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Integrated modeling in urban hydrology: reviewing the role of monitoring technology in overcoming the issue of ‘big data’ requirements
Author(s) -
Hutchins Michael G.,
McGrane Scott J.,
Miller James D.,
HagenZanker Alex,
Kjeldsen Thomas R.,
Dadson Simon J.,
Rowland Clare S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
wiley interdisciplinary reviews: water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.413
H-Index - 24
ISSN - 2049-1948
DOI - 10.1002/wat2.1177
Subject(s) - computer science , component (thermodynamics) , process (computing) , temporal scales , natural (archaeology) , representation (politics) , identification (biology) , data science , key (lock) , systems engineering , risk analysis (engineering) , engineering , ecology , geography , physics , computer security , archaeology , biology , politics , political science , law , thermodynamics , operating system , medicine
Increasingly, the application of models in urban hydrology has undergone a shift toward integrated structures that recognize the interconnected nature of the urban landscape and both the natural and engineered water cycles. Improvements in computational processing during the past few decades have enabled the application of multiple, connected model structures that link previously disparate systems together, incorporating feedbacks and connections. Many applications of integrated models look to assess the impacts of environmental change on physical dynamics and quality of landscapes. Whilst these integrated structures provide a more robust representation of natural dynamics, they often place considerable data requirements on the user, whereby data are required at contrasting spatial and temporal scales which can often transcend multiple disciplines. Concomitantly, our ability to observe complex, natural phenomena at contrasting scales has improved considerably with the advent of increasingly novel monitoring technologies. This has provided a pathway for reducing model uncertainty and improving our confidence in modeled outputs by implementing suitable monitoring regimes. This commentary assesses how component models of an exemplar integrated model have advanced over the past few decades, with a critical focus on the role of monitoring technologies that have enabled better identification of the key physical process. This reduces the uncertainty of processes at contrasting spatial and temporal scales, through a better characterization of feedbacks which then enhances the utility of integrated model applications. WIREs Water 2017, 4:e1177. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1177 This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Methods