Towards Compositional Modelling of Ecological System s via Dynamic Flexible Constraint Satisfactio n

This paper presents an initial work towards the develop ment of a technique for compositional modelling of eco logical systems . A knowledge representation framewor k is devised to suit system dynamics the underlying modelling paradigm adopted . Model fragment selection an d composition is achieved by means of dynamic flexibl e constraint satisfaction problem (DFCSP) solution tech niques . A method for automatically translating a scenario and a model fragment library into a dynamic constraint satisfaction problem (DCSP) is proposed . Fro m this DCSP all consistent scenario models can be derive d through a hierarchy of subproblems and different mode l evaluation criteria can be imposed through specific set s of constraints . A technique is then suggested to order the modelling choices within each of the DCSP subprob lems, in terms of the degree of model detail, and henc e the preferences associated with these choices . The result is a compositional modeller in which the tasks of maintaining model consistency, selecting model bound ary, evaluating model suitability are accomplished by resolving a single DFCSP .