Model documentation

EPA, 1996, is the third edition of EML/DVIES on CD-ROM for distributing exposure models, documentation, and the IMES about many computer models used for exposure assessment and other fate and transport studies as developed by the EPA s Office of Research and Development (ORD). 

The disk contains over 120 models in files that may contain source and executable code, sample input lilcs, other data files, sample output files, and in many cases, model documentation in WordPerfect, ASCII text or other formats. The disk contains IMES with information on >clecting tin appropriate model, literature citations on validation of models in actual applications, and a demonstration of a model uncertainty protocol. 

Sharpley, A.N. and Williams, J.R., Eds, EPIC-Erosion/Productivity Impact Calculator 1. Model Documentation, Technical Bulletin 1768, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, 1990. 

SYBYL Molecular Modeling Documentation, Version 6.1, Tripos Inc., St. Louis, MO. 

Four qualitative criteria or hallmarks for judging the quality of data have been described— appropriateness, accuracy, integrity and transparency. Attentiveness to each hallmark is critical to the defensibility and credibility of exposure assessments. Thus, exposure assessment should follow the main scientific desiderata of any applied science empirical testing, data modelling, documentation and reproducibility of results, explicit reporting of assumptions, limitations and uncertainty, peer review and an open debate about underlying theories and models. Transparency is key to the success of all of these steps. 

In addition to the exposnre model documentation components noted above, the American Indnstrial Health Council (AIHC) (1994) and USEPA (1997a) have recommended data, particularly those based on Monte Carlo simulation, that are also relevant for simulation models being used as part of the overall assessment process. The USEPA has also issued guidelines for data quality assessment (USEPA, 1996b) relevant to model documentation. Some of these principles are listed below more details are provided in USEPA (1992a, 1997b), AIHC (1994) and Burmaster and Anderson (1994). 

In addition, once a particular model has been chosen, input values must be assigned to parameters with appropriate certifications in the documentation, since there are infinite possibilities for quantifying parameters for the model. Documentation should not only contain the parameter values used in the assessment, but also their relevance with respect to the aim of the assessment ( worst-case versus actual) and country- or site-specific characteristics (e.g. mechanical versus natural ventilation traditions). For instance, a worst-case assessment of indoor use would employ small room sizes and ventilation volumes, while an assessment for an actual case would employ the values as valid for that particular case. To... 

As a further advantage, model documentation (cf. Fig. 5.21) can be attached to the neutral model representation it is maintained independently from the tool in which the model was developed. Besides storage and organization of model implementations, the model abstraction in ROME is also able to represent structured, hierarchically decomposed models. This property is used by ModKit (cf. Subsect. 5.3.4) to aggregate heterogeneous process models. Further services like configuration and version management can also be based on the uniform model representation in future developments. 

Generalized Work Process Models Product Data Models Document Models ... 

In this section, we mainly focus on process-related modeling and therefore we highlight the partial model Process Models (cf. Chap. 2). This submodel defines several modeling concepts to express important structures for work processes like activity class, input and output information, tool, goal and their relationships. For example, the Simulation reactor activity creates the information Reactor simulation result. This information is defined in the partial model Document model, which contains the information-related modeling concepts. The resource-related modeling concepts can be found in the CLiP partial model Actor model. 

Another method is Latent Semantic Analysis. This method creates a statistical word-usage model that permits comparisons of semantic similarity between pieces of textual information [3637]. An improved version is Probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis (PLSA) [38]. This method explicitly models document topics. The Expectation Maximization [39] algorithm is then used to lit the model given a set of documents. Each document is defined in terms of a combination of topics based on the model-fitted conditional probabilities of word occurrences in each topic class. 

Appropriate guidance documents should provide clear checklists and assessment criteria that can be used by both modelers and regulators. Model documentation should include why a specific model type and complexity has been selected documentation should also include information about model inputs, outputs, assumptions, analysis, interpretation, limitations, and uncertainties. It should be demonstrated that a model is sensitive enough to show adverse effects (positive control). It was also suggested during the workshop that standardized submodels could facilitate the development and use of EMs for regulatory decision making. 

Conceptual discussion of the design project High-level conceptual design Testing and evaluation of models Documentation... 

Tools Selected for Data Capture and Modeling Document "As-ls" Process... 

A list of references to relevant publications The list of references should refer to all relevant model documentation user manuals, tutorials, and technical reference manuals. The description should also provide the interested party with relevant references of publications in the open literature. Heredity, i.e., the relation between the model and other and previous models, is of particular importance in the area of heavy gas dispersion modeling. The lists of references should contain at least the scientific source of the algorithms in the model. 

J. T. Kirby, G. Wei, Q. Chen, A. B. Keimedy and R. A. Dalrymple, FUNWAVE 1.0 Fully nonlinear Boussinesq wave model, Documentation and User s Manual (CAGR-98-06) Technical report, Center for Applied Coastal Research, Ocean Engineering Laboratory, University of Delaware (1998). 

Nova Chemicals, Arce/ Tooling and Part Design Guide (2003) Nova Chemicals Corporation Kurtz GmbH, Werkzeugzur Herstellung von Formteilen DE202004003679U1, utility model document (2004)... 

Martin, J. L. Medine, A. J. META4 - Metal Exposure and Transformation Assessment Model, Model Documentation for Version 3, December, 1998. 

Ambrose, R.B., Jr., T.A. Wool, and J.L. Martin. 1993. The Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program, WASPS. Part A Model Documentation. U.S. EPA Environmental Research Laboratory, Athens, GA, September 20. 

KAPL letter SPP-SPPS-0032, Bettis letter B-SE(SPS)FMS-011, Space Power Program NRPCT Direct Gas Brayton Heat Balance Model Documentation For Information , dated 12/14/05. 

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