Abstract for: System Dynamics Model Documentation and Assessment Tool (SDM-Doc)

Extending work by Oliva (2001) on model documentation, the System Dynamics Model Documentation and Assessment Tool (SDM-Doc) developed at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), in an effort to enhance model transparency and robustness, creates HTML-based documentation of models developed with Vensim. The model documentation created by the SDM-Doc tool allows modelers to navigate through model equations and model views in an efficient and practical way creating documentation of the model sorted by variable name, type of variable, group, view, module, module/group/name, and variable of interest. Additionally, model tests are performed allowing modelers and reviewers of models to gain confidence in fundamental characteristics of model structure. The tool, its use, and the different model assessments included in it will be presented and explained. Participants are encouraged to bring their laptops to be able to use the tool during the workshop. A copy of the software will be distributed to participants at the workshop.