Web-based Participatory System Dynamics Modelling-Concept and Prototype Development

In this paper we present an innovative concept and prototype of a web platform which supports participatory modelling in the decision-making processes in the field of environmental modelling and simulation. Participatory modelling needs usually face-to-face participatory modelling sessions. In comparison to classical approaches, the platform presented in this paper shall facilitate web-based collaborative and cumulative modelling when such face-to-face sessions cannot be organised as often as desired. Successive iteration steps of the model development can thus be displayed interactively in a standard web browser together with comments and explanations made by the modeller. The platform strengthens the support of formal model construction and documentation on the one hand and reduces the effort of model re-publishing on the other hand. These approaches are discussed and characterised in the following contribution. Furthermore this platform shall be used to support participatory modelling and decision-making processes in the field of sustainable development, especially in the context of anticipatory systems