Primer

This model primer introduces common numerical models currently used in water and natural resources management. Contemporary development challenges of population growth, urban expansion, economic growth to reduce poverty, and climate change, are placing increasing pressure on water resource managers to more effectively control and allocate water usage across municipal, industrial, agriculture and environmental sectors. Water resource managers are responsible for balancing the multiple and often conflicting priorities of various stakeholders. While previously water management decisions only prioritized maximizing net economic benefits, today’s management decisions take into account other factors, such as environmental and ecological impacts. For example, current water management decisions may consider impacts to water quality, impacts associated with the quantity of water withdrawn, or the potential impacts on the environment from land use changes.. Due to the complexities inherent in hydrologic cycles, and the interaction of the hydrologic cycle with socioeconomic and ecological systems in a basin, water resource managers frequently rely on numerical models to understand risks, develop alternative scenarios, and to implement water and natural resource management plans. Numerical models are used to understand the hydrologic/environmental/ecological system, organize data, predict future conditions, and communicate information. Models therefore serve as powerful tools in managing water and natural resources.

Objective

The model primer seeks to improve awareness about the types of models in use for water and natural resource planning, and to illustrate how they are used. In doing so, the model primer will guide a general audience in identifying and selecting the most appropriate model for the particular water and/or natural resource management question under consideration. The primer offers a basic review of a number of different models used in water and natural resource planning using pertinent data obtained from user manuals, technical documents, and journal articles. The types of models reviewed are summarized in the following section. The primer is a “live” document that can be updated to include additional models and functionalities as well as illustrative cases studies from World Bank-financed activities. Although the primer provides general guidance on models commonly used for a particular water and/or natural resource issue, the final decision on which model to use should be based on data availability and the specific intentions of the developer of the software.

Types of Models Considered

The initial types of models considered in the primer include:

Disaster Risk Management: Estimating damages from flood events.
Groundwater: Simulating groundwater flow or constituent through an aquifer.
Environment: Multipurpose models that model erosion within a watershed, ecosystem responses to changes in flow regimes, and/or offer natural capital accounting
Hydraulics/Hydrodynamics: Simulating surface water flows in riverine systems, lakes and reservoirs.
Reservoir Modeling/Optimization: Simulating dams/reservoir operations, possibly including optimization.
Statistical Hydrology: Statistical methods for solving hydrologic problems.
Urban Water: Simulating storm drain, sewer, or water distribution systems.
Global Circulation Models
Other: Models that do not fit in the above categories.

Information Provided for Each Model

The primer provides a short 2-page summary of each model that includes the following information:

Name: Name of the model.
Quick Synopsis: Brief description of the model, the model’s developer, key features, OS platform and cost.
Description: Brief description of the model’s purpose, capabilities, and potential applications.
Input Data, Process, Output Data: Data required to operate the model.
Advantages and Limitations: Pros and cons of the software.
Illustrative Screens: Example of an input or output using the model.
Similar or Related Software: Other software that performs the same goal.
Additional Links: Hyperlinks to the model website and/or additional documentation.
Examples: Hyperlinks to illustrative uses of the model, especially in World Bank-financed activities where available.

Future Plans

Moving forward, the following activities are planned:

Review of draft primer by relevant World Bank specialists.
Illustrative case studies (using World Bank Projects) written in concert with Task Team Leaders.
Adding additional models to the primer.
Production of a live doc/e-book.
Trainings.

Limitations

While the primer includes many models, the list is neither complete nor exhaustive. In addition, the authors have exercised reasonable skill, care and diligence in evaluating and explaining each model, but do not guarantee full accuracy and completeness.