Um dieses Buch zu verstehen, müssen Sie lediglich Grundkenntnisse der Integral- und Differenzialrechnung und der linearen Algebra mitbringen. Der Autor erklärt auch für Einsteiger und Studenten unterer Semester verständlich, wie man einfache mathematische Modelle formuliert, auswählt, anwendet und die Resultate kritisch analysiert. Dazu bringt er Beispiele aus vielen Disziplinen wie der Biologie, Ökologie, Wirtschaft, Medizin, Landwirtschaft, Chemie, Elektrotechnik, Prozesstechnik und dem Maschinenbau. Er stützt sich ausschließlich auf Open-Source-Software und bietet eine kostenlose DVD mit allen im Buch behandelten Beispielen (für CAE-Linux) an, die im Internet zum Download bereitsteht.This concise and clear introduction to the topic requires only basic knowledge of calculus and linear algebra - all the other ideas are developed in the course of the book. Lucidly written so as to appeal to undergraduates and practitioners alike, it enables readers to set up simple mathematical models on their own and to interpret their results and those of others critically. To achieve this, many examples have been chosen from various fields, such as biology, ecology, economics, medicine, agricultural, chemical, electrical, mechanical and process engineering, which are subsequently discussed in detail.Based on the author's modeling and simulation experience in science and engineering and as a consultant, the book answers such basic questions as: What is a mathematical model? What types of models do exist? Which model is appropriate for a particular problem? What are simulation, parameter estimation, and validation? The book relies exclusively upon open-source software which is available to everybody free of charge. To facilitate the use of this software, readers can obtain a (free) Live-DVD based on CAE-Linux from the Internet which includes all examples and can be used on any operating system.From the Contents:- Principles of mathematical modeling- Phenomenological models- Mechanistic models- Practical issues- SoftwareKai Velten is a professor of mathematics at the University of Applied Sciences, Wiesbaden, Germany, and a modeling and simulation consultant. Having studied mathematics, physics and economics at the Universities of Göttingen and Bonn, he worked at Braunschweig Technical University (Institute of Geoecology) and at Erlangen University (Institute of Applied Mathematics). He held a position as as project manager and group leader at the Fraunhofer-ITWM in Kaiserslautern (consultant projects for the industry). His research emphasizes differential equation models and is documented in 34 scientific publications and a patent.
