Skip to main content

Mathematical Models in Sustainable Development

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Environment and Sustainable Development

Abstract

Mathematical modeling plays useful roles towards sustainable development in arriving at the understanding, prediction and control of developmental processes. For long term prediction ordinary differential equation models are used. We have described exponential and logistic equation models as used in studies of growth of population, water quality, fishery and economy. Equilibrium solutions and their stability have been illustrated. For controlling developmental process, the relevant utility function is maximized with the equation of growth as constraint. This methodology is illustrated from an example of economic growth model. It is concluded that for sustainable development, it is necessary to build comprehensive mathematical models of human-environmental systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Beltrami E (1987) Mathematics for dynamic modeling. Academic, Boston, p 277

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapra S (1975) Comment on ‘An empirical method of estimating the retention of phosphorus in lakes’ by W.B. Kirchner and P.J. Dillon. Water Resour Res 11:1033–1034

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta P (2008) Mathematics and economic reasoning. In: Gowers WT, Barrow-Green J (eds) The Princeton companion to mathematics. Princeton University Press, Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Gershenfield N (1999) The nature of mathematical modeling. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, p 344

    Google Scholar 

  • Kapur JN (1985) Mathematical models in biology and medicine. Affiliated East–West Press, New Delhi, p 520

    Google Scholar 

  • May RM (1976) Simple mathematical models with very complicated dynamics. Nature (Lond) 261: 459–467

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meerschaert MM (2007) Mathematical modeling. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 335

    Google Scholar 

  • Modis T (2012) Long-Term GDP forecasts and the prospects for growth. http://www.growth-dynamics.com/articles/GDP_long_term_TFSC.pdf

  • Schaefer MB (1954) Some aspects of the dynamics of populations, important for the management of the commercial marine fisheries. Inter Am Trop Tuna Comm Bull 1:27–56

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The author is grateful to the Indian National Science Academy for award of a INSA Senior Scientist scheme. He is also grateful to the Director of CSIR-NGRI for his kind support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. N. Singh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer India

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Singh, R.N. (2014). Mathematical Models in Sustainable Development. In: Fulekar, M., Pathak, B., Kale, R. (eds) Environment and Sustainable Development. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1166-2_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics