Software Guide
This page provides lists of software & methods that are relevant for ecohydraulics. The first list contains frameworks (aka decision support systems) that guide overall decision-making efforts. They tend to use software modules but may or may not have an outer software container to drive the whole decision-making process. The second list identifies software that directly performs ecohydraulic analysis. The third list identifies relevant numerical models that can be used to provide the inputs needed for the software in the other lists. The fourth list provides an overview of popular pre and post-processing software for numerical models. Software names are listed in alphabetic order, and the interactive tables enable re-ordering. Feedback, updates, and new software for any of these lists are welcome (email or social media, or whatever).
Decision Support Systems
Decision support systems enable augmenting objectivity, facilitate the creation of HSCs or eFlow schedules – and many more.
| Software | Description | Link | License | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DRIFT | A modular decision support system for assessing potential flow management schemes | https://www.drift-eflows.com | Proprietary | Windows |
| FIThydro DSS | Fish-friendly Innovative Technologies for Hydropower (EU Project) | https://www.dss.fithydro.wb.bgu.tum.de | Open access | - |
| IDRAIM | A methodological framework for Hymo Analysis and integrated river management | https://www.isprambiente.gov.it | - | - |
| IFIM | A modular decision support system for assessing potential flow management schemes, see also SEFA | https://apps.dtic.mil | Open access | Any (method) |
Ecohydraulic Analysis
Generate HSCs, calculate HSIs, and many more useful tasks can be accomplished with the following software.
| Software | Description | Link | License | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BORIS | Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software | https://www.boris.unito.it | Open source | X-platform |
| CASiMiR | An advanced simulation system for the study of aquatic habitats. | http://www.casimir-software.de | Proprietary | Windows |
| Eco Evidence | Literature review tool | https://toolkit.ewater.org.au | Open access | |
| EFDC+ | Modeling package for hydrodynamics, sediment transport, chemical fate & transport, and eutrophication. | https://www.eemodelingsystem.com | Proprietary | Windows |
| eWater Toolkit | Water and catchment management utility tools | https://toolkit.ewater.org.au | Open access (part.) | |
| FB4 | Fish Bioenergetics 4.0 | http://fishbioenergetics.org | Free (None) | X-platform (R) |
| FishXing | Aquatic Organism Passage Stream Simulation Design Guide | https://www.fs.usda.gov | Open access | Windows |
| HABBY | HABitat suitaBilitY | https://github.com/YannIrstea/habby | Open source | X-platform (Python) |
| HEC-EFM | Ecosystem Functions Model | https://www.hec.usace.army.mil | Open access | Windows |
| MesoHABSIM | Mesohabitat Simulation Model for instream habitat | https://mesohabsim.org | Not spec. | |
| PHABSIM | Simulate relationships between streamflow and physical habitat | https://www.usgs.gov | Open access | Windows |
| RHYHABSIM | Integrated framwork for multiple analysis, including IFIM | https://www.jowettconsulting.co.nz | Stale? | |
| River Analyst | Survey data analysis and visualization | https://riveranalyst.github.io and https://riveranalyst.ecohydraulics.org | Open source | X-platform (Python) |
| River Architect | Habitat analysis and design | https://riverarchitect.github.io | Open source (BSD 3-Clause) | X-platform (Python) |
| SEFA | Computer Software System for Environmental Flow Analysis Based on the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology | http://sefa.co.nz (discontinued maintenance?) | Stale? |
Numerical models
Researchers and practitioners use a wide range of methods to predict fluvial hydrodynamics and increasingly also morphodynamics. In the 21st century 2d modeling has become the norm in light of the wide and rapidly growing availability of meter-resolution topo-bathymetric datasets and an abundance of ecological and geoscientific mechanisms that are inherently two-dimensional and thus can use 2d model outputs. Additionally, tutorials for numerical modeling, pre-processing, in-depth software guidance, and Python programming for workflow automation can be found at https://hydro-informatics.com.
| Software | Capacities | Link | License | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASEMENT | 1d, 2d, hydro & morphodynamics | https://basement.ethz.ch | Open access | Windows, Linux |
| Delft3D | 1d, 2d, 3d, hydro & morphodynamics, environmental conditions | https://oss.deltares.nl/web/delft3d | Open source (part.) | Multiple |
| EFDC+ | 2d | https://www.eemodelingsystem.com | Proprietary | Windows |
| FLOW-3D | 3d | https://www.flow3d.com | Proprietary | |
| HEC-RAS | 1d, 2d, hydro & morphodynamics | https://www.hec.usace.army.mil | Open access | Windows |
| HYDRO_AS-2D/FS | 2d, hydro & morphodynamics | https://www.hydrotec.de | Proprietary | Windows |
| iRIC | 1d, 2d, hydro & morphodynamics | https://i-ric.org | Open source | Windows |
| MIKE+ | 1d, 2d, hydro & morphodynamics | https://www.mikepoweredbydhi.com | Proprietary | |
| OpenFOAM | 2d, 3d (CFD) | https://www.openfoam.com | Open source | Linux (Windows with WSL) |
| River2D | 2d hydrodynamic | https://www.river2d.ca | Open access | Windows |
| SERGHEI | Simulation EnviRonment for Geomorphology, Hydrodynamics and Ecohydrology in Integrated form (SERGHEI) - a multi-dimensional, multi-domain, and multi-physics model framework for environmental and landscape simulation, intended to simulate water flow and transport across landscape scales. | https://helmholtz.software | Open source | Linux |
| SRH-2D | 2d hydrodynamic | Link stale | Open access | Windows |
| SSIIM | 3d hydro & morphodynamics | https://folk.ntnu.no/nilsol/ssiim | Open access | Windows, Linux |
| STAR-CCM+ CFD | 3d | https://plm.sw.siemens.com | Proprietary | |
| TELEMAC | 1d, 2d, 3d, hydro & morphodynamics, environmental conditions | https://opentelemac.org | Open source | Windows, Linux |
| TUFLOW | 2d hydrodynamic, strong GPU acceleration | https://www.tuflow.com | Proprietary | Windows |
Pre- and Post-Processors
The generation of numerical meshes and (geospatial) analysis of numerical models and ecohydraulic assessments is facilitated by the following software for pre-processing and post-processing.
| Software | Description | Link | License | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QGIS | Almost almighty GIS platform with plugins for most open-source and open-access software | https://www.qgis.org | Free (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license CC BY-SA) | Multiple |
| SALOME | 3d meshing | https://www.salome-platform.org | Open access | Windows, Linux |
| SMS | Surface-water Modeling System, compatible with SRH, RiverFlow2D, TUFLOW, HydroAS, and others | https://www.aquaveo.com | Proprietary | Windows |