"Internet- and Component-Based Modeling System for Lake Water Quality
and Fish Habitat Projections"

Xing Fang (PI), Civil Engineering, Lamar University
Wen-Ran Zhang, Computer Science, Lamar University
Theodore G. Cleveland, Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of Houston
Alan W. Groeger, Aquatic Station, Southwest Texas State University

 Lake water quality and fish habitat projections require complex numerical models that integrate various physical and biochemical processes, e.g. hydrodynamics, air-water surface exchange, and biochemical reactions.  The proposed research is to explore means by which advanced computing technology can facilitate software reuse, data sharing, and decision support within the context of ecosystem management.  This study uses object-oriented programming methodology to redesign models of lake water quality and fish habitat in a component-based modeling system.  The goal is to implement a system in which each component with a distinct function in the aquatic ecosystems can be reused and applied separately without modifications.  A number of components may be integrated to form new, more complex models.  The system will include a graphical user interface, a database, a model component library, and the capability of being accessed by any user via the Internet.  A distributed web-based modeling system must fully utilize advanced information technology to overcome some difficult problems such as bandwidth limitations, proper communication among the components (submodels), parallel computing algorithms, and data sharing.  The modeling system will be designed for three user levels: the general public and both inexperienced and experienced water quality modelers.  The system provides a set of submodels to address water quality and fish habitat projections in lakes.

Keywords:  Component-based models, Client/server technology, Graphic User Interface, Web-based computing,  Lake water quality models.