Deliverable D4.1, the Policy Modelling Tool Requirement Analysis and Specification, is now complete.  The report defines the functionalities that will be implemented in the Policy Modelling Tool (PMT), including the application programmer interfaces (APIs) to be provided by its components.  The PMT enables stakeholders of the public to analyse the legal effects alternative policies put forward in policy debates would have in particular cases, real or hypothetical. The Policy Modelling Tool helps stakeholders to form well-founded opinions about the legal effects of policies on cases and to make case-based arguments about the pros and cons of alternative policies which can be contributed to policy debates.

The workflow is as follows: 1) modelling alternative policies; 2) simulating the effects of these policies on cases and, finally, 3) evaluating the simulation results to formulate a position about which policies to prefer. Whereas policy modelling is done by a policy analyst using third party tools such as XML and OWL ontology editors, policies are simulated and evaluated by the public using a custom Rich Internet Application (RIA) to be developed for the PMT. We describe how policy models are developed by analysts using the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and the Legal Knowledge Interchange Format (LKIF), specify the components and APIs of the PMT and explain how these components build upon the framework described in the System Architecture Report (D2.1).

The services provided by the Policy Modelling Tool for simulating and evaluating alternative policies will enable public users to better understand the effects of policies on cases and to more easily formulate informed opinions about the policy issues being deliberated and contribute constructive and rational arguments to policy debates.