Integrated catchment management has arisen because managing environmental processes independently does not always produce sensible decisions when the wider view is taken. However, the problem for those charged with integrated management is the complexity of the process they are attempting to manage. They are therefore turning to decision support systems. The models used in these systems tend to address single issues. However, the catchment manager needs to understand all the possible impacts of pursuing any given policy. Implicit in this is a requirement both to understand and to be able to model not only the individual catchment processes but also their interactions. This project is about making possible the construction of whole catchment models in order to facilitate the integrated catchment management called for in the Water Framework Directive.

The objective of this project, therefore, is to develop, implement and prove a European Open Modelling Interface and Environment (OpenMI) that will simplify the linking of models and hence allow catchment managers to explore the likely outcomes of different policies. This will be achieved through ten work packages:

The project will build upon existing experience of the members in the physical and IT domains as well as model linking. One of the primary design objectives of the OMI is to facilitate the migration of existing models to the new standard so that they are more widely accessible. This will enhance user acceptance for the standard, since it will enable them to work with already familiar models and tools.

The tangible benefits that the project will deliver are:

• The simplification of the model linking process leading to an improved ability to model process interactions, the ability to use appropriate model combinations and the ability to swap in and out different models of the same process and hence facilitate sensitivity analyses and benchmarking.
• The ability to represent feed back loops and process interactions that are key to integrated management and the development of sustainable policies.
• The availability of a communication standard for modelling leading to increased choice for model users, an increased market for suppliers and increased opportunities for the creation of Small Medium Enterprises (SME).
• A reduction in development time for decision support systems.
• The contribution to the implementation and evolution of different EU policies.