Wikis as collaborative knowledge management tools in socio-environmental modelling studies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Wikis as collaborative knowledge management tools in socio-environmental modelling studies

AU - Roxburgh, Nicholas

AU - Stringer, Lindsay C.

AU - Evans, Andrew J.

AU - Williams, Tim G.

AU - Müller, Birgit

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research ( BMBF-01LN1315A ) within the Junior Research Group POLISES, as well as the Economic and Social Research Council through the White Rose Social Sciences DTP ( ES/J500215/1 ). BM was furthermore supported by funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) within the research project NamTip ( 01LC1821D ). Publisher Copyright: © 2022

PY - 2022/12

Y1 - 2022/12

N2 - The data requirements of many socio-environmental system (SES) modelling studies have increased substantially in recent years. This has made the already challenging task of data compilation, retrieval, and sharing progressively more difficult. Recognising the current lack of best practice for knowledge management in SES modelling studies, we propose using SES wikis as a means of addressing these challenges. Wikis have attributes that make them well suited to complex knowledge management tasks and their hierarchical, interconnected, algorithmic logic closely fits with the logic needed in SES model design. In this article, we describe how wikis can be used at each stage of the SES modelling cycle, and we discuss our experiences of putting the approach into practice. We conclude that while SES wikis can be time consuming to initially develop, they have the potential to significantly improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of SES modelling projects.

AB - The data requirements of many socio-environmental system (SES) modelling studies have increased substantially in recent years. This has made the already challenging task of data compilation, retrieval, and sharing progressively more difficult. Recognising the current lack of best practice for knowledge management in SES modelling studies, we propose using SES wikis as a means of addressing these challenges. Wikis have attributes that make them well suited to complex knowledge management tasks and their hierarchical, interconnected, algorithmic logic closely fits with the logic needed in SES model design. In this article, we describe how wikis can be used at each stage of the SES modelling cycle, and we discuss our experiences of putting the approach into practice. We conclude that while SES wikis can be time consuming to initially develop, they have the potential to significantly improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of SES modelling projects.

KW - Data management

KW - Fieldwork

KW - Knowledge reuse

KW - Open data

KW - Participatory research

KW - Wiki

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140145071&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.envsoft.2022.105538

DO - 10.1016/j.envsoft.2022.105538

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85140145071

SN - 1364-8152

VL - 158

JO - Environmental Modelling and Software

JF - Environmental Modelling and Software

M1 - 105538

ER -