Every new day brings with it fresh evidence of the environmental assault on our planet arising from increased pressures on our natural resources and the need for new measures to mitigate and adapt to these pressures. Climate science, for example, has shown the strong linkage between steadily increasing CO2 levels, global warming and the increased incidence of extreme events. Competition for surface and groundwaters is intensifying with effects on water quality and dependent ecosystems. Our planet and the environment in which we live is becoming more complex and uncertainties about how to manage are pervasive. These challenges call for deeper understanding and representation of the interconnectedness of our environmental resources and the ecosystem services they provide. It also calls for new paradigms and bolder visions in the tools we use to guide our decisions and how we engage interest groups and the wider community to promote trust, and integrate and share our knowledge. With these evident challenges how can researchers, engineers and scientists become more effective in the work that they do and improve the design and effective application of the decision tools that we need to synthesize and analyze the various data that these tools require? These are exciting times for innovation in both information and social media technologies - how do we capitalize on this innovation and incorporate it in our day-to-day work? The year 2014 heralds our return to the US for our 8th International Congress and San Diego, a recognized national incubator of biotechnology and one of the most sought-after places to live on the planet with its stunning beaches, access to the high desert and home to world-famous research institutes and institutions of higher learning. There is something for everyone in this effervescent city and we are confident you will leave with happy memories of your time here. As always, the aim of the meeting is to foster discussion and the interchange of challenges, solutions, ideas, new methods and techniques, in environmental modelling and software. To this end we will continue some of the innovations of iEMSs 2012 in our commitment to young professionals and conduct the meeting in an environmentally friendly manner to the extent possible. California is acknowledged as an environmental and clean energy innovator in the US and it is fitting that a conference devoted to improving the management of planetary environmental resources should set a good example.