Why use models?

• simplify exploration by allowing an emphasis on some aspects (of reality) while ignoring others.

• possible to compress years of data into a single model,

• help to better understand complex real situations,

• cheaper to play with and experiment with model than using the real thing,

• Experimenting with ‘reality’ may not be reversible,

• Simulation models are suited to ‘what-if?’ scenarios,

• can be re-run with different states and data,

• economical ‘trial and error’ testing is facilitated