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VISUAL PLUMES CONCEPTS TO POTENTIALLY ADAPT OR ADOPT IN MODELING PLATFORMS SUCH AS VISJET
Citation:
Frick, W E. VISUAL PLUMES CONCEPTS TO POTENTIALLY ADAPT OR ADOPT IN MODELING PLATFORMS SUCH AS VISJET. Presented at Seminar at University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, December 10, 2002.
Impact/Purpose:
A main objective of this task is to combine empirical and physical mechanisms in a model, known as Visual Beach, that
â— is user-friendly
â— includes point and non-point sources of contamination
â— includes the latest bacterial decay mechanisms
â— incorporates real-time and web-based ambient and atmospheric and aquatic conditions
â— and has a predictive capability of up to three days to help avert potential beach closures.
The suite of predictive capabilities for this software application can enhance the utility of new methodology for analysis of indicator pathogens by identifying times that represent the highest probability of bacterial contamination. Successful use of this model will provide a means to direct timely collection of monitoring samples, strengthening the value of the short turnaround time for sampling. Additionally, in some cases of known point sources of bacteria, such as waste water treatment plant discharges, the model can be applied to help guide operational controls to help prevent resulting beach closures.
Description:
Windows-based programs share many familiar features and components. For example, file dialogue windows are familiar to most Windows-based personal computer users. Such program elements are desirable because the user is already familiar with how they function, obviating the need for extra training. However, other common program elements, while simple and familiar, can detract from the usefulness and ease of use of the program. For example, many programs make excessive use of edit boxes, components that can receive numeric data. Tables often are a better alternative to large numbers of edit boxes. But even tables can present impediments to the user, or enforce repetition that can be annoying. One innovation in Visual Plumes is sparse-array tables used for inputting diffuser and ambient data. The sparse-array tables are designed around the concept of inheritance. In the diffuser table, for example, the first row of the table must have entries in all required columns, but, in the second and subsequent rows (representing additional cases), only values in columns with new values are input. In the absence of a change, Visual Plumes is programmed to assume that the missing variable in question inherits the value of the preceding case. This property of the tables makes it easy to examine a table for content, as constant values need not be unnecessarily repeated, and consequently do not hide significant changes from sight. In the ambient table this principle is extended, allowing special interpolations and extrapolations of data. This seminar examines Visual Plumes innovations in this context. Other innovations are discussed as well, as are perceived deficiencies of implementation. Some comparisons to the VISJET model help illustrate and contrast model features.