Bridging the gap: A strategic framework for implementing best practice guidelines in environmental modelling

Best practice for environmental modelling generally aims to increase the accuracy, utility and rigour of models when used as decision-support tools. Despite the wide-spread documentation of best practice, models are frequently and easily challenged during environmental decision-making processes, at least partly because of poor implementation of best practice guidance. We postulate that there is a two-sided gap of understanding between those tasked with making environmental decisions informed by model simulations (i.e., the end users), and modellers charged with generating and interpreting model outputs for environmental decision-making processes. This gap, or disconnect, can mean that best practice is not always implemented in modelling projects. Here we describe a strategic framework that aims to facilitate the implementation of appropriate best practice guidelines to improve the defensibility of the modelling and provide a structured approach to improving communication between modellers and end users. The framework incorporates four phases: 1) initial scoping and investigation, 2) planning, 3) model implementation and evaluation, and 4) model application. At the end of each phase is a hold point that asks a critical question, such as whether modelling is the appropriate tool, or whether the model is adequate for the intended purpose. There is an emphasis on communication between end users and modellers in each phase, and feedback loops to allow for commentary from end users or peer reviewers to be addressed. The framework can be applied to any environmental domain but is sufficiently prescriptive to ensure that best practice guidance for specific domains and model applications can be identified and implemented.