Tools for National Hydrologic Model Application Development Steven Markstrom, Lauren Hay, Shannon Poole, and Christopher Ward-Garrison (U.S. Geological Survey, National Research Program, Lakewood, CO) Abstract Software tools have been developed by the US Geological Survey (USGS) to simplify the development of watershed modeling applications within a National Hydrologic Model structure. These tools include: (1) Geo Data Portal, (2) Lumen, (3) Project Chief, (4) Downsizer, and (5) Luca. The Geo-Data Portal simplifies access to spatial data. Lumen provides visualization and subsetting of existing parameter files. Project Chief streamlines and simplifies the process of setting up the directory structure, input files, and maps required to develop hydrologic modeling applications. The Downsizer is a Graphical User Interface-based application for browsing, acquiring, and formatting time-series data for hydrologic modeling. Luca provides an easy systematic way of building and executing a multiple-objective, stepwise, automated calibration procedure. These tools support coordinated, comprehensive, and consistent hydrologic model development by guiding the user through the model development and application process. Lumen Applications of a National Hydrologic Model Project Chief is a computer application designed to streamline and simplify the process of setting up the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System. The Project Chief uses a GUI wizard to guide the user through the setup from beginning to end; correcting and minimizing errors that occur. Project Chief is designed to be used at any point of the PRMS setup. It can be used at the very start of a PRMS project, guiding the user through the entire process. STATUS: in development; documentation in review As the GDP project progresses, the catalog of data available from the portal will expand to include more climate, weather and geographic data resources. In order to allow processing of very large datasets, GDP project web services perform asynchronously. This allows a user to supply an address and be notified upon process completion. Processing algorithm options such as dataset component of interest, time period of interest and output file formatting must be specified. As the GDP project progresses, other processing algorithms and output formatting options will become available. Datasets available from the initial public release of the portal include historic weather and downscaled climate projections. A user of the GDP interface can supply their area of interest as a pre-existing GIS shape file with one to many unique polygons or by drawing a single polygon using an interactive web-map. A user can select from available GDP project web-service processing algorithms, which include raw data subsetting and area-weighted statistics summarization. The Geo Data Portal (GDP) project provides scientists and environmental resource managers access to downscaled climate projections and other data resources that are otherwise difficult to access and manipulate. This user interface demonstrates an example implementation of the GDP project web- service software and standards-based data integration strategy. STATUS: available at External Data Best available external sources Downsizer Server Remote Method Invocation Service Input Files for Model NWIS Daily streamflow data COOP Daily climate data SNOTEL Daily climate data Data Acquisition Portal Interface Quality Controller Worker Dispatcher Formatter Downsizer Client Data acquisition user interface NWIS: U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System COOP: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cooperative Observer Program SNOTEL: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conversation Service, National Water and Climate Center, Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program STATUS: available at Downsizer is a computer application that selects, downloads, verifies, and formats station-based time- series data for environmental-resource models, particularly the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System. Downsizer implements the client-server software architecture. The client presents a map-based, graphical user interface that is intuitive to modelers; the server provides streamflow and climate time-series data from over 40,000 measurements stations across the United States. Downsizer implements the client-server software architecture (figure on the left). Both the client and server are written in the Java programming language. The Downsizer client presents a map-based, graphical user interface that is intuitive to modelers. The client sends requests for data to the Downsizer server. The server provides access to daily streamflow data values from the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System, and daily minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation data values from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cooperative Observer Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conversation Service, National Water and Climate Center, Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program (SNOTEL). STATUS: in development; documentation in review STATUS: available at In the past, applications of watershed simulation models by USGS personnel have been developed independently and on a project by project basis. Hydrologic simulation models, such as the Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), have been applied to watersheds according Water Science Center project needs, National Research Program research and development, as part of regional water balance simulations for large thrust projects, or for a variety of other reasons. These applications were made with little thought of collaboration or reuse for other purposes, and generally have not been relevant outside of the context in which they were developed. This is because of (1) differing temporal and spatial scales and resolutions, (2) evolving data availability and needs, (3) differing calibration methods and purpose, and (4) internal and external institutional constraints. Complex questions are now being asked of USGS scientists. For example, how to protect the integrity of river ecosystems and flow regimes under conditions of changing climate, evolving landscapes, and ever increasing demand on resources. The hydrologic simulation models and methods required to support this level of decision making must be of the highest scientific integrity, reduce duplication of effort, promote collaboration, and support the USGS streamflow information network. These objectives should be of the highest priority for hydrologic simulation modeling in the USGS. Lumen is a computer application for analyzing a stream network represented within a Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System parameter file. It performs 4 essential functions: (1) constructs the stream network graph; groups segments into rounds; (3) draws a schematic; and (4) generates child parameter files. Lumen requires certain parameters be available within the file in order to perform these functions. Example Application: Using Lumen to Setup Parameter Regionalization Scheme Determine which gages to use for calibration and set parameter poi_type=1 at these locations. Open parameter file in Lumen (Fig. 1). Gray stream segments have no calibration gages downstream. Colored segments indicate segments with a calibration gage downstream. To calibrate parameters associated with gray areas, ‘move’ the influence of the calibration gage downstream (red lines on Fig. 1) by changing poi_type parameters. Figure 2 shows the new lumen configuration. Check out child parameter files for Round 1 (Fig. 3), calibrate, then check in (Fig. 4). Continue until all rounds are processed. Figure 2. Parameter file for regionalization in lumen Figure 3. Options for checking out child parameter files Figure 4. Check in for child parameter files Luca (Let us calibrate) is a wizard-style user-friendly GUI that provides an easy systematic way of building and executing a multiple-objective, stepwise, automated calibration procedure for the Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System. using the Shuffled Complex Evolution global search algorithm. This calibration process assures that intermediate and final states of the model are simulated consistently with measured values. Example : Luca GUI Setup for a 6 Round 7 Step Calibration GUI Screens High Flows Low Flows Screen image of the Project Chief upon startup showing (1) the title bar, (2) the main frame, (3) the preview frame, and (4) the navigation buttons. LIST OF PROJECT CHIEF GUI STEPS 1.Welcome 2.Specify root path for the project 3.Data File Selection 4.List of Errors and Warnings 5.Data file completed 6.Control File Selection 7.Create a new control file 8.Comment the Control File 9.Specify the executable model file 10.Select Depression Storage Model 11.Select Cascade Mode 12.Specify Temperature Distribution module 13.Specify Precipitation Distribution module 14.Specify the Solar Radiation module 15.Specify the Potential Evapotranspiration module 16.Specify the Surface Runoff module 17.Specify the Capillary Reservoir module 18.Specify the Gravity Reservoir module 19.Specify the Streamflow routing module 20.Specify the Transpiration module 21.Specify the PRMS output files 22.Control File completed 23.Parameter File selection 24.Create a new parameter file 25.Comment the Parameter File 26.Specify GIS Weasel data_bin files 27.Run the GIS Weasel 28.Parameter File Completed 29.Finished Check the Data File Check the Control File (if supplied) or makes a new one Check the Parameter File (if supplied) or makes a new one