This website is about Community Modelling, it explains how to use this method and tells you where to find more information.
COMMUNITY MODELLING
Community Modelling (CM) is a way for local people to access the tools used by scientists and authorities to manage environmental problems.
It brings local people's knowledge together with environmental science and uses computer models to examine local issues.
Community Modelling is particularly useful for volunteer groups who produce detailed knowledge about local environments and want to communicate with decision makers.
1. Invite
People, ideas and tools
2. Inventory
Local and scientific knowledge
3. Analyse
Local environmental problems with scientific tools
4. Calibrate
Knowledge about local environments
THE CONCEPT
Local knowledge
Detailed, precise, people-based; hard to organise and communicate.
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Scientific knowledge
Averaged, systematic, instrument-based; fails to recognise local specificity.
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COMMUNITY MODELLING
Bridges the gap by tailoring scientific tools for local use.
Community Modelling explained by Sarah Whatmore.
The idea behind the website by Sarah Whatmore.
PROJECTS
CM1 The Collaboration
The first Community Modelling project involved a social scientist and a scientific modeller from the School of Geography and the Environment at Oxford University collaborating with Thames 21 officers focussing particularly on the River Lea. »
CM1 The Process
The participants decided that Giamba, the scientific modeller, would set up the INCA model to represent Salmons Brook, where Thames 21 volunteers had constructed three new wetlands in order to improve the water quality. »
CONTEXT
CM1 The Model
The first Community Modelling project used the INCA model to analyse water quality around newly constructed wetlands in Salmons Brook. »
CM1 The River
The first Community Modelling project focussed on analysing nutrient levels in Salmons Brook in East London a tributary to the River Lea. »
CONTACT THE CM TEAM
This website is published a team of human geography researchers in the School of Geography and the Environment at University of Oxford.