Review of Some Methods, Information Systems, and Models

Abstract

Chapter 1 highlighted the extensive problems facing land managers and suggested that modeling, simulation, and resource information systems were valuable tools for solving some of these problems. Chapter 2 continued that discussion of management problems, pointed out the desirable features of management models and systems, and noted that different geographic areas, management priorities, and planning requirements also affect basic information requirements. An unstated assumption of those discussions was that systems are available, or at least can be constructed, to provide the information needed for resource management and land management planning. I believe that assumption to be true and I review in this chapter some of the available methods, models, and systems that have been advanced to meet these management needs. First, however, a brief description of the modeling process is in order.