Toward a Common Metadata Framework for Representing Water

Models as Resources
Mohamed M. Morsy, Jonathan L. Goodall, Anthony M. Castronova
Pabitra Dash, Venkatesh Merwade, and Mohammad Adnan Rajib
Research Objectives and Vision

Model Resource Metadata Analysis

Model Program

Objectives

Model Instance

SWAT Model Instance

Develop a core metadata framework for sharing water

models.
Implement this metadata framework in the HydroShare
online collaboration environment.

Vision

Sharing water models and associated datasets with the

broader scientific community.
Combine the HydroShare Model Resources with external
systems like SWATShare tailored for running SWAT
simulations online, but lacks the sharing capabilities of
HydroShare.

dc: Dublin Core Metadata (DCM)

dc: DCM for specific resource
hsterms: HydroShare extended metadata for specific resource

Metadata framework for the hydrologic model concepts consists of new metadata terms in addition to the core ones
defined by the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI). The metadata elements become more complicated as we
move from general resource types (Model Instance) to more specific resource types (SWAT Model Instance).

Model Resources, Concepts and Relationships

HydroShare Implementation

Model Resources are model-related resource types within

HydroShare including Model Program, Model Instance, Model
Component, Model Framework, Linked Model Configuration, Model
Workflow, Model Script, and Model Module.

HydroShare Resources

Model Program

Model Instance

SWAT Model Instance

Model Resources

SWAT Model Instance Metadata

Core Metadata

Model Program is the executable file

containing the models logic (model
engine).

Model Instance Metadata

SWAT Model Instance Metadata

Model Program Metadata

Model Instance is the input (required)

and output (optional) data for a model run
for a specific time and place.

Model Instance Metadata

Model Program Metadata

Model Component is a specific

process that can be coupled with other
Model Components to create a Linked
Model Interface.

Linked Model Configuration is a

linked set of coupled Model Components.

Model Framework is used to execute

Linked Model Configurations.

Dublin Core Metadata Initiative. (2012). Dublin core metadata element set, version 1.1.
Morsy, M.M., J.L. Goodall, C. Bandaragoda, A.M. Castronova, J. Greenberg (2014).Metadata for describing
water models, in Proceedings of the 7th InternationalCongress on Environmental Modelling and Software, San
Diego, CA, June 15-19,http://www.iemss.org/sites/iemss2014/papers/iemss2014_submission_259.pdf.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under
Grant No. ACI-1148453.