An Interactive MATLAB Application for Simple Population Models
Department of Mathematical Sciences,
1 view · Published November 1, 2026
About the Project
A population model is a mathematical representation of how a population changes over time using parameters such as initial population and growth rate. In real-world applications, population modelling is important for understanding population dynamics, predicting future changes, supporting environmental management, and promoting wildlife conservation and sustainable development. However, understanding population dynamics through mathematical models can be challenging without an interactive tool to visualise population changes and explore the effects of different parameters. Therefore, this project aims to develop an interactive MATLAB application that integrates three population models into a single graphical user interface (GUI), allowing users to visualise population growth, predict population size at a given time, and estimate the time required to reach a specified population. The novelty of this innovation lies in its structured GUI layout, which integrates three population models into a single interface, while its inventiveness is demonstrated through the interactive functions for plotting population models, predicting population size, and estimating the time required to reach a specified population. The innovation promotes accessible and practical STEM education through interactive mathematical modelling and real-world applications, while encouraging collaboration among academicians, programmers, computer scientists, and industry practitioners. It also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Its commercial potential includes supporting educational tourism and environmental awareness among tourism companies, providing interactive teaching and learning resources for higher education institutions, and introducing population modelling concepts to wildlife conservation organizations for population monitoring and conservation planning. In conclusion, the innovation demonstrates how mathematics can be applied to understand real-world population dynamics through interactive modelling, while promoting accessible STEM education and supporting sustainable development.