This document discusses modelling river-sea systems through the proposed DANUBIUS-RI initiative. It notes that river-sea systems are important due to factors like population concentrations, human activities, and climate change impacts. The DANUBIUS-RI would provide a modelling node to tackle issues in these environments through coordinated modelling efforts across Europe. The modelling node would develop integrated physical, chemical and ecological models to serve researchers and stakeholders, using standardized formats and expertise from various working groups.

1. Debora Bellafiore
CNR-ISMAR

2. Why modelling River-Sea Systems (RSS)
RSS are hot spots from several perspectives:
• The majority of population lives close to water courses → health and security issues
• Several human activities:
• agriculture (use of water),
• dams (energy), sediment supply (deposition/erosion issues, along the river and
on the coast)
• Exposed to extreme events:
• flooding
• storm surges
• drought

3. • Effects of Climate Change are enlarged in
these environments → water supply, SLR
• Modelling can be the tool to tackle these
issues and provide support for
management
Why modelling River-Sea Systems (RSS)

4. data information knowledge impact
Supersites
(living labs)
All over Europe
Hub
Data
Centre
Technology
Transfer
Office
data
The DANUBIUS-RI components

5. General interactions between Nodes
-Process understanding
-Forecasting, gap filling
-Cal-Val procedures
-Model driven methodologies
-Input data for DSS
-DSS modelling tools
-Socio-economic modelling
-Dealing with uncertainties
Observation data

6. AIMS
Build the Architecture and
Governance of the future RI
Shape the RI services
Be ready for the ERIC submission
DANUBIUS-RI
Timeline
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Design phase
DANUBIUS-PP Project
OperationalImplementation phase
Preparatory phase
ESFRI
Roadmap

7. Modelling Node Timeline
December 2016
DANUBIUS-PP
Starts
March 2016 DANUBIUS-RI
in the ESFRI Roadmap
Jun. 2017 1st Modelling
Node meeting - Venice
CONCEPT
Questionnaires on
Models used by the
community
Nov 2017 2nd Modelling
Node meeting Berlin
1st Attempt of
Structure
Work in progress on
Modelling services
2019 DANUBIUS-PP End
Final form of the
Modelling Node
Work in on Modelling
funding model
Feb 2019 3nd Modelling
Node meeting Venice
Services, Benchmarking,
working groups

8. Modelling Node Objectives
⚫ Model as an accurate representation of the physical, chemical
and ecological situation in the supersites
⚫ Model as a laboratory for researchers
⚫ Model as the basis for socio-economic evaluations with
stakeholders
⚫ Model as the basis for regional and local studies

9. The Modelling node
Tools and services
for researchers and
stakeholders
SERVICES
Code optimization
COMPUTING
Modelling Scientific
Agenda
SOFTWARE
COORDINATION

10. Interaction of Modeling Node with Supersites
Models
In situ
EO
Lab
analyses
Supersite 1
In situ
Lab
analyses
Supersite 2
In situ
Supersite 3
• Expert team to advice on
modeling tools for the specific
problem (following standards)
through RI
• Training
• where models are absent,
possible modeling
implementation directly from
the node (RI/Modelling Node
team)
Models
• Advice on standards,
protocols, data formats etc
on following DANUBIUS
commons
Lab
analyses
RI
Models

11. Scientific Vision
Pool of
experts for
software
development
Pool of
experts for
service
development

12. Scientific Vision – Integrated modelling
(physical, chemical, ecological processes)
Fluid mud
Bacteria on particulate matter,
exchange through water-sediment
interface
Extinction of light
Biofilm
Bed roughness
Resuspension,
wave damping
Radiation stress
HydrodynamicsWaves
EcologySediments
Wave damping
Chemistry Biology

13. Towards a Science Plan for DANUBIUS-RI
“Making River-Sea Systems Work”
Overarching issue
Climate Change and Extreme Events
Three major issues related to River-
Sea-System:
• Water Security,
• Sediment Regime
• Ecosystem Structure and
Functioning.

14. We are trying to create a community of
modellers around RS systems
The community is composed by:
• Model developers
• Contributors
• Users
• Possible stakeholders
The Modelling Node Community

15. Integrate Earth Observation Data
(satellite, remote sensing, drones) for
system analysis and data-driven
modelling, allowing also for assimilation
techniques to be developed
Coupling of geographical domains (1D-
2D-3D interfaces)
Combine similar and complementary
models
• Ensembles of models
• Coupling of models: e.g.
Hydrodynamics – morphology –
vegetation – waves
• Exchange of algorithms
Multi resolution techniques allow us to
scale up and down between global,
regional and local models.
Topics of interest linked with
Services Computing
Urban Model
• Runoff
• Hydrodynamics
(pipes, streets,
channels)
• Water Quality
(channels)
• Real Time Control
Catchment Model
• Rainfall Runoff
• Surface water
• Groundwater
• Emissions
River Model
• Hydrodynamics
• Morphodynamics
• Water Quality
• Vegetation
(floodplains)
• Real Time Control
Marine model
• Hydrodynamics
• Morphodynamics
• Waves
• Water Quality
• Ecology

16. Sharing of Good Modeling Practice, software code, scripts, etc.
Guidelines for modularizing scientific sub-models and modules for easy exchange
between models
Protocols and standards (formats) for data and file interchange – creation of a
DANUBIUS specification
Topics of interest linked with
Services Computing

17. Topics of interest linked with
Software Computing
Modelling expert support
Modelling Codes, manuals, updates on line, test cases
Modelling Data, Visualization tools, web interfaces, basic processing
Modelling Standardization and guidelines
Modelling Training, courses, workshops..

18. Topics of interest linked with
Software Services
Cloud Computing: large model simulations (with big data) are made at external
computing facilities.
Large scale, detailed models using HPC centers to carry out simulations
Support for parallelization to make the models make full usage of massive
parallel computers
Constructing models considering massive parallel usage

19. An so what? What is the added value for your
research/activity?
⚫ DANUBIUS model will reach
interoperability level → more
tools for your activities
⚫ The DANUBIUS-RI will provide
a pool of useful data to be
used in your research
⚫ Standardizing approaches for
RSS will give material for
benchmarking and possibility
to test your modeling tools
⚫ Opportunity to interact for
bleeding edge modeling
development (codes,
algorithms)
Work done by the
Modelling
Community through
Research Projects
Modelling Node Services
provided through RI to
researchers
Core Codes and test cases
Expert Support
Visualization tools
Standards
Training
Coordination to focus the
modelling effort and create
critical mass on River-Sea (RS)
modelling topics to facilitate
calls from EU on these
A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE

20. Modeling Node Working Groups
⚫ WG1 Spatially integrated models in RDS systems
⚫ WG2 Interchange formats, standardization of input/output
⚫ WG3 Post processing
⚫ WG4 Water quality and pollution modeling

21. WG1: spatially integrated models in RDS systems
⚫ Coupling various sub-modules to allow the spatially integrated modelling
(Drainage basin – river – delta – open ocean)
⚫ Setting up integrated model applications for river – delta – sea systems
(integrated 1D-2D-3D models for supersites)
⚫ High performance computing for large scale and detailed models

22. WG2: Interchange formats,
standardization of input/output
Standard file format that will be used for all core models: DANUBIUS file format
Easy conversion procedures to convert between native and DANUBIUS file format
(The DANUBIUS file format should be applicable also to other modules that are
included in the core model)
A netcdf standard for unstructured files. (A similar standard exists, but is not widely
used. A web group exists but DANUBIUS could take the lead on this specific aspect
upgrading some system utilities of netcdf (ncview) that would work on unstructured
grids.
DANUBIUS-RI Modelling Node could be the common table were to work on a proposal
for a standard that allows interoperability between unstructured grids
Standardization will involve also groups not part of DANUBIUS-RI to maximize the
benefit of this initiative.

23. Working groups 3 and 4
⚫ WG3 Post processing
⚫ analysis processing, achieve a set of derived
variables for stakeholders. To deal with
techniques and methods to do
postprocessing
⚫ WG4 Water quality and pollution
modelling

24. Future Opportunities
DISSEMINATING AND INCREASING THE COMMUNITY
START PRACTICALLY TO WORK TOGETHER AND PROVE THE MODELLING NODE SERVICES
- Join the discussion in the Working groups!
- Discussion on a possible Pilot implementation as a demonstrator of DANUBIUS capability.
We will start from the modeling node but the idea is, at the end, to be able to provide an
example of an integrated approach, involving also the other nodes (starting from the
observation node).
www.danubius-pp.eu
www.danubius-ri.eu