TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kneis, David
T1  - A lightweight framework for rapid development of object-based hydrological model engines
JF  - Environmental modelling & software with environment data news
N2  - Computer-based simulation models are frequently used in hydrological research and engineering but also in other fields of environmental sciences. New case studies often require existing model concepts to be adapted. Extensions may be necessary due to the peculiarities of the studied natural system or subtleties of anthropogenic control. In other cases, simplifications must be made in response to scarce data, incomplete knowledge, or restrictions set by the spatio-temporal scale of application. This paper introduces an open-source modeling framework called ECHSE designed to cope with the above-mentioned challenges. It provides a lightweight infrastructure for the rapid development of new, reusable simulation tools and, more importantly, the safe modification of existing formulations. ECHSE-based models treat the simulated system as a collection of interacting objects. Although feedbacks are generally supported, the majority of the objects' interactions is expected to be of the feed-forward type. Therefore, the ECHSE software is particularly useful in the context of hydrological catchment modeling. Conversely, it is unsuitable, e.g., for fully hydrodynamic simulations and groundwater flow modeling. The focus of the paper is put on a comprehensible outline of the ECHSE's fundamental concepts and limitations. For the purpose of illustration, a specific, ECHSE-based solution for hydrological catchment modeling is presented which has undergone testing in a number of river basins. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KW  - Modeling framework
KW  - Genetic model
KW  - Hydrology
KW  - ECHSE
Y1  - 2015
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.02.009
SN  - 1364-8152
SN  - 1873-6726
VL  - 68
SP  - 110
EP  - 121
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - Oxford
ER  -