Degree of Master of

Brussels-Capital region
Safonov in his report “Dynamic ecological-economic modeling for regional planning” considers integrated modeling as a tool for analyzing the ecological aspects of mobility induced by major policy options in the Brussels-Capital region.

CEU eTD Collection
He explains that for this purpose a set of models was needed to be introduced. Introduction of models basically had three main implications in the project described in Safonov’s article (Safonov 2000). Firstly, these models provided demographic forecasts of population dynamics and the situation in employment in the Brussels-Capital region and presented the spatial distribution of this prognosis. Secondly, these models provided scenarios of development of major economic sectors in the addressed region. Thirdly, taking into account the introduction of new regulations on vehicles in the region concerned, models were used for the economic forecast of future changes in the transport sector.
Summarizing, Safonov (2000) concludes that ecological-economic models made possible evaluation of the contribution to air pollution emissions of traffic and management scenarios which are based on the models generated several policy recommendations in transport sector (Safonov 2000).

2. Mediterranean example: MODULUS project

Continuing, a Mediterranean example of modeling and decision support tools is also a good illustration of the application of modeling in environmental projects. Oxley and Winder (2002) give a remarkable example of MODULUS project in which ten constituent integrated models simulating hydrology, atmospheric conditions, vegetation, soils, and anthropogenic influence were introduced.
This project was aimed to elaborate appropriate measures for the problem of land degradation and assessment of policy options by integrated environmental modeling. It is notable that this project proved a success because it represented the feasibility of integrating distinct research models for policy support and decision making (Oxley and Winder 2002).

3.