Difference between revisions of "Modelling tool capability overview"

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| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: top" |''<small>(None documented for system as whole, only for certain process options within it.)</small>''
 
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: top" |''<small>(None documented for system as whole, only for certain process options within it.)</small>''
 
|-
 
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| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''Intended applications'''
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''Intended applications:'''
 
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
 
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
 
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| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
 
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Water balance estimation'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Design hydrology (flood peaks)'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |''no''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |''no''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Supply planning (general)'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Reservoir yield'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Irrigation planning'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |''no''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Groundwater recharge'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''GW-SW interactions & GW pumping impacts'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |''no''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Land  cover change impacts'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|-
 
|-
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |
+
| style="vertical-align: vertical-align: center;" |'''''Climate  change impacts'''''
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF5FA; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFF7F5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #FFFFF5; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |
+
| style="background: #F5FCFF; vertical-align: center; text-align:center;" |'''yes'''
 
|}
 
|}

Revision as of 13:38, 4 June 2021

A set of commonly used modelling tools in South Africa was reviewed for the WRC “Critical catchment model inter-comparison and model use guidance development” project. This set included major tools developed in South Africa: ACRU and the Pitman model-based tools, WRSM-Pitman and SPATSIM-Pitman. It also included two tools that were developed in the northern hemisphere, but have been used in South Africa and globally: SWAT and MIKE-SHE. Locally developed tools can have certain advantages from being designed with the South African context in mind, both in terms of local data availability and in terms of local climate characteristics, ecosystems, soils, geologic types, and land and water management practices (e.g. landscapes with many small farm dams). SWAT and MIKE-SHE have resourced development teams behind them that continually update the tools and adapt them to make use of developing globally available data sources, such as remotely sensed data, and generally improved access to greater computing power. This suite of tools covers a diversity of model structure and algorithm type options, but users should be aware there are many many tools available (see more examples)

The tables below summarise basic information about the tools in this set:

  • tool background & versions covered here
  • intended uses of the tool & development focuses
  • broad model structural characteristics across tools
  • overview of modelling capabilities across tools


These tables provide an overview. More detailed information about the structural options and capabilities of the tools is given across the other inter-comparison pages.

Modelling software tools: background & version covered
Characteristic WRSM-Pitman SPATSIM-Pitman ACRU SWAT MIKE-SHE
Developed in South Africa yes yes yes no no
Current curator / developer Bailey & Pitman Water Resources Ltd Rhodes University, Institute of Water Resources (IWR) University of KwaZulu Natal, Centre for Water Resources Research (UKZN-CWRR) Texas A&M University & US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Danish Hydrologic Institute (DHI)
Free to access yes yes yes yes no*

free student licenses & free/reduced research licenses by arrangement

Version reviewed in wiki WRSM-Pitman version 2.9 SPATSIM GWv3 Global Options Threaded model ACRU 4 SWAT & ArcSWAT 2012 MIKE-SHE & MIKE Hydro River, version 2019 & 2020
Reference documents consulted

(see documentation links page)

Theory manual:

Bailey, A.K. (2015). WRSM2000/Pitman: Water Resources Simulation Model for Windows - Theory Manual (Water Research Commission).

User manual:

Bailey, A.K., and Pitman, W.V. (2016). WRSM/Pitman User’s Manual: WR2012 Volume 7 (Water Research Commission).

Theory documentation:

Hughes, D.A. (2004). Incorporating groundwater recharge and discharge functions into an existing monthly rainfall–runoff model. Hydrological Sciences Journal 49.

Hughes, D.A. (2013). A review of 40 years of hydrological science and practice in southern Africa using the Pitman rainfall-runoff model. Journal of Hydrology 501, 111–124.

Kapangaziwiri, E. (2007). Revised parameter estimation methods for the Pitman monthly rainfall-runoff model. MSc. Rhodes University.

User manual:

Hughes, D.A. (2019). SPATSIM v3 & IWR version of the Pitman model (IWR Rhodes University).

Theory manual:

Schulze, R.E. (1995). Hydrology and Agrohydrology: A Text to Accompany the ACRU 3.00 Agrohydrological Modelling System (Water Research Commission).

User manuals:

Clark, D.J., Smithers, J.C., Thornton-Dibb, S.L.C., and Lutchminarian, A. (2012). ACRU 4 User Manual: User Interface & Tutorials (Volume 3 of Deployment, Maintenance, & Further Development of SPATSIM-HDSF)

Schulze, R.E., and Davis, N.S. (2018). Practitioners’ Handbook for Undertaking Current and Projected Future Climate Related Risk and Vulnerability Modelling Assessments (an update of the ACRU user manual) (Schulze and Associates).

Theory manual:

Neitsch, S.L., Arnold, J.G., Kiniry, J.R., and Williams, J.R. (2011). Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) Theoretical Documentation, Version 2009 (Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M University).

User manuals:

Winchell, M., Srinivasan, R., Di Luzio, J., and Arnold, J. (2013). ArcSWAT Interface for SWAT2012: User’s Guide (Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M University).

Arnold, J.G., Kiniry, J.R., Srinivasan, R., Williams, J.R., Haney, E.B., and Neitsch, S.L. (2012). Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) - Input/Output Documentation, Version 2012 (Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M University).

Theory manuals:

DHI (2019). MIKE SHE Manual, Volume 2: Reference Guide, MIKE 2019 (Danish Hydrologic Institute).

DHI (2019). MIKE 1D: DHI Simulaton Engine for 1D river and urban modelling - Reference Manual, MIKE 2019 (Danish Hydrologic Institute).

User manuals:

DHI (2019). MIKE SHE Manual, Volume 1: User Guide, MIKE 2019 (Danish Hydrologic Institute).

DHI (2019). MIKE Hydro River: User Guide, MIKE 2019 (Danish Hydrologic Institute).


Basic model structures by tool
Characteristic WRSM-Pitman SPATSIM-Pitman ACRU4 SWAT MIKE-SHE
Intended scale of catchment or modelled area Local to regional:

no suggested min-max model size

Local to regional:

10-10,000’s of km2 

more typical: 100-1,000’s km2

Field to regional:

no suggested min-max model size

Field to regional:

no suggested min-max model size

Field to regional:

no suggested min-max model size

Timestep Monthly*


A daily version has been developed. Limited use to-date.

Monthly*


A daily version has been developed. Limited use to-date

Daily Daily, subdaily


Daily, subdaily*


Calculation timesteps are dynamic and vary by process. All outputs saved for the same use-selected step.

Spatial discretisation (model spatial units) Modules connected by routes


(“runoff” modules + special area modules + channel modules create subcatchments)


Subcatchments + limited internal sub-area types HRUs within subcatchments HRUs within subcatchments Grid cells (3D),

with optional calculation simplifications: surface flow modelled for zones, interflow & groundwater modelled for storage reservoirs within subcatchments.

Suggested model unit scales Runoff module:  < 1,000 km2 (none listed) Subcatchments: 5-50 km2

HRUs:  < 30km2

(none listed) (none listed)


Tool intended uses & development focuses summary
Characteristic WRSM-Pitman SPATSIM-Pitman ACRU SWAT MIKE-SHE
Specific tool development focuses
  • Flexible network for managed systems with transfers,
  • Irrigated area representation
  • IAP & plantation forestry water use
  • Groundwater-surface water interaction (vegetation & GW pumping impacts)
  • Parsimony,
  • Uncertainty assessment & stochastic modelling,
  • Groundwater-surface water interaction (vegetation & GW pumping impacts)
  • Detailed land cover type representation,
  • Crop & irrigation detail,
  • IAP & plantation forestry water use, including deep rooted vegetation in riparian areas
  • Detailed land cover type representation,
  • Crop & irrigation detail,
  • Coupling to GIS tools
  • Spatial discretisation & distribution (climate, land cover, soil, geology, etc), fine scale processes,
  • Groundwater-surface water interaction,
  • Coupled hydraulic channel model & flooding processes
Application limitations
  • Monthly model: not applicable for peak flow, flood assessment, design hydrology
  • No irrigation direct from groundwater
  • Monthly model: not applicable for peak flow, flood assessment, design hydrology
  • No irrigation direct from groundwater
  • Highly simplified groundwater modelling;
  • Does not model groundwater pumping
  • Highly simplified deep groundwater modelling
(None documented for system as whole, only for certain process options within it.)
Intended applications:
Water balance estimation yes yes yes yes yes
Design hydrology (flood peaks) no no yes yes yes
Supply planning (general) yes yes yes yes yes
Reservoir yield yes yes yes yes yes
Irrigation planning yes no yes yes yes
Groundwater recharge yes yes yes yes yes
GW-SW interactions & GW pumping impacts yes yes no yes yes
Land cover change impacts yes yes yes yes yes
Climate change impacts yes yes yes yes yes