A use of calibration in the development of simulation models

The development of a mechanistically valid model is often an objective for modellers of biological systems. This paper briefly considers problems involved in choosing parameter values for biological models, and in determining reasons for model invalidity if it should fail a statistical lack-of-fit test. A procedure to aid model development is presented which involves parameter calibration to an appropriate data set and a statistical lack-of-fit test to the calibration data. The iterative process of parameter calibration, model revision and statistical testing of the model is presented for a deterministic simulation model of pasture growth.