MODELING OF HYDROLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES THROUGH OPENMI AND WEB SERVICES

Abstract

Integrated collaborative modeling has been proven lately to be the most accurate computer methodology that allows modelers to scrutinize the environmental processes using a holistic approach. Due to the dynamic and interdependent nature, such processes involve the interlinking of hydrological, meteorological, environmental, ecosystems and socioeconomical characteristics. In this paper we deal with the development and the integration of a collaborative system of models devoted to the water quantity and quality monitoring, and also to the management of water resources in a watershed. The system is also tailored by a socio-economical study that highlights the impact of the aforementioned management to the local community of the region under study. Models that integrate the collaborative system need to be coupled so that to run simultaneously under the spatial and temporal synchronization condition. To achieve such a simultaneous synchronization, the Open Modeling Interface, (OpenMI) is invoked. The system has been applied and tested to the Lake Karla watershed in Thessaly region, Greece. However due to the loose integration methodology used for its development and to its open ended property, the system can be easily parametrized to offer such an analysis on other similar case studies. An extension to the OpenMI standard provides the remote simultaneous run of models using web services and allowing the development of a cloud repository of models for future use.