SUMMARY

This chapter gives a general overview of the concepts of modelling dynamic systems. The chapter has four sections:

• 1.1 What this book is about. This will tell you whether the book is going to be of interest to you, and its overall layout.
• Rationales for modelling. Highlights the variety of reasons why models are developed and used.
• A motivational example. This section takes a common industrial process as an example showing how models can be used, while indicating some functional and structural requirements for a modelling tool.
• Computer-based modelling tools. A discussion of the need for computer-based modelling tools with reference to a prototype tool box: MTT -- Model Transformation Tools.