Modelling tool capability overview
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.
| 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 research licenses for students can be made available through 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 | Theory manual:
Bailey, A.K. (2015). WRSM2000/Pitman: Water Resources Simulation Model for Windows - Theory Manual (Water Research Commission).
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.
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). |