Toward a qualified process for coastal models: Integrated Development of Applied Systems for Coastal Management (IDeASyCoM)

This paper describes a generalisation of the integrated design method for environmental modelling. The wide range of processes determining coastal morphodynamics and their temporal and spatial variability give rise to a large number of possible scenarios that can be addressed using modern sediment-transport models. The exhaustive assessment of detailed model functionalities is time and resource consuming because of a priori decision making. Methods to prioritise the functionalities to be addressed are necessary. The Integrated Development of Applied Systems for Coastal Management (IDeASyCoM®) based on a decision-support system has proven to be efficient for identifying coastal managers' needs and defining priorities as well as for handling and capitalising on existing knowledge.

► We propose a method for the development process of coastal system modelling.
► Using IDeASyCoM®, the number of modelling decision adjustments can be reduced.
► IDeASyCoM facilitates compromise between contradictory expectations.
► The method is useful in numerical modelling and coastal systems development research.
► The repeated use of IDeASyCoM can increase knowledge capitalisation.