Research in Water Resources and Environmental Systems Modeling Some Historical Perspectives, Current Issues, and Future Directions

A recent workshop at Cornell University on water resources and environmental systems analysis provided an opportunity for about 70 attendees, mostly from North America, but some also from Asia, Europe, and South America, to discuss some of the important current issues and future research needs in this field. This paper summarizes the writers' perceptions of those informal discussions, especially pertaining to that part directed toward systems modeling. After over two decades of research and application, it is evident that there have been some beneficial impacts from various modelling applications. However, additional research needs are evident. These needs are identified and discussed.