A logic approach to design specifications for integrated application of diverse models in forest ecosystem analysis.

Abstract

The Forest Model Archive (FMA) was proposed as a new IUFRO section 4.11 initiative at the Greenwich, UK section 4.11 conference in June 2001. A discussion group, sponsored by IUFRO section 4.11, initiated the design process for the FMA in Autumn 2001. Key features of the FMA Initiative include a directory of forest model applications, and an associated meta database describing key attributes of forest models which facilitates selection and appropriate use of models for specific applications. As an extension to the FMA concept, this chapter discusses the use of logic models as metadata specifications for the integrated application of possibly numerous forest models needed to address the broader, more complex and abstract problems posed by modern ecosystem management and ecosystem research issues. A hypothetical example is presented to demonstrate the use of logic models as metadata specifications for multi-model applications (meta models), and the potential for hypermedia linkage from meta-model topics to FMA metadata for specific forest models.