SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological models
<p>Catchment-scale hydrological models are widely used to represent and improve our understanding of hydrological processes and to support operational water resource management. Conceptual models, which approximate catchment dynamics using relatively simple storage and routing elements, offer...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2021-11-01
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| Series: | Geoscientific Model Development |
| Online Access: | https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/14/7047/2021/gmd-14-7047-2021.pdf |
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| author | M. Dal Molin M. Dal Molin D. Kavetski D. Kavetski D. Kavetski F. Fenicia |
| author_facet | M. Dal Molin M. Dal Molin D. Kavetski D. Kavetski D. Kavetski F. Fenicia |
| author_sort | M. Dal Molin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Catchment-scale hydrological models are widely used to represent and improve
our understanding of hydrological processes and to support operational water
resource management. Conceptual models, which approximate catchment
dynamics using relatively simple storage and routing elements, offer an
attractive compromise in terms of predictive accuracy, computational
demands, and amenability to interpretation. This paper introduces
SuperflexPy, an open-source Python framework implementing the SUPERFLEX
principles (Fenicia et al., 2011) for building conceptual
hydrological models from generic components, with a high degree of control
over all aspects of model specification. SuperflexPy can be used to build
models of a wide range of spatial complexity, ranging from simple lumped
models (e.g., a reservoir) to spatially distributed configurations (e.g., nested sub-catchments), with the ability to customize all individual model
components. SuperflexPy is a Python package, enabling modelers to exploit
the full potential of the framework without the need for separate software
installations and making it easier to use and interface with existing
Python code for model deployment. This paper presents the general
architecture of SuperflexPy, discusses the software design and
implementation choices, and illustrates its usage to build conceptual models
of varying degrees of complexity. The illustration includes the usage of
existing SuperflexPy model elements, as well as their extension to implement
new functionality. Comprehensive documentation is available online and
provided as a Supplement to this paper. SuperflexPy is available
as open-source code and can be used by the hydrological community to
investigate improved process representations for model comparison and for
operational work.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T02:19:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-93bedaba0275409d8da0df7d51b13fe8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1991-959X 1991-9603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T02:19:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoscientific Model Development |
| spelling | doaj.art-93bedaba0275409d8da0df7d51b13fe82022-12-21T22:07:17ZengCopernicus PublicationsGeoscientific Model Development1991-959X1991-96032021-11-01147047707210.5194/gmd-14-7047-2021SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological modelsM. Dal Molin0M. Dal Molin1D. Kavetski2D. Kavetski3D. Kavetski4F. Fenicia5Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, SwitzerlandCentre of Hydrogeology and Geothermics (CHYN), University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, SwitzerlandEawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, SwitzerlandSchool of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, AustraliaCivil, Surveying and Environmental Engineering, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, AustraliaEawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland<p>Catchment-scale hydrological models are widely used to represent and improve our understanding of hydrological processes and to support operational water resource management. Conceptual models, which approximate catchment dynamics using relatively simple storage and routing elements, offer an attractive compromise in terms of predictive accuracy, computational demands, and amenability to interpretation. This paper introduces SuperflexPy, an open-source Python framework implementing the SUPERFLEX principles (Fenicia et al., 2011) for building conceptual hydrological models from generic components, with a high degree of control over all aspects of model specification. SuperflexPy can be used to build models of a wide range of spatial complexity, ranging from simple lumped models (e.g., a reservoir) to spatially distributed configurations (e.g., nested sub-catchments), with the ability to customize all individual model components. SuperflexPy is a Python package, enabling modelers to exploit the full potential of the framework without the need for separate software installations and making it easier to use and interface with existing Python code for model deployment. This paper presents the general architecture of SuperflexPy, discusses the software design and implementation choices, and illustrates its usage to build conceptual models of varying degrees of complexity. The illustration includes the usage of existing SuperflexPy model elements, as well as their extension to implement new functionality. Comprehensive documentation is available online and provided as a Supplement to this paper. SuperflexPy is available as open-source code and can be used by the hydrological community to investigate improved process representations for model comparison and for operational work.</p>https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/14/7047/2021/gmd-14-7047-2021.pdf |
| spellingShingle | M. Dal Molin M. Dal Molin D. Kavetski D. Kavetski D. Kavetski F. Fenicia SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological models Geoscientific Model Development |
| title | SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological models |
| title_full | SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological models |
| title_fullStr | SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological models |
| title_full_unstemmed | SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological models |
| title_short | SuperflexPy 1.3.0: an open-source Python framework for building, testing, and improving conceptual hydrological models |
| title_sort | superflexpy 1 3 0 an open source python framework for building testing and improving conceptual hydrological models |
| url | https://gmd.copernicus.org/articles/14/7047/2021/gmd-14-7047-2021.pdf |
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