designed around a modular implementation, and provides a standardized interface for interacting with spatially explicit data while still supporting the standard SD model components. OME can be run as a standalone simulation or as a plugin to a larger simulation framework, and is capable of importing Models from several SD model formats, including Simile model files, Vensim model files, and the XMILE interchange format. While it has been released, OME is still under development, and a number of potential future improvements are discussed. To help illustrate the utility of OME, an example model design process is provided as an Appendix.
