Interactive data management for resource planning and analysis

Since the mid‐1970's, a number of research projects at Cornell University have focused on the development and application of interactive models and computer programs for studying water resources and environmental management problems. These models and programs have been adapted for use with computer graphics display devices. This interactive computer‐aided planning system has been designed to facilitate data input, editing, and display; model building and solution; and analysis and synthesis of alternative resource management plans or policies. This paper discusses the approaches taken for managing and displaying data that are needed for, and derived from, this interactive modeling system. Several applications are presented and some conclusions on how such systems might be developed or expanded in the future are proposed.