A UML-based structural study of irrigation-scheduling and water-balance models

Many water-balance and irrigation scheduling models have been developed as research and/or management tools. These models continue to be modified or re-used by other research groups. A method of documenting these models, using the Unified Modeling Language (UML) is presented. This method simplifies documentation of model requirements, assumptions and calculations and provides a template for implementing the model in a programming language. Using the template can simplify the processes of code reuse and model modification.