Deploying environmental software using the Tarsier modelling framework

SUMMARY: The Tarsier modelling framework is a modular collection of Windows software that enables fast development and deployment of a wide variety of environmental computing tools. These tools include simulation models, data storage and analysis tools, and visualization systems. The system supports many structures for the organization of quantitative environmental information, including: gridded maps, networks, time series, and simple lists of geographic locations. Upon these are built analytical tools covering topics such as interpolation, statistics, sampling, and data transformation. At the top level are modules that implement a variety of simulation models, from cellular automata to stream pollutant routing models to large-scale spatial catchment hydrology models. Tarsier was developed with the aim that a user can quickly learn to connect modules together in arbitrary ways to form their own customized analytical, visualization, and modelling systems. Further, it is intended that developers can quickly learn to develop their own fully functional modules that become seamlessly integrated with the existing functionality provided within the framework. One of the test beds of this approach is the south east Queensland (SEQ) Environmental Management Support System (EMSS) being developed at the Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology (CRCCH). This system implements the stream networks of SEQ as the backbone of a modelling and visualization system intended to facilitate the management of water quality in the region. The region is divided into catchments, represented by a selection of catchment models of varying levels of detail. A stream model receives inflows from the catchment models and routes pollutants down toward the ocean. Reservoir models intercept these flows at certain points. The complete integrated system is visualised during simulation using a variety of additional, independent modules. We describe the SEQ EMSS operating within the Tarsier modelling framework.