Modelling tool user interfaces

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The table below gives a comparison of the user interface for each of the modelling tools. For more detailed descriptions see the sections that follow.

Interface comparison overview

Interface characteristic	WRSM-Pitman	SPATSIM-Pitman	ACRU4	SWAT2012	MIKE-SHE
Graphical user interface (vs code prompt)	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Catchment map display (visualise linkages)	no	yes	no	yes	yes
Model set-up efficiency (ease)
Automated creation of model units & connections from map inputs (vs fully manual creation)	no	no	no	yes	yes
Input & change parameters for model units (e.g., HRUs, grid cells) in batches by type (e.g., cover type, soil type)	(limited)	yes	no	yes	yes
In-built database of suggested parameter values (e.g. for common/generic vegetation types, soil types, etc.)	no	no	yes	yes	no
User can build own parameter databases for use across multiple models	no	(limited)	no	yes	yes
Model set-up transparency (i.e., is it obvious what the model is doing/assuming?)
Interface makes the user interact with every component & parameter entry option during model set-up (vs having default parameter values pre-entered and not forcing user to view them before completing set-up)	yes	yes	yes	no	yes
Tool checks connection errors	(limited)	yes	(limited)	yes	yes
Batch runs & calibration tools
Facility for batch runs, parameter sensitivity analyses, uncertainty analyses & auto-calibration (in-built functions or an associated tool)	no	yes	no	yes	yes
Model run times
Rough estimate of time needed for a 30 year run for a model of a 300km^2 catchment (Note: will depend on model set-up complexity & computing power)	seconds to minutes	seconds to minutes	seconds to minutes	tens of minutes	hours
Accessing model output
Output viewer tool for streamflow	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Output viewer tool for water balance fluxes and stores	(limited)	yes	no	(limited)	yes
All water balance components that are calculated by the model can be exported	no	no	yes	yes	yes
Batch export of water balance fluxes for model's basic spatial units	no	yes	yes	yes	yes
Automated extraction of water balance fluxes for different spatial scales (e.g., by cover class area, by subcatchment, full catchment)	no	no	no	(limited)	yes

Run times

Run times for models built with a given tool can vary considerably with the size and complexity of the set-up, the number of timesteps in the run, and the computer being used. This makes is difficult to generalise, however, due to their relative simplicity WRSM, SPATSIM, and ACRU4 models in these exercises generally ran in a matter of a few minutes for a 30 year run, while the ArcSWAT and MIKE-SHE models could range from 15 minutes to several hours to complete this.

The run times have import particularly for parameter adjustment testing, limiting how much can be done in the time available for a project. However, the tools that have long run times, as well as SPATSIM, have made the parameter adjustment process quick and allow batch run facilities. Once set-up time-consuming testing runs can be ongoing without manual intervention needed from the modeller, freeing their time for other work. Although WRSM and ACRU4 run quickly, the process of making parameter adjustments in the model set-up to be tested takes a long time and a lot of manual effort as described above.