Argument-based assessment of predictive uncertainty of data-driven environmental models

• Published in: Environmental modelling & software : with environment data news Vol. 134; p. 104754
• Main Authors: Knüsel, Benedikt, Baumberger, Christoph, Zumwald, Marius, Bresch, David N., Knutti, Reto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Argument analysis; case studies; computer software; Data-driven models; Decision making; Environment models; Environmental modeling; Environmental science; Learning algorithms; Machine learning; Predictions; Uncertainty; Decision-making; Data-driven models; Uncertainty; Argument analysis; Predictions
• ISSN: 1364-8152; 1873-6726; 1873-6726
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2020.104754

Increasing volumes of data allow environmental scientists to use machine learning to construct data-driven models of phenomena. These models can provide decision-relevant predictions, but confident decision-making requires that the involved uncertainties are understood. We argue that existing frameworks for characterizing uncertainties are not appropriate for data-driven models because of their focus on distinct locations of uncertainty. We propose a framework for uncertainty assessment that uses argument analysis to assess the justification of the assumption that the model is fit for the predictive purpose at hand. Its flexibility makes the framework applicable to data-driven models. The framework is illustrated using a case study from environmental science. We show that data-driven models can be subject to substantial second-order uncertainty, i.e., uncertainty in the assessment of the predictive uncertainty, because they are often applied to ill-understood problems. We close by discussing the implications of the predictive uncertainties of data-driven models for decision-making. •Discusses the predictive uncertainty of data-driven environmental models.•Shows that existing frameworks are not informative for this task.•Introduces a new framework based on argument analysis.•Illustrates how to apply the framework to a case study from environmental science.