Content in the whatIf? Modelling Platform is organized into a hierarchy of modelbases, model families and frameworks:

• A Modelbase can be thought of as a model “library” - a collection of independent model families. [Any other comments on what organizational benefit/function the modelbase provides?]
• A Model family contains the logic and all related scenario and historical data for a particular model. When users refer to 'the model' they are usually referring to a particular model family. [discuss ownership, permissions and any other relevant functionality of the model family level of organization]
• Framework - a model family typically contains two frameworks - one for future simulation and another for historical calibration (though a model family may have only a simulation framework). Simulator and calibrator frameworks in the same model family are strongly connected by cross-framework variable links to maintain structural integrity between the historical and simulation time periods.

Here is an example hierarchy:

• My Models (modelbase)
  • North American Energy Model (model family)
    • simulator (framework)
    • calibrator (framework)
  • Melbourne Land Use Model (model family)
    • simulator (framework)
    • calibrator (framework)
  • Activity Based Costing Model (model family)
    • simulator (framework)