{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,12]],"date-time":"2025-10-12T04:10:29Z","timestamp":1760242229289,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,17]],"date-time":"2017-02-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1487289600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJGI"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Integrated Environment Modeling (IEM) has become more and more important for environmental studies and applications. IEM systems have also been extended from scientific studies to much wider practical application situations. The quality and improved efficiency of IEM systems have therefore become increasingly critical. Although many advanced and creative technologies have been adopted to improve the quality of IEM systems, there is scarcely any formal method for evaluating and improving them. This paper is devoted to proposing a formal method to improve the quality and the developing efficiency of IEM systems. Two primary contributions are made. Firstly, a formal framework for IEM is proposed. The framework not only reflects the static and dynamic features of IEM but also covers different views from variant roles throughout the IEM lifecycle. Secondly, the formal operational semantics corresponding to the former model of the IEM is derived in detail; it can be used as the basis for aiding automated integrated modeling and verifying the integrated model.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijgi6020047","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,17]],"date-time":"2017-02-17T12:10:34Z","timestamp":1487333434000},"page":"47","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["A Formal Framework for Integrated Environment Modeling Systems"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Gaofeng","family":"Zhang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China"},{"name":"School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yan","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Chong","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Rui","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Dan","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Qingguo","family":"Zhou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"D\u2019Itri, F.M. (1985). A System Approach to Conservation Tillage, Lewis Publishers Inc."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cohen, Y. (1986). Pollutants in a Multimedia Environmental, Plenum Press.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4613-2243-6"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Mackay, D. (1991). Multimedia Environmental Models: The Fugacity Approach, Lewis Publishers."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Walters, C.J. (1986). Adaptive Management of Renewable Resources, Macmillan Publishing Co."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2012.05.014","article-title":"\u2018Integronsters\u2019, integral and integrated modelling","volume":"39","author":"Voinov","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2012.09.006","article-title":"Integrated environmental modelling: a vision and roadmap for future","volume":"39","author":"Laniak","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"303","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00619290","article-title":"The Modular Modelling System (MMS)\u2014The physical process modelling component of a database-centered decision support system for water and power management","volume":"90","author":"Leavesley","year":"1996","journal-title":"Water Air Soil Pollut."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"OpenMI The OpenMI Open Midel Interface Project. Available online: https:\/\/publicwiki.deltares.nl\/display \/OPENMI\/Version+2.0."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Ahuja, L.R., Ma, L., and Howell, T.A. (2002). Agricultural System Models in Field Research and Technology Transfer, Lewis Publishers."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2012.03.006","article-title":"A software engineering perspective on environmental modelling framework design: The object modelling system","volume":"39","author":"David","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1109\/MCISE.2004.1255817","article-title":"The architecture of the earth system modelling framework","volume":"6","author":"Hill","year":"2004","journal-title":"Comput. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Whelan, G. (2004). Brownfields: Multimedia Modelling and Assessment, WIT Press."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Aquaveo (2012). Water Modelling Solutions, Aquaveo. Available online: http:\/\/www.aquaveo.com\/."},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Peckham, S.D. (2008, January 18). Evaluation of model coupling frameworks for use by the Community Surface Dynamics Modelling System (CSDMS). Proceedings of the MODFLOW and MORE, Golden, CO, USA."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"150","DOI":"10.1016\/j.agsy.2007.07.009","article-title":"Integrated assessment of agricultural systems e a component-based framework for the European Union (SEAMLESS)","volume":"96","author":"Ewert","year":"2008","journal-title":"Agric. Syst."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-8306.9302004","article-title":"Multi-agent systems for the simulation of land-use and land-cover change: A review","volume":"93","author":"Parker","year":"2003","journal-title":"Ann. Assoc. Am. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvman.2013.03.005","article-title":"Comparing administered and market-based water allocation systems through a consistent agent-based modelling framework","volume":"123","author":"Zhao","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Environ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2012.08.007","article-title":"Largescale, high-resolution agricultural systems modelling using a hybrid approach combining grid computing and parallel processing","volume":"41","author":"Zhao","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2012.08.002","article-title":"Distributed computation of large scale SWAT models on the Grid","volume":"41","author":"Yalew","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"182","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2009.08.005","article-title":"Service-oriented applications for environmental models: Reusable geospatial services","volume":"25","author":"Granell","year":"2010","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2010.11.013","article-title":"Modelling water resource systems using a service-oriented computing paradigm","volume":"26","author":"Goodall","year":"2011","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"116","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2012.02.008","article-title":"Managing uncertainty in integrated environmental modelling: The UncertWeb framework","volume":"39","author":"Bastin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1109\/2.58215","article-title":"A specifier\u2019s introduction to formal methods","volume":"23","author":"Wing","year":"1990","journal-title":"Computer"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1016\/S1364-8152(03)00150-6","article-title":"An overview of model integration for environmental applications-components, frameworks and semantics","volume":"19","author":"Argent","year":"2004","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"895","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2005.05.004","article-title":"Comparing modelling frameworks: A workshop approach","volume":"21","author":"Argent","year":"2006","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"965","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2010.02.005","article-title":"Model integration and the role of data","volume":"25","author":"Voinov","year":"2006","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"412","DOI":"10.1016\/j.matcom.2008.01.017","article-title":"Semantic links in integrated modelling frameworks","volume":"78","author":"Rizzoli","year":"2007","journal-title":"Math. Comput. Simul."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Schmitz, O., Karssebnerg, D., de Jong, K., and de Kok, J.-L. (2011, January 18). Constructing integrated models: A scheduler to execute coupled components. Proceedings of the AGILE 2011, the 14th AGILE International Conference on Geographic Information Science, Advancing Geoinformation Science for a Changing World, Utrecht, The Netherlands."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"322","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2012.06.015","article-title":"Modellers roles in Structuring integrative research projects","volume":"39","author":"Kragt","year":"2013","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1240","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envsoft.2011.03.011","article-title":"Environmental modelling framework invasiveness: Analysis and implications","volume":"26","author":"Lloyd","year":"2011","journal-title":"Environ. Model. Softw."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"Pe\u00f1a-Haro, S., Zhou, J., Zhang, G., Chen, C., Stauffer, F., and Kinzelbach, W. (2012, January 1). A multi-approach framework to couple independent models for simulating the interaction between crop growth and unsaturated-saturated flow processes. Proceedings of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society (iEMSs) 2012 International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software: Managing Resources of a Limited Planet: Pathways and Visions under Uncertainty, Sixth Biennial Meeting (iEMSs 2012), Leipzig, Germany."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"Zhang, G., Zhou, J., Zhou, Q., Cheng, G., and Li, X. (2012, January 1). Integrated Eco-hydrological modelling by a combination of coupled-model and algorithm using OMS3. Proceedings of the International Environmental Modelling and Software Society (iEMSs) 2012 International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software: Managing Resources of a Limited Planet: Pathways and Visions under Uncertainty, Sixth Biennial Meeting (iEMSs 2012), Leipzig, Germany."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Hamadi, R., and Benatallah, B. (2003, January 1). A Petri net-based model for web service composition. Proceedings of the ADC '03 14th Australasian database conference of CRPIT, Adelaide, Australia."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1102","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jnca.2013.01.009","article-title":"Model-driven approach supporting formal verification for web service composition protocols","volume":"36","author":"Dumez","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Netw. Comput. Appl."},{"key":"ref_35","first-page":"195","article-title":"Nested Petri nets\u2014A formalism for specification and verification of multi-agent distributed systems","volume":"43","author":"Lomazova","year":"2000","journal-title":"Fundam. Inf."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alur, R., and Yannakakis, M. (1998, January 1). Model checking of hierarchical state machines. Proceedings of the Sixth ACM FSE, Orlando, FL, USA.","DOI":"10.1145\/288195.288305"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"742","DOI":"10.1109\/43.766725","article-title":"Hierarchical finite state machines with multiple concurrency models","volume":"18","author":"Girault","year":"1999","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Comput.-Aided Design Integr. Circuits Syst."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Lee, E.A., and Tripakis, S. (2010, January 3). Modal models in Ptolemy. Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Equation-Based Object-Oriented Modelling Languages and Tools (EOOLT), Oslo, Norway."},{"key":"ref_39","unstructured":"OMS3 (2011). The OMS3 Doc Website, Available online: http:\/\/nrrc.ars.usda.gov\/ModelFrameworks\/ObjectModeling System\/Documentation.aspx."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"ESMF The ESMF User Doc. Available online: http:\/\/www.earthsystemmodeling.org\/esmf_releases\/ public\/last\/ESMF_usrdoc\/ESMF_usrdoc.html."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"109","article-title":"Model-driven and pattern-based integration of process-driven SOA Models","volume":"2","author":"Dustdar","year":"2006","journal-title":"Int. J. Bus. Process Integr. Manag."}],"container-title":["ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/6\/2\/47\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T18:28:30Z","timestamp":1760207310000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2220-9964\/6\/2\/47"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,17]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2017,2]]}},"alternative-id":["ijgi6020047"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijgi6020047","relation":{},"ISSN":["2220-9964"],"issn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"2220-9964"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2017,2,17]]}}}