A multi-model approach to analysis of environmental phenomena

A data-driven methodology named Evolutionary Polynomial Regression is introduced. EPR permits the symbolic and multi-purpose modelling of physical phenomena, through the simultaneous solution of a number of models. Multi-purpose modelling or ‘‘multi-modelling’’ enables the user to make a different choice according to what the model is aiming at: (a) the scientific knowledge based on data modelling, (b) on-line and off-line forecasting, (c) data augmentation (i.e. infilling of missing data in time series) and so on. This allows a more robust model selection phase. A case study based on the application of Evolutionary Polynomial Regression to the study of the thermal behaviour of a stream is presented.