Efficient data access for Open Modeling Interface (OpenMI) components

Data management can be a challenging task when employing linked (or coupled) simulation models that execute independently and cooperate to collectively carry out a simulation. In the case of models that are software components with well-defined input/output interfaces, data access can be simplified by linking general-purpose data components to model components. An interdisciplinary team of engineers and scientists at Kansas State University are integrating crop, hydrological, and economic models toward developing a comprehensive understanding of agricultural systems (NSF grant GEO0909515). These multidisciplinary models are linked together using the Open Modeling Interface (OpenMI) which defines a standard way for software components to exchange data with each other and coordinate their execution. In this work we present the design of a general-purpose Data Provider Component (DPC) that is capable of delivering data from online sources to OpenMI components