Dynamic color graphics for the model output and a symbolic representation
of major problem components that allow easy and immediate understanding
of basic patterns and relationships. Rather than emphasizing the numerical
results, symbolic representations and the visualization of complex patterns
support an intuitive understanding of complex systems behavior; the goal is
to translate a model's state variables and outputs into the information
requirements of the decision making process; the coupling to one or several
data bases, including geographical information systems, and distributed or
remote sources of information in local or wide area networks, that provide
necessary input information to the models and the user. The user's choice
or definition of a specific scenario can be expressed in an aggregated and
symbolic, problem-oriented manner without concern for the technical details
of the computer implementation; data on chemical properties of the
substances of concern, used in pollution fate and transport models, are one
obvious example;