Towards an Alternative Blueprint for a Physically-based Digitally Simulated Hydrologic Response Modelling System

“We always reason correctly when we apply to an object only ideas extracted from its own nature; but, on the contrary, we fall in all kinds of errors in persisting to conclude before knowing, and to know before having examined.....When the object is material and, ignoring the size and form of its elementary parts, as well as the laws that the Author of Nature has prescribed for them, we want nonetheless to foresee the effects, calculate the stresses, direct the actions; then Nature manifests itself independent with respect to us and, always faithful to the law that has been prescribed to it but that we ignore, opposes our conceptions, confounds our prospects, thwarts our efforts......To question Nature, to study the laws she has dictated for herself, to catch her in the fact, to steal her secret, is the only means to dominate her and the true way of every reasonable spirit.” Pierre du Buat, 1786, Principles d’hydraulique, vérifiés par un grand nombre d’expériences faites par ordre du gouvernement. Ouvrage dans lequel on traite du mouvement uniforme et varié dans les Rivières, les Canaux et les Tuyaux de conduite; de l’origine des Fleuves, .... de la résistance des Fluides en générale; & de celle de l’Air & de L’Eau en particulier (quoted in Levi, 1995)