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Title: The geospatial modeling interface (GMI) framework for deploying and assessing environmental models

Author
item Ascough Ii, James
item LIGHTHART, NATHAN - Colorad0 State University
item DAVID, OLAF - Colorad0 State University

Submitted to: Environmental Modeling International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/14/2014
Publication Date: 6/21/2014
Citation: Ascough II, J.C., Lighthart, N.P., David, O. 2014. The geospatial modeling interface (GMI) framework for deploying and assessing environmental models. Environmental Modeling International Conference Proceedings. Available: http://www.iemss.org/sites/iemss2014/papers/iemss2014_submission_350.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: New issues have recently surfaced regarding application of environmental models to a range of spatial scales and the role of geospatial data tools and analytical techniques in decision making. With increased availability of powerful PCs, cloud computing platforms, and web-based GIS tools and access to geospatial data sets, it is quite common to see environmental models originally developed for small-scale, site-specific analyses now being applied to new domains/problems, and, through GIS, to very large areas to examine spatio-temporal variations in environmental impact assessment. This paper provides an overview of the GMI (Geospatial Modeling Interface) simulation framework for environmental model deployment and assessment. GMI currently provides access to multiple environmental models including AgroEcoSystem-Watershed (AgES-W), Nitrate Leaching and Economic Analysis Package (NLEAP) GIS/NT, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and Root Zone Water Quality Model 2 (RZWQM2). GMI data processing and visualization features include but are not limited to: (1) editing and visualization of geospatial model input data; (2) the ability to input measured experimental data for robust statistical model evaluation; and (3) geospatial output visualization across space, time, and modeling scenarios including capabilities for real-time post-processing (e.g., on-the-fly color ramping) and querying. GMI leverages the GeoWind open source GIS platform that integrates Open Geospatial Consortium standards (as implemented in GeoTools) within NASA's World Wind Java SDK. The overall vision of the GMI development effort is the creation of an open geospatial modeling framework that enables the scientific modeling process to be closer to a “real world” experience.

Technical Abstract: Geographical information systems (GIS) software packages have been used for close to three decades as analytical tools in environmental management for geospatial data assembly, processing, storage, and visualization of input data and model output. However, with increasing availability and use of full-featured geospatial data management tools, such as commercial (e.g., ArcGIS and IDRISI) and public domain open source (e.g., GRASS, Quantum GIS, MapWindow) GIS, new issues have surfaced regarding application of environmental models to a range of spatial scales and the role of geospatial data tools and analytical techniques in decision making. With increased availability of powerful PCs, cloud computing platforms, and web-based GIS tools and access to geospatial data sets, it is quite common to see environmental models originally developed for small-scale, site-specific analyses now being applied to new domains/problems, and, through GIS, to very large areas to examine spatio-temporal variations in environmental impact assessment. This paper provides an overview of the GMI (Geospatial Modeling Interface) simulation framework for environmental model deployment and assessment. GMI currently provides access to multiple environmental models including AgroEcoSystem-Watershed (AgES-W), Nitrate Leaching and Economic Analysis Package (NLEAP) GIS/NT, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and Root Zone Water Quality Model 2 (RZWQM2). GMI data processing and visualization features include but are not limited to: (1) editing and visualization of geospatial model input data; (2) the ability to input measured experimental data for robust statistical model evaluation; and (3) geospatial output visualization across space, time, and modeling scenarios including capabilities for real-time post-processing (e.g., on-the-fly color ramping) and querying. GMI leverages the GeoWind open source GIS platform that integrates Open Geospatial Consortium standards (as implemented in GeoTools) within NASA's World Wind Java SDK. The overall vision of the GMI development effort is the creation of an open geospatial modeling framework that enables the scientific modeling process to be closer to a “real world” experience.