| Integrated modelling of global environmental change impacts faces the challenge that knowledge
from the domains of Natural and Social Science must be integrated. This is complicated by often incompatible
terminology and the fact that the interactions between subsystems are usually not fully understood at the start
of the project. While a modular modelling approach is necessary to address these challenges, it is not sufficient.
The remaining question is how the modelled system shall be cut down into modules. While no generic answer
can be given to this question, communication tools can be provided to support the process of modularisation
and integration. Along those lines of thought a method for building modular integrated models was developed
within the EU project DINAS-COAST and applied to construct a first model, which assesses the vulnerability of
the world’s coasts to climate change and sea-level-rise. The method focuses on the development of a common
language and offers domain experts an intuitive interface to code their knowledge in form of modules. However,
instead of rigorously defining interfaces between the subsystems at the project’s beginning, an iterative model
development process is defined and tools to facilitate communication and collaboration are provided. This
flexible approach has the advantage that increased understanding about subsystem interactions, gained during
the project’s lifetime, can immediately be reflected in the model. |