Hydrological Decision Support Framework (HDSF) - Initial design

A Hydrological Decision Support Framework (HDSF) is being developed within a Water Research Commission (WRC) - funded project. The HDSF is intended as an integrated modelling tool for use by water resource managers and catchment management agencies (CMAs) in assessing and managing water resources. The HDSF will facilitate linking and running models within a common graphical user interface containing appropriate geographic information system and data analysis tools linked to a common database designed to store spatial and temporal data. Selected hydrological modelling framework applications and modelling framework development tools were reviewed. A framework for linking models was also reviewed. As a consequence of these reviews, it was apparent that no single currently available system could provide all the requirements for the HDSF. One of the modelling framework applications reviewed which met many of the requirements was selected and will be further developed. The initial design of the HDSF is presented in this document.