Abstract for: System dynamics model integration to address interdisciplinary problems: why and how

It is best practice in system dynamics (SD) modelling to deeply ground each simulation model in a specific purpose. Nowadays, calls to address real-world problems through interdisciplinary approaches have grown increasingly stronger. For example, there is high interest in knowing how different environmental systems, or the environmental and health system, interact. Drawing from previous modelling efforts, it often involves simplifying complex systems into more manageable structures. While integrating models designed for different purposes might be a necessary task in practice, guidance on integrating models is scarce and filled with challenges. These include varying levels of aggregation in SD models complicating variable linkage, conflicting model boundaries, and the difficulty of aligning horizons across different models. Therefore, more guidance on model integration is needed, to manage the complex interactions between certain systems. Model integration should bridge the gaps between sector-specific details and overarching system interactions, facilitating the development of integrated models that inform actions for systemic change. Within this context, this paper explores the why and how of model integration. It addresses these questions from the perspective of the process, i.e. how model integration can be undertaken, and the outcome, i.e. the validity and limits to the validity of the resulting model.