Systems Informatics and Analysis - Engineering and Science of Biomass Feedstock Production and Provision - page 191

Modeling is an important tool and constitutes the basis of all systems theory
based research. Computer models are attractive because of multiple reasons:

• Models provide cheaper alternatives to expensive fi eld studies and experiments.
This benefi t is obvious in the case of crop growth models where fi eld trials are
expensive, time consuming, and can only be conducted at limited locations.
• Models cutting across different tasks can be developed to study interdependen-
cies. For example, whole-farm simulation models allow us to study long-term
impacts of soil erosion or fertilization on yield and, therefore, on farm manage-
ment practices.

• Models may be the only alternative to study large-scale, long-term impacts, such

as life-cycle impacts over years and decades.

Therefore, special emphasis must be placed on understanding the modeling work
in this area. This chapter will discuss some of the important models proposed for
BFPP and will also present representative results from their applications.
The chapter is organized as follows: First, an overview of SIA is provided. Then the
SIA applications are discussed at different system levels constituting the overall BFPP
system, namely, crop growth and management, on-farm production, local production
and provision, and regional/national/global. The important observations from this
review are summarized, and the chapter ends with recommendations for future research.

8.2 Systems Informatics and Analysis

Although the primary objective of this chapter is to focus on the application of SIA
approaches to BFPP, it is fi rst prudent to summarize the key features of SIA in order
to set the foundation for further discussion in the chapter.
A system is a set of interrelated components, in the physical as well as informa-
tion space, organized with the purpose of conducting a particular task [ 2 ]. A system
can be a part of a larger system and can also be a collection of multiple smaller
systems, known as subsystems. Figure 8.1 shows this concept for a bioenergy sys-
tem, where BFPP is a part of the larger bioenergy system. Similarly, Fig. 1.1 shows
a systemic view of the BFPP system. It includes harvesting as one of the subsys-
tems. However, harvesting equipment is a system in itself consisting of cutting,
gathering, conveying, and processing subsystems, as described in Chap. 5 . This
property provides systems theory with a distinctly multi-scale character.

8.2.1 Systems Informatics

Informatics is the multidisciplinary science that has as its domain the information
aspects of phenomena in nature and society [ 3 ] and fi nds broad applicability in areas
such as science, engineering, medicine, and economics. It is based on the collection,
storage, transmission, processing, and utilization of data. Examples of informatics
techniques include coding technology, networking, data modeling, and user interfaces.