Modellenen

Modellenen is a term used in Dutch-language discussions of modeling and simulation to denote an approach and, occasionally, a set of practices aimed at developing, validating, and managing models across their life cycle. While not a formally standardized field, modellenen appears in academic writing, educational materials, and industry discourse as a conceptual umbrella for model-based work. The term can function as a noun referring to the practice of model-building or as a verb meaning to engage in this lifecycle of modeling.

At its core, modellenen advocates a structured, repeatable workflow where models are built from explicit specifications, calibrated with data, and validated against independent benchmarks. It stresses documentation of assumptions, modular construction, and the use of version control and provenance to ensure traceability from data inputs to results. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses are considered integral, as are monitoring and periodic revision of models after deployment.

Typical domains include data analysis, computational engineering, simulation-based policy assessment, and educational contexts where modeling is taught as a process rather than a single artifact. The concept is related to model-driven engineering, reproducible research, and various forms of simulation modeling, but it remains a lesser-used, often informal term in formal literature.

In summary, modellenen describes a lifecycle-oriented mindset for creating and managing models, with emphasis on transparency, reproducibility, and continual improvement, rather than on any single modeling technique.