Fiction and reality in the modelling world – Balance between simplicity and complexity, calibration and identifiability, verification and falsification

Abstract

Where is the balance between simplicity and complexity in model prediction of urban drainage structures? The calibration/verification approach to testing of model performance gives an exaggerated sense of certainty. Frequently, the model structure and the parameters are not identifiable by calibration/verification on the basis of the data series available, which generates elements of sheer guessing – unless the universality of the model is be based on induction, i.e. experience from the sum of all previous investigations. There is a need to deal more explicitly with uncertainty and to incorporate that in the design, operation and control of urban drainage structures.