FRAMES OVERVIEW

FRAMEwork System for Model and Data Integration, Analysis, and Visualization

Today's complex problems require analysts to expand their modeling environment. Analyses, ranging from financial to environmental, require a flexible system for incorporating new and older (legacy) models that produce results to support informed decision-making.

FRAMES 2.x is a flexible, multiple-model operating system that capitalizes on a user's existing models, databases, and codes. These models and databases integrate across scientific disciplines. The tools that incorporate these scientific models and databases allow for tailored solutions to specific problems. FRAMES also provides a mechanism to relay meaningful information and visualization of results to business and technical managers, allowing analysts to expand modeling options across disciplines and into related market areas.

FRAMES is the product of sponsorship by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Offices of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) and Research and Development (ORD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) , and American Chemistry Council (ACC) . ORD used the FRAMES concept for a national risk assessment associated with the Hazardous Waste Identification Rule and 3MRA risk assessment model development . ERDC is using FRAMES as a main component in ARAMS. FRAMES provides a central development tool to support multiple user communities. The design of FRAMES is based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among eight federal agencies, establishing a framework for facilitating cooperation and coordination in research and development of multimedia environmental models, software, and related databases, including development, enhancements, applications and assessments of site-specific, generic, and process-oriented multimedia environmental models as they pertain to human health and environmental assessment. In addition to EPA, NRC, ACOE, and DOE, the MOU includes the U.S. Geological Survey, Agricultural Research Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

A user interface pulls together the suite of tools in FRAMES, allowing users to select domains and modules, connect modules, select codes and databases, extract data efficiently from databases, populate and run modules, conduct sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, and optimize capabilities. This interface provides a mechanism to:

Conceptualize and define the problem by dragging and dropping icons that represent specific models, databases, or frameworks.
Link modules, databases, and frameworks together easily in a plug and play environment (for both new and legacy models).
Define the environment as real-world objects (e.g., river is a real-world object).
Visualize or tabularize results.
Allow for re-analysis.
Perform sensitivity/uncertainty analysis.

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