Scholes, RJ2007-06-292007-06-292002-09Scholes, RJ. 2002. Uncle Tony's computer: order-of-magnitude modelling as a screening tool in environmental analysis. South African Journal of Science, vol. 98, 10 September, pp 494-4960038-2353http://hdl.handle.net/10204/751Copyright: 2002 Academy of Science of South AfricaThis paper describes a simple, quick, non data-intensive quantitative approach for sorting certain types of environmental issues into those that are unlikely to be problems; those likely to be problems; and those requiring further, more detailed investigation. It applies to situations where the impact results from an altered input to a system, for instance of a pollutant, or an altered output, for instance a harvest. It is based on a rough (order-of-magnitude) estimation of the degree to which a proposed action is likely to perturb the throughput of a given system. If the perturbation is an order of magnitude or smaller than the throughput, it is deemed unlikely to affect the ecology of that system in a material way. If larger than the throughput, it is very likely to have a substantial effect on the functioning of the system. If somewhere between the two limits, the problem requires further study. The method assumes a good, but not highly quantitative, knowledge of the system, and does not apply to cumulative effects.enEnvironmental analysisUncle Tony's computerScreening toolsOrder of magnitudeArticleScholes, R. (2002). Uncle Tony's computer: order-of-magnitude modelling as a screening tool in environmental analysis. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/751Scholes, RJ "Uncle Tony's computer: order-of-magnitude modelling as a screening tool in environmental analysis." (2002) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/751Scholes R. Uncle Tony's computer: order-of-magnitude modelling as a screening tool in environmental analysis. 2002; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/751.TY - Article AU - Scholes, RJ AB - This paper describes a simple, quick, non data-intensive quantitative approach for sorting certain types of environmental issues into those that are unlikely to be problems; those likely to be problems; and those requiring further, more detailed investigation. It applies to situations where the impact results from an altered input to a system, for instance of a pollutant, or an altered output, for instance a harvest. It is based on a rough (order-of-magnitude) estimation of the degree to which a proposed action is likely to perturb the throughput of a given system. If the perturbation is an order of magnitude or smaller than the throughput, it is deemed unlikely to affect the ecology of that system in a material way. If larger than the throughput, it is very likely to have a substantial effect on the functioning of the system. If somewhere between the two limits, the problem requires further study. The method assumes a good, but not highly quantitative, knowledge of the system, and does not apply to cumulative effects. DA - 2002-09 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Environmental analysis KW - Uncle Tony's computer KW - Screening tools KW - Order of magnitude LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2002 SM - 0038-2353 T1 - Uncle Tony's computer: order-of-magnitude modelling as a screening tool in environmental analysis TI - Uncle Tony's computer: order-of-magnitude modelling as a screening tool in environmental analysis UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/751 ER -