The significance of modeling in managing the environment is well recognized from scientific and engineering perspectives as well as in the political arena. Environmental concerns and issues of sustainability have permeated both public and private sectors, particularly the need to predict, assess and mitigate against adverse impacts that arise from continuing development and use of resources.

Students need to be made aware of these issues. Practitioners should enrich their knowledge and skills in these areas. This book focuses on the modeling, rather than on data collection or visualization.