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Environmental Measurements and Modeling

Integrated Environmental Modeling: General Information and Guidance

Although the former Council on Regulatory Environmental Modeling (CREM) initiated the use of integrated modeling analyses to strengthen our capacity for addressing existing and emerging environmental problems, the Environmental Modeling (E-Mod) Community of Practice (CoP) is now building on it. The products listed at the bottom of this page are key building blocks to upcoming projects of the E-Mod CoP.

On this page:


General Information

Integrated multimedia and multidisciplinary approaches are increasingly needed to address our most pressing environmental challenges. The Ecosystems Research group of EPA defines Integrated Environmental Modeling in the following way:

Integrated environmental modeling (IEM) is a new paradigm for conducting environmental assessments. The complexity of modern environmental problems, decisions and policies requires EPA scientists to consider the environment in a holistic manner. Integrated environmental modeling allows scientists to use cross-disciplinary science and computer capabilities to characterize problems by:

  • Geographic scale
  • The dynamic and interdependent nature of chemical and physical stressors and their impacts on humans and the environment
  • Stakeholder diversity at local, state and national levels
  • Social, economic and political issues fundamental to making sustainable decisions

Integrated Modeling for Environmental Decision Making