What is integrated assessment modelling?

Integrated assessment of problems resulting from substances released into the environment is a multidisciplinary approach. It involves bringing together information on the sources and activities generating the emissions, the subsequent dispersal and concentrations, resulting effects and criteria for environmental protection, and potential measures that may be taken to alleviate the problem together with their costs and any other implications or side effects. This information is used for scenario analysis and to explore cost-effective strategies for improved environmental protection. Members of the Integrated Assessment Unit have considerable experience in such analysis, including work under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution and research for UK government departments.

The IAU now has a range of interlinked models addressing different scales from local urban situations to continental scales and beyond.

• European scale modelling: the ASAM model

• National scale modelling: the UKIAM model

• Road transport modelling: the BRUTAL model

• Local scale urban modelling (Fluidity, ADMS)