Modular conceptual modelling approach and software for river hydraulic simulations

Numerous applications in river management require computationally efficient models that can accurately emulate the state of a river. This paper presents a reduced complexity modelling approach based on the storage cell concept. Its modular design allows users to combine different model structures depending on the river dynamics and intended use. A semi-automatic software tool (Conceptual Model Developer, CMD) was developed to facilitate model set-up. To prevent instabilities during model simulations, a novel and highly efficient discrete calculation scheme is presented that employs a variable time step. To illustrate the effectiveness of the presented approach, the Marke River in Belgium was conceptualized based on simulation results of a detailed full hydrodynamic model. Results show that the derived conceptual model mimics the detailed model closely, while the calculation time is reduced by more than 2000 times. Finally, several applications are discussed that rely on conceptual models built according to the presented approach.status: publishe