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Modeling and simulations are important methods in environmental research. Currently, massive simulation resources from different domains have been developed to simulate various dynamic phenomena and processes to address different environmental problems. These heterogeneous simulation resources (e.g., models, data, and servers) can be wasted if they are not shared and reused effectively. Recently, experts may exchange resources and conduct simulations in the open web environment via these shared and distributed services. However, some challenges remain, such as the heterogeneity and reusability of simulation resources. The goal of this study was to analyze typical scenarios involved in simulation tasks and design a set of service-oriented interfaces for different simulation resources. These interfaces, including the model description interface, model encapsulation interface, server management interface and sim-task operation interface, can be used to describe, encapsulate, manage and invoke environmental simulation resources, which can further contribute to resource assembly for environmental simulation tasks. This study evaluated the case of PM2.5 concentration distribution simulation by meteorological data, land cover data and a random forest model in 2014. Using the designed interface, this study conducted the simulation and explored the influence of different interpolation methods (inverse distance weighting (IDW) and kriging) for meteorological data in the random forest-based PM2.5 concentration simulation. For this case, the results show that kriging is a more suitable interpolation method than IDW for meteorological data in the simulation, and this interface design can organize simulation resources, configure tasks, and balance task loads in different servers on the open web., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Geographical simulation is a popular method in geographical and environmental research. Many models developed to address geographic and environmental issues are distributed worldwide. However, due to the lack of portals, these models are still difficult to invoke for geographical simulations in open web environments. This study designs and develops a framework to assemble service-oriented models from volunteers distributed worldwide for geographical simulations on the web. The framework consists of three layers (task layer, data exchange layer, and model execution layer) that establish a network of service-oriented locally shared models and simulation tasks for user configurations. With the help of such a framework, users can configure simulation tasks and invoke suitable models shared worldwide for geographical simulations. This article provides an application of the distributed simulation of gross primary production (GPP) by the Biome-BioGeochemical Cycles (BGC) model in China. This application shows that the framework can be beneficial for model assembly from volunteers' computers and distributed simulation tasks that are run for geographical and environmental issues, which can be applied to Digital Earth initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographical analysis models are widely employed to mirror real phenomena and processes on Earth. The current geographical analysis models can provide prediction and decision support‐oriented information in various domains through analysis and simulation results. However, the complexity of models is increasing due to their continuous development and related research, and the relationships between models are becoming increasingly complicated, which severely hinders the ability to select and use suitable models. To bridge the requirements of model understanding with related abundant information, a data model for geographical analysis models is designed with consideration of their evolution and application processes. In addition to basic metadata (e.g., name, classification, and modeling approach), evolution and application information, which is often neglected in traditional model expression methods, can provide clues about model development histories and usage relationships. Thus, this information will provide scientists with a comprehensive understanding and will form an overall picture of geographic models that can be used for future research. Based on the analysis of the elements related to the evolution and application information, the data model is designed and an information abstraction strategy is proposed. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is employed as a case study to show the capacity of the designed data model to contribute to both sharing of geographical analysis model knowledge and further model analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Geoanalysis models are an abstraction and expression of geographic phenomena and processes which are associated to environmental issues. Such models continue to be created in many different domains, and collaborative modeling and simulation using models in the open web environment is becoming popular for geographic and environmental research. Service-oriented sharing and reusing of distributed geoanalysis models is an important foundation of this type of work. However, service-oriented modeling faces several challenges, especially associated with reusing heterogeneous geo-simulation model resources. This paper builds on research related to creating, managing, and publishing plug-and-play model services, with the aim to design and develop a web-based wrapper system for geoanalysis models that acts as a service loader and manager to publish these models as services to users. Our wrapper system can accomplish functions such as standardizing model preparation workflows, managing model services, and invoking interactive model services, thus bridging the gap between geo-simulation resource contributors and service users. We use the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and the Unstructured Grid Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) as case studies to show that the developed wrapper system can readily and efficiently enable sharing of model resources and can contribute to collaborative modeling and simulation for environment across a network. Highlights • Reusing geo-analysis models as services in the web environment. • Standardizing heterogeneous models by encapsulation. • Managing strategies for kinds of simulation resources. • Providing service users with interfaces for running model services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]