Assessing the Potential of the Object Modeling System (OMS) for Erosion Prediction Modeling

ABSTRACT. Current challenges in soil erosion research have created demand for integrated, flexible, and easily parameterized sediment transport models. Most of the existing monolithic erosion models (e.g., WEPP and WEPS) are not modular, thus modifications require considerable time, effort, and expense. In this paper, the feasibility and challenges of using the Object Modeling System (OMS) for soil erosion model development will be explored. The OMS is a Java-based modeling framework that facilitates simulation model development, evaluation, and deployment. We present application of a fully restructured and modularized core WEPP hillslope erosion component functioning within the OMS as a single compartmentalized erosion module. In addition, we discuss specific features of the OMS related to soil erosion modeling including: 1) how to reduce duplication of effort in wind and water erosion modeling; 2) how to make soil erosion models easier to build, apply, and evaluate, 3) how to facilitate long-term maintainability of soil erosion models; and 4) how to improve the quality of soil erosion model code and ensure credibility of model implementations.