A software framework for process flow execution of stochastic multi-scale integrated models

To address this problem, we propose the function object notation as a means to specify the input requirements of a component model. This function object notation provides modellers with a uniform syntax to express the input requirements within the state transition function. During component initialisation, the function objects can be parameterised with different external sources. In addition to a uniform syntax, the function object notation allows a modeller to specify a request-reply execution flow of the coupled models (i.e. a component requests data needed for its own progress from another component). We extend the request-reply execution approach to Monte Carlo simulations and implement a software framework prototype. Using this prototype, we build an exemplary integrated model by coupling components for land use change, hydrology and Eucalyptus tree growth at different temporal discretisations to obtain the probability for bioenergy plant growing in a hypothetical catchment. The presented approach allows modellers to specify input requirements in the state transition function independently from the source of external inputs and therefore increases the reusability of these component models.