Report of theTraining Workshop on
Asia-Pacific Integrated Model
June 16-20, 2003

Venue

Asian Institute of Technology,Pathumthani, Thailand

Conducted by
Dr. Manmohan Kapshe

Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology,
Bhopal, India

Organized by

National Institute for Environmental Studies
Tsukuba, JapanTABLE OF CONTENTS

1.

Introduction

1

1.1

Background1

1.2

Objectives

2

2.

Activities Conducted2

3.

Outcomes /Achievements

44.

Conclusion

4

Appendix 1: Workshop Schedule

5

Appendix 2: List of Participants

8Training Workshop on Asia Pacific Integrated Models at
Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand
1.

Introduction

1.1

Background

The Asia-Pacific region houses over a half of the global population. The region is
physically diverse including highland mountains, long shoreline and deserts, and is
ecologically rich in natural and crop-related bio-diversity. The region includes nations
with diverse economic development patterns, most experiencing rapid economic
growth and rising Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. The region is exposed toclimate change impacts from changes in monsoon circulation, increases in surface
temperature, sea-level rise, hurricanes and increases in the magnitude and frequencyof extreme events. These changes can impact region's ecosystem and bio-diversity;hydrology and water resources; agriculture, forestry and fisheries; mountains andcoastal land; and human settlement and human health.
The need for integrated environment assessment modeling and policymaking in theAsia-Pacific region is thus evident. Meaningful participation of these nations in theglobal environmental actions, such as in the global sustainable development andclimate change regimes, calls for integrated assessment of environmental policies andmeasures in the context of their specific local conditions. In recent years, theintegrated environment assessment modeling to support global policymaking
processes, such as in the case of climate change policies, is recognized as a majoradvancement in environmental policy research. In Asia-Pacific, this field has been
advanced significantly by the modeling research and assessment studies conducted by
the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Tsukuba, Japan. The AsiaPacific Integrated Model (AIM) developed by the NIES researchers is an important
tool for developing integrated environment assessment in the region.
NIES has been organizing a series of workshops to disseminate the knowledge andexperience related to the Asia-Pacific Integrated model. This workshop at Asian
Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand was also one such effort. The workshop
aimed at building capacity for co-operative assessment of environment policies in theAsia-Pacific region by providing exposure on model structures, applications andhands-on experience with the important components of the Integrated Environment
Assessment models used in the Asia-Pacific context. The participants included
Masters and doctoral level researchers from Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand andVietnam.
The workshop was conducted for a duration of 5 days. The initial two days of theworkshop focused on greater understanding of the AIM family of models throughintroductory discussions, the last three days concentrated on providing hands on
experience on AIM/Enduse and AIM/Local models to the participants. Dr. Manmohan
Kapshe, from the Department of Architecture and Planning, Maulana Azad National
Institute of Technology, Bhopal, India, conducted this workshop.

1

1.2

Objectives

This training workshop on AIM was a part of the initiative to build capacity for cooperative assessment of environment policies in the Asia-Pacific region. Thisobjective is achieved by providing exposure to the state-of-the-art knowledge aboutmodel structures, applications and hands-on-training with the important Integrated
Environment Assessment (IEA) models used in the Asia-Pacific context. The capacity
building and networking from the workshop was aimed at making a lasting
contribution to the integrated environment assessment and climate change
policymaking in the Asia-Pacific region. It also aimed at providing an opportunity tothe new researchers to acquaint themselves with the details IEA models and toexperience working on the models with full guidance and support.

2.

Activities Conducted

The workshop had an intense schedule of 5 days and was attended by 9 participants.
The workshop discussed the significance of adopting integrated modeling approaches
for environmental assessment. The integrated model adopted during the discussions
was the AIM, which is an important tool for integrated environment assessment in theregion, developed by NIES researchers. Dr. Manmohan Kapshe made presentations on
the structure and use of the component models of AIM family, which include an energy
model, economic assessment model, climate model and impacts model, their strengths
and weaknesses, the recent developments and future work required. He took help fromthe previous presentations of various NIES researchers who have been working n thedifferent component models. Case studies were used to bring out the policy applicationsof AIM models in the Asia-Pacific region. Application of AIM/Enduse and AIM/Local
model for India was discussed in detail analyzing step-by-step procedure of setting up
these models for India. Lastly the results obtained from these models and the policy
contribution of the results was highlighted. Dr. Kapshe also presented the modelingexercises, which were to be undertaken for hands on experience. Discussions were
held after every round of presentation.
The four component models discussed during the workshop include AIM/Material,
AIM/Ecosystems, AIM/Emissions and AIM/Trend. The policy implications of thesemodels on the Asia-Pacific region were also presented. A summary of the information
presented on the component models during the workshop is given below. Figure 1
shows the linkages of these component models with each other. A brief introduction of
the new model on AIM/Air was also given.
AIM/Material• Intends to estimate economic and environmental effects of environment investment.
• Assesses the effects of policy integration for comprehensive environmental problems
AIM/Ecosystems• Calculates global and regional climatic impacts, especially on primary productionindustries such as water supply, agriculture, forest products and human health.

2AIM/Emissions• Bottom-up energy model• Focuses on activities of people who deal with energy consumption and production• Focuses on changes in technologies
AIM/Trend• Prospects the basic situation of the economy, energy and environment in Asia-Pacificregion.

Figure 1: Asia-Pacific Integrated Model System
AIM/Energy/Technology/Count

AIM/Ecosystem/Water/Impact
A set of ecosystem
Tempermodels, including aPrecipit
Sunsvegetation dynamics
model, a water
Land
Water
resource model, anagricultural
SocioCrop
productivity model andImpact on fooda health impact model

A bottom-up
technology
selection model ofenergy use
and emissions atcountry and local
level

Adaptation

AIM/Bottom-up

AIMFamily

A bottom-up technology &land use model for AsiaPacific region

AIM/MaterialERWaEnvi

A general-equilibriumtype world economic
model

AIM/Trend

Environmenli

A environmenteconomy integrated
model with materialbalance andrecycling processmodules

AIM/Top-downl

A reduced-form
model to project
China
future socioeconomic
trends andenvironmental Thailandchange for all
42 countries

Futureeconomic trend
Futureenvironmental
trend

Korea
India
Japan

Research on new technologies

Last three days of the workshop were solely dedicated to give hands-on-training of
the two selected component models to the participants. The hands-on-training wasorganized in three sessions on each day. In the first session of the hands-on-training adetailed explanation was given about the installation, operation and applications of themodels. The participants got an opportunity to interact closely during this session tounderstand the prerequisites of model installation.
The workshop program, giving details of the schedule and topics covered has been
given in Appendix 1. A list of the participants who attended the workshop is given in
Appendix 2.

3

3.

Outcomes/Achievements

The achievements of workshop are as follows:4.

a)

It created an awareness of the utility of Integrated Assessment Models(IAM) and enhanced the understanding and capabilities of the participants
to address policy related questions. This will help in achieving theobjective of capacity building of all the participants for using integrated
models in the Asia-Pacific region.

b)

There was a direct exchange of information and views among theparticipants, experts and researchers working in diverse disciplines. These
interactions provided the foundation and insights for future work.

c)

The workshop brought out the need for appropriate model assumptions,data requirements and data validation during modeling exercises. It
showed the significance of developing model structures, which are in tune
with the policies and measures required to deal with local-specific issues.
This is especially true for developing countries, where the diverse physicaland socio-economic structures have to be considered during modelingexercises.

d)

The training helped in enhancing the capabilities of researchers who workin the participating institutions.

e)

The workshop has strengthened the network of IAM modelers, policy
makers and experts working on environment assessments in the AsiaPacific region. This could expand collaborative research and thus be alasting benefit for the research and policy making community.
Conclusion

To conclude, the workshop has contributed significantly to the enhancement ofknowledge, understanding and appreciation among the research and policy making
communities to address the policy relevant scientific problems, both in the AsiaPacific context as well as in the global context. It provided an opportunity to the newresearchers to develop their skills in the field of integrated assessment modeling whileproviding a focused training on select component models.

4

APPENDIX – 1

AIM Training Workshop
June16-20, 2003,
Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani, Thailand
Workshop Report
Program Schedule
June 16, 2003 (Monday)

9:30-10:15
Session IOpening
9:30-9:45
Introduction and Initiation
9:45-10:00
Studies on Climate Change and Related Activities at AITProf. Ram M. Shrestha
10:00-10:15
AIM Modeling: Indian ExperienceDr. Manmohan Kapshe

10:15-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-12:00
Session IIAIM Modeling
10:30-11.00
Introduction to Integrated Environment Assessment Models
11:00-11:15
Discussion
11:15-11:45
Asia-Pacific Integrated Model (AIM): Introduction to Component
Models
11:45-12:00
Discussion

12:00-13:00

Lunch Break

13:00-15:30
Session III
AIM Component Models
13:00-13:30
AIM/Trend Model[Using Presentation by Dr. Junichi Fujino (NIES)]
13:30-14:00
AIM/Material Model[Using Presentation by Dr. Toshihiko Masui and Dr. Ashish Rana(NIES)]
14:00-14:30
AIM/Ecosystems Model[Using Presentation by Dr. Hideo Harasawa and Mr. Kiyoshi
Takahashi (NIES)]
14:30-15:00
AIM/Air Model[Using Presentation by Prof. T. Fujiwara, Kyoto University]
15:00-15:30
Discussion on the day’s proceedings5June 17, 2003 (Tuesday)

9:30-10:15
Session IV
AIM Component Models
9:30-10:00
AIM/Enduse Model (Model Information)
10:00-10:15
Discussion

10:15-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-12:00
Session V
AIM Component Models
10:30-11:15
AIM/Local Model (Model information and Database system)
11:15-11:30
Discussion
11:30-12:00
AIM/Local India Application

12:00-13:00

Lunch Break

13:00-15:30
Session VI
Installation of Model and Support Software
13:00-13:30
Introduction to GAMS interface
13:30-14:00
Introduction to GIS interface
14:00-14:15
Discussion
14:15-15:30
Model Installations and test runs on all the systems

June 18, 2003 (Wednesday)
9:30-10:15
Session VII
Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
9:30-10:00
Basic Exercises in AIM/Enduse and AIM/Local Model
10:00-10:15
Discussion

10:15-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-12:00
Session VIII Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
10:30-12:00
Basic Exercises in AIM/Enduse Model and AIM/Local Model

12:00-13:00

Lunch Break

13:00-15:30
Session IX
Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
13:00-15:30
Basic Exercises in AIM/Enduse Model and AIM/Local Model

6June 19, 2003 (Thursday)
9:30-10:15
Session X
Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
9:30-10:00
Basic Exercises in GIS interface
10:00-10:15
Discussion

10:15-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-12:00
Session XI
Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
10:30-12:00
Developing AIM/End Use AIM/Local Model database for Thailand(Based on the availability of the data any one sector may be selected)

12:00-13:00

Lunch Break

13:00-15:30
Session XII
Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
13:00-15:30
Developing AIM/End Use and AIM/Local Model database forThailand(Progress based on the availability of the data)

June 20, 2003 (Friday)
9:30-10:15
Session XIII Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
9:30-10:00
Preliminary Exercises in AIM/Enduse and AIM/Local Model withThailand data
(Based on database development in the previous sessions)
10:00-10:15
Discussion

10:15-10:30

Coffee Break

10:30-12:00
Session XIV Hands on Experience on AIM/End Use and AIM/Local
10:30-12:00
Preliminary Exercises in AIM/Enduse and AIM/Local Model withThailand data
(Based on database development in the previous sessions)

12:00-13:00

13:00-15:30

Lunch BreakSession XV

Training continued (if necessary)7