Workshop Tutorial Stella

This tutorial is intended for use by students learning to use environmental modeling tools.
Workshop Description: This workshop is a thorough introduction to environmental modeling on Stella by creating a model from equations and producing graphs.

Suggested Reading and Related Links: http://www.islandpress.org/ford http://www.iseesystems.com/community/downloads/tutorials/ste lla.aspx

Workshop Title Author Date

Stella Workshop: An Introduction to Environmental Modeling.

All models are wrong, some models are useful. -W. Edwards Deming

Part one: Stocks and Flows

Purpose. The objectives of this initial section are to become familiar with Stella models, to successfully create a model and to be able to differentiate between stocks and flows.

Procedure
Open up Stella from the program menu. By default, you begin in the Map Model layer, indicated by the globe icon located on the left-hand side of the screen. Clicking on this icon allows you to shift to the equation layer, as indicated by the chi square icon. We will explore this layer later on in the workshop. For now, begin by reproducing the following diagram:
Population

births

deaths

birth rate

death rate

In this specific model, we are looking at population growth. This is an example of exponential growth, meaning the rate of change is proportionate to the amount. In this example our amount, or stock, is the Population. Stocks are always represented by the rectangle symbol. The flows in this model are births (inflow) and deaths (outflow). Again, flows are always represented by this symbol. The icons labeled birth rate and death rate are converters, which allow us to perform mathematical equations. The red arrows are called connectors and are used to connect information. Note: If you make a mistake at any point the red dynamite tool, which is located on the top toolbar, can be used to erase objects. Now lets enter in some numbers. Click on the globe icon, changing it to 2. This means you have successfully entered the equation level. Notice question marks appear inside the stocks, flows and converters. This is your cue to enter in numerical values. Double click on any one of these question marks and a dialog box will appear, asking for some information.

Workshop Title Author Date

Fill in the following values: Birth rate: 0.05 {births per yr} *units always entered in curly brackets Death rate: 0.02 {deaths per year} Population: 1000 Double click on births and you will notice some items appear in the required input box. You must assign a formula containing both these inputs. Click on Population and notice it appears down in the equation box. Click on the * and then click on Birth_rate. You are now telling the program Births equal the birth rate times the population. Repeat this for deaths as well, this time using death rate instead. We are now ready to create a graph. Click on the purple graph icon and deposit it anywhere on the screen. You should then see a graph box appear. Move this so it is out of your working space. Double click on the graph to tell it what we want to graph. For title type in Population Vs Time. Click on Population and then the double arrow button to move Population into the selected box. Click OK. Select run specs under the run menu. This allows us to set a time frame. For length of simulation say 0 to 100. For units of time click years and then OK. We are now ready to run our graph. Choose run from the menu bar and then run in the pull down. A graph should appear. Your graph should look like this:

Workshop Title Author Date