New functionalities are continuously being developed for the different modules of the integrated modelling system Delft3D. In 2004 the emphasis was not only on adding new functionality to Delft3D, but also on the improvement of the usability of Delft3D. New functions were made available to all users by implementing research versions into the operational (standard) version of Delft3D.
In 2004 an important issue was the development of a User Interface for the Open Process Library of Delft3D-WAQ. The WAQ processes library is an extensive library with over one hundred substances and over 500 processes that act on these substances. In spite of this, there is a continuous need for further developments, such as for new toxic substances and new ecological processes. Up until now, these new developments were incorporated into new releases of the process library by Delft staff. However, Delft3D-WAQ users would like to expand the library themselves. For example this demand was expressed by many university staff members who would like to allow students to develop their own processes and in this way make a contribution to the knowledge base of the faculty or institute. This so-called 'Open Process Library' which was developed in 2004 and will be released in early 2005, offers just such a functionality.
The 'Open Process Library' is very similar in appearance to the User Interface of the existing process library. The only difference is that at every level (substance groups, substances, processes, variables and fluxes) an additional button 'add/modify' appears which allows the free addition to and/ or modification of the existing processes library. In this way, users can define their own subset of substances and processes and can switch per application. |
