In order to ascertain the resilience of a system it must first be defined and bound. Port Phillip Bay as the focal system will include the water body and the major conurbations around its coast (Figure 5). Continue reading “The Focal System”
Complex system science has arisen through the understanding that components and interactions between them are rarely linear and isolated (Chorley & Kennedy, 1971). Component variations can result in disturbances reverberating across temporal and spatial scales. The outcome of this can be severe system instability or even collapse. Complete knowledge of a system therefore cannot be achieved through studying isolated sections alone. Systems are more than the sum of its parts and thus far societies have proved this by continuing to apply practises that persistently result in degradation.
Interaction between humans and their environment is unavoidable. Every decision and action taken has an environmental consequence. Outcomes range in spatial and temporal significance and can be beyond our immediate environment.
SMIDAN 