Modeling with imperfect data: A case study simulating a biological system

Abstract

This paper deals with a real-life application of simulation model ing to a biological system. A major obstacle, in the implemen tation of the otherwise well-defined model, is the difficulty of gathering some of the pertinent data. Unlike most familiar simulation models for which the system's design parameters are either available or can be estimated from available data, the nature of the system under study exists in an environment that makes it almost impossible to gather desired data. The paper proposes an "input-output" procedure that can be used to estimate the desired design parameters by indirectly using ac tual Input and output data of the system. A sample testing of the developed model based on the estimates obtained from the proposed procedure is also presented. The paper also points to the difficulties that typically exist in simulating many agricultural and biological systems.