Model scope and methods - WITNESS: Difference between revisions

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{{ModelDocumentationTemplate
= Model scope =
|IsDocumentationOf=WITNESS
WITNESS stands for "World environmental ImpacT aNd Economics ScenarioS".
|DocumentationCategory=Model scope and methods
 
}}
It is a global Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) framework, covering the world globally (regionalization and sectorization are in progress to be fully completed by end'24). The framework covers MacroEconomics, Energy, Materials, Natural resources, Environment, Population and Public Policies - mostly endogenous and fully coupled (i.e. taking into account all the feedback loops representing mutual interactions between models).[[File:WITNESS Overview.png|alt=WITNESS high level system view|none|thumb|895x895px|WITNESS high level system view]]
WITNESS stands for World environmental ImpacT aNd Economics ScenarioS.  
Most of the models are based on equations rather than data analysis and extrapolation, and the feedback loops generated by models interdependencies are efficiently and largely automatically tackled by the underlying simulation platform specifically developed to support it. This simulation platform called SoSTrades (which stands for "System of Systems Trades"), and can by the way be used independently as a generic and powerful Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Optimization ( [http:///en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multidisciplinary design optimization MDAO] ) simulation platform. 
 
The primary goal of WITNESS is to enable collaborative exploration of potential transition paths through simulation, pinpointing the key drivers that could steer these changes and the importance of feedback loops effects. Such a joint exploration aims to foster consensus on target trajectory envelopes, which is crucial for rallying a critical mass of stakeholders. Such collective agreement and engagement are seen as instrumental in successfully transitioning complete ecosystems.
 
Additionally, there’s an emphasis on risk estimation. This involves measuring the deviation between the planned trajectory and the worst possible scenarios, providing a quantitative assessment of risks associated with the transition. This metric serves as a vital tool for decision-makers to evaluate and manage potential uncertainties and challenges that may arise during the transition period.
 
This simulation platform called SoSTrades (which stands for "System of Systems Trades"), and can by the way be used independently as a generic and powerful [http:///en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multidisciplinary design optimization MDAO] simulation platform and is an extension of the specialized [http:///gemseo.readthedocs.io/en/stable/index.html GEMSEO] library.
 
= WITNESS framework =
WITNESS applies complex [[wikipedia:System of systems|system of systems]] (1) simulation techniques to IAM modelling, applying a [[wikipedia:Systems engineering|system engineering]] approach starting from the high level system view presented in the picture above with their interactions (more detail in the section "Model concept, solver and details").
 
This methodology allows easy and modular refinement of various systems, as well as rigorous handling of all the interactions and feedback loops between them. It also allows to leverage a full range of numerical multi-disciplinary analysis and optimization ([[wikipedia:Multidisciplinary design optimization|MDAO]]) methods and tools to build a complete world transition model.
 
For example in the basic WITNESS framework, an MDO controller is optimizing ventilation of available investment from Macro-economy to various Energy production techniques in Energy system, in order to maximize energy production while minimizing emissions under resources and materials constraints (more details [https://www.witness4climate.org/optimizing-investments-in-energy-production-technology/ here] or [https://github.com/os-climate/witness-core/blob/main/documentation/witness_coarse/process.md here]).
 
= SoSTrades simulation platform =
SoSTrades is a multi-purpose and generic simulation management and execution platform, designed to explore complex system of systems scenarios in a collaborative way. It provides a a multi-user web front-end and cloud scalable backend to run and couple [[wikipedia:Containerization (computing)|containerized models]].


[[File:WITNESS Overview Small.png|thumb|WITNESS Overview Small]]
The model themselves are written in (or accessed through) Python language and handling their interactions is largely automated, facilitating evolutions or additions of new models.


It is a global Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) covering MacroEconomics, Energy, Materials, Natural resources, Environment, Population and Public Policies.
= Development team =
The methodological approach to implementing WITNESS is to apply complex ''system of systems'' simulation techniques to IAM modelling.
WITNESS and SoSTrades are part of [http:///os-climate.org/transition-analysis/ Transition analysis] project of the [http:///os-climate.org/ Open Source for Climate], part of the [http:///www.finos.org/os-climate FINOS] initiative from the [http:///www.linuxfoundation.org/ Linux Foundation].


At the top level, a system of systems approach define high level systems and their interactions (which you can roughly see in the picture above).
Their development is supported by [http:///www.capgemini.com/ Capgemini], which is also providing industrial grade deployment and support option, as well as several extensions to derive from WITNESS generated transition scenario various enterprise strategy models.
From an implementation point of view, they will define ''namespaces'' within which sub-system models will interact and exchange.
An ''ontology'' is also defined to formalize all modules and parameter's names.
In the main namespace, all interfaces exposed by each of the main systems are '''automatically coupled''' using the ontology ''semantic'' and multidisciplinary analysis (MDA) ''coupling templates''.


Going down recursively refining each system is similar, you will define sub-namespaces for each sub-system you  identify to further refine it if needed,
More details can be found on [http:///www.witness4climate.org/world-environmental-impact-and-economics-scenarios/ witness4climate.org] website.
and you will define your current systems interfaces to let them be automatically be coupled through the ontology in your current namespace.


This methodology allow for easy refinement of models as the models interconnexions are prescriptive (expose interfaces in specific namespaces)
(1) Charaf Eddine Dridi, Belala Faiza. [https://hal.science/hal-04227335/document System of Systems Modelling: Recent work Review and a Path Forward].  - ICAASE’20, Oct 2020, Constantine, DZ, France. ffhal-04227335f{{ModelDocumentationTemplate
but not descriptive (connections handling is automated an holistic within namespace).
|IsDocumentationOf=WITNESS
You can also decide to replace in some area the driver running multidisciplinary analysis (MDA),
|DocumentationCategory=Model scope and methods
by a controller running multi-disciplinary optimization (MDO) of you want to orient the result vs an objective or want to respect specific constraints.
}}
For example in the basic WITNESS framework, an MDO controller is optimizing ventilation of available investment from Macro-economy to various Energy production techniques in Energy system,
in order to maximize energy production while minimizing emissions under resources and materials contraints.

Latest revision as of 09:36, 24 September 2024

Model scope

WITNESS stands for "World environmental ImpacT aNd Economics ScenarioS".

It is a global Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) framework, covering the world globally (regionalization and sectorization are in progress to be fully completed by end'24). The framework covers MacroEconomics, Energy, Materials, Natural resources, Environment, Population and Public Policies - mostly endogenous and fully coupled (i.e. taking into account all the feedback loops representing mutual interactions between models).

WITNESS high level system view
WITNESS high level system view

Most of the models are based on equations rather than data analysis and extrapolation, and the feedback loops generated by models interdependencies are efficiently and largely automatically tackled by the underlying simulation platform specifically developed to support it. This simulation platform called SoSTrades (which stands for "System of Systems Trades"), and can by the way be used independently as a generic and powerful Multi-Disciplinary Analysis and Optimization ( MDAO ) simulation platform.

The primary goal of WITNESS is to enable collaborative exploration of potential transition paths through simulation, pinpointing the key drivers that could steer these changes and the importance of feedback loops effects. Such a joint exploration aims to foster consensus on target trajectory envelopes, which is crucial for rallying a critical mass of stakeholders. Such collective agreement and engagement are seen as instrumental in successfully transitioning complete ecosystems.

Additionally, there’s an emphasis on risk estimation. This involves measuring the deviation between the planned trajectory and the worst possible scenarios, providing a quantitative assessment of risks associated with the transition. This metric serves as a vital tool for decision-makers to evaluate and manage potential uncertainties and challenges that may arise during the transition period.

This simulation platform called SoSTrades (which stands for "System of Systems Trades"), and can by the way be used independently as a generic and powerful MDAO simulation platform and is an extension of the specialized GEMSEO library.

WITNESS framework

WITNESS applies complex system of systems (1) simulation techniques to IAM modelling, applying a system engineering approach starting from the high level system view presented in the picture above with their interactions (more detail in the section "Model concept, solver and details").

This methodology allows easy and modular refinement of various systems, as well as rigorous handling of all the interactions and feedback loops between them. It also allows to leverage a full range of numerical multi-disciplinary analysis and optimization (MDAO) methods and tools to build a complete world transition model.

For example in the basic WITNESS framework, an MDO controller is optimizing ventilation of available investment from Macro-economy to various Energy production techniques in Energy system, in order to maximize energy production while minimizing emissions under resources and materials constraints (more details here or here).

SoSTrades simulation platform

SoSTrades is a multi-purpose and generic simulation management and execution platform, designed to explore complex system of systems scenarios in a collaborative way. It provides a a multi-user web front-end and cloud scalable backend to run and couple containerized models.

The model themselves are written in (or accessed through) Python language and handling their interactions is largely automated, facilitating evolutions or additions of new models.

Development team

WITNESS and SoSTrades are part of Transition analysis project of the Open Source for Climate, part of the FINOS initiative from the Linux Foundation.

Their development is supported by Capgemini, which is also providing industrial grade deployment and support option, as well as several extensions to derive from WITNESS generated transition scenario various enterprise strategy models.

More details can be found on witness4climate.org website.

(1) Charaf Eddine Dridi, Belala Faiza. System of Systems Modelling: Recent work Review and a Path Forward. - ICAASE’20, Oct 2020, Constantine, DZ, France. ffhal-04227335f

Alert-warning.png Note: The documentation of WITNESS is 'in preparation' and is not yet 'published'!

Model Documentation - WITNESS

Corresponding documentation
Previous versions
No previous version available
Model information
Model link
Institution Open-Source for Climate (OS-C), N/A, https://os-climate.org/transition-analysis/., Linux Foundation (LF), N/A, https://www.linuxfoundation.org/.
Solution concept Systems dynamics based approach
Solution method OptimizationSimulation-based optimization
Anticipation
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