> ![](media/image1.wmf){width="1.499212598425197in"
> height="1.3244094488188976in"}![](media/image2.png){width="1.0291338582677165in"
> height="0.8681102362204725in"}**FRAMES-2 Workshop**
>
> **Science to Solutions**
>
> **Multi-model Operating System**
>
> November 15-16, 2007
>
> NRC Professional Development Center (PDC)
>
> Suite 425, Bethesda Gateway Building
>
> 7201 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD
>
> 301-492-2000 (PDC), 301-492-2065 (F)
>
> FRAMES 2.x is a flexible, multiple-model operating system that
> capitalizes on a user's existing models and tools. It features tools
> to incorporate models that integrate across scientific disciplines,
> allowing for tailored solutions to specific activities. It also
> provides a mechanism to relay meaningful information to business and
> technical managers, allowing analysts to expand modeling options
> across disciplines and into related areas.

#### A Wide Range of Tools for a Wide Range of Applications

> FRAMES-2 includes tools to assist model developers as well as
> analysts. **Decision analysis** tools visualize results and analyze
> sensitivity and uncertainty. **Data management** tools enable a
> database owner to fully understand the analyst's needs and then map
> database schema and develop extraction plans. Analysts use these plans
> to run models faster.
>
> **Model interaction** tools allow users to build or import
> dictionaries of data, define units, build or import modules, set up
> domains, and define connection schemes. To help module developers
> integrate models into FRAMES-2, the system comes with the following:

-   **(Units) Conversion Editor** -- Choose from a set of existing units
    or add new ones

-   **Dictionary Editor** -- Learn the formatting and content necessary
    for a well-formed dictionary specification

-   **Domain Editor** -- Design or enhance a set of module options and
    create or edit multiple domains to meet specific needs

-   **Module (Description File) Editor** -- Create the module file,
    including linkage schemes, executable names, and references, to
    allow a model to function within FRAMES

-   **Dataset Editor** -- Populate datasets to test that the module
    fully functions in the system before deploying it with other
    modules.

A **User Interface** pulls together the suite of tools, allowing users
to select domains and modules, connect modules, select models and
databases, run extraction plans, populate and run models, conduct
sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, and optimize capabilities. This
interface provides a mechanism to:

-   Conceptualize and define the problem by dragging and dropping

-   Easily link models, databases, and frameworks together in a
    plug‑and‑play environment (for both new and legacy models)

-   Perform sensitivity and uncertainty analyses

-   Define the environment as real-world objects

-   Visualize or tabularize results

-   Allow for re-analysis.

![](media/image3.wmf){width="3.625in" height="2.6125in"}

> **Workshop Content\
> \
> **The course shall be designed to teach the fundamentals and major
> capabilities of FRAMES-2, which are appropriate for an initial
> spectrum of FRAMES-2 users:
>
> **Model Developer** -- Typical tasks associated with being a model
> developer include building or Importing DICtionary files, defining
> units associated with model input/output, building/importing models,
> setting the domain, and defining connection schemes with other models.
> Tools specifically developed to aid the model developer include Units
> (Conversion) Editor, DICtionary Editor, Domain Editor, and Module
> (DES) Editor.

**User (Analyst)** -- Typical tasks associated with being a user include
selecting a domain, selecting icons, connecting icons, selecting models
and databases, and running extraction plans. Tools specifically
developed to aid the user include Simulation (CSM) Editor, Data Client
Editor (Generalized Module User Interface), and Dataset Editor.

**Database Owner** -- Typical tasks associated with being a database
owner include mapping database schema and developing database extraction
plans. Tools developed to aid the database owner include Data Owner Tool
and Data Extraction Tool.

This course will cover the concepts and methodologies for evaluating
health impact alternatives for environmental problems, using FRAMES,
which allows users to transparently link disparate models/databases when
defining a Conceptual Site Model. The course shall contain an initial
overview, and the remainder of the course shall be designed to be
hands-on software session, beginning with defining the problem and
characterizing the site. With this information, the attendees will then
be able to convert the problem into a Conceptual Site Model. The
attendees will analyze health/environmental impacts and alternatives
that will be applied to evaluate the environmental problem. The
attendees will integrate their choice of models and databases to
evaluate constituent source, fate/transport through environmental media
(e.g., groundwater, surface water, soil) for multiple exposure routes
(e.g., inhalation, ingestion, dermal contact) to achieve health
consequences for chemicals and radionuclides, using the FRAMES software
package. Integrating a model will be covered, as well as, linking models
to the Groundwater Modeling System. Finally, other FRAMES development
activities, relevant to supporting NRC, will be discussed.

The Interagency Steering Committee on Multimedia Environmental Models is
committed to develop the next generation of multiple model operating
systems, of which FRAMES-2 tries to be consistent with its principles.
For more information, see <http://www.iscmem.org/Proceedings.htm>.