Representation models ask the question, “how should the study area be described?”. In essence, your answer to this question should manifest as a series of inventory data layers. This is where you ask what data or information is needed to represent this place? In terms of systems jargon, you can think of representation models as identifying all the important parts of your study area system. This first step produces the data that the study shall be built on.
Importantly, it is at this stage when the team defines the extent of the study area, or “defines the affected area of the problem”. Given that we know very little at this point, this is a difficult question to answer. Have confidence that it is an interactive process, and we can return to this step and redefine as necessary. Sometimes it is valuable to broaden the space to include areas just outside the assumed primary area, and refine later when you have more information.