To facilitate understanding and decision making in the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus context, we develop an integrated technology-environment-economics model (ITEEM) at a watershed scale where interconnected food production, energy consumption, and water quantity and quality issues influence economic and environmental outcomes in the Corn Belt. ITEEM is built as an integration of various models, including process models for grain processing, drinking water, and wastewater treatment (technology); a watershed model for hydrology, water quality, crop production, and nutrient cycling (environment); an economics model assessing total net benefit and non-market valuation of environmental impacts. To integrate these models, different data techniques are applied to developing suitable surrogates, including a response matrix method, machine learning, look-up tables, and empirical equations. The input-output relationships between the surrogates are formulated in a unified computational framework using Python to develop a computationally efficient ITEEM that allows running what-if scenarios within minutes. The ITEEM, a spatially semi-distributed dynamic simulation model, can be used to quantify the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of various management practices, technologies, and policy interventions.

Developing an Integrated Technology-Environment-Economics Model to Simulate Food-Energy-Water Systems in Corn Belt Watersheds

Created in 1999, the Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) is the recognized leader within ASCE for the integration of technical expertise and public policy in the planning, design, construction, and operation of environmentally sound and sustainable infrastructure impacting air, land and water resources.

Paper Proceedings: https://ascelibrary.org/doi/book/10.1061/9780784483466