SMS:ADCIRC Graphical Interface

The ADCIRC graphical interface includes tools to assist with creating, editing and debugging an ADCIRC model.

ADCIRC Simulation

Example of an ADCIRC simulation in the Project Explorer

Simulations are available for ADCIRC starting in SMS 13.0. A simulation should contain a 2D mesh and an ADCIRC boundary conditions coverage, and optional ADCIRC coverages. Right-clicking on the simulation will display options and dialogs.

To create a new simulation:

1. Right-click on empty space in the Project Explorer and select New Simulation | ADCIRC. A new tree item will appear.
2. Drag and drop simulation components under the newly created simulation tree item . Components available include:
   • 2D mesh
   • Boundary Conditions coverage
   • Recording Stations coverage
   • Wind Stations coverage

Multiple ADCIRC simulations can be included in a single project.

Simulation Components

An ADCIRC simulation uses the following components in the model run:

• 2D mesh – Any generic 2D mesh will work. Generally this mesh should be created from the Mesh Generation coverage.
• Boundary Conditions coverage – Contains arcs defining the boundary condition attributes for the model run.
• Recording Stations coverage – Allows creating recording stations at specified nodal locations.
• Wind Stations coverage –
• Tidal forcing component

Each component can be added to the simulation by selecting the component and dragging it under the simulation item in the Project Explorer. Linked 2D mesh and coverages will be displayed under the simulation.

Tidal Components

The ADCIRC Tidal Constituents dialog

Tidal constituents are defined as a simulation that is applied to an ADCIRC simulation. A tidal component created by doing the following:

1. In the Project Explorer, right-click in an empty space and select New Simulation | Tidal Constituents.

A new " Tidal Constituents" simulation will appear in the Project Explorer. This component can be renamed if desired.

Tidal constituents attributes are defined in the Tidal Constituents dialog. To access this dialog:

1. In the Project Explorer, right-click on the tidal constituents component and select Edit Constituents.

The Tidal Constituents dialog has the following options:

• Source – Select a source database to use. Options include:
  • "ADCIRC2015"
  • "LeProvost"
  • "FES2014"
  • "TPX09"
  • "TPX09"
  • "User Defined"
• Reference Time – Enter a start time for the tidal constituents.
• Constituents – Contains a list of available constituents. The list varies depending on the selected source.
  • Select All – Checks on all constituents in the list.
  • Clear All – Checks off all constituents in the list.
  • Select Minor – Checks on the minor tidal constituent group.
  • Select Major – Checks on the major tidal constituent group.

After the tidal constituents have been defined in the simulation, the tidal simulation needs to be applied to the ADCIRC simulation. Do this by right-clicking and using the Apply To submenu commands.

Linking Components

After a simulation has been created, components may be added to the simulation. Components are usually added by clicking on the component item in the Project Explorer and dragging the item under the ADCIRC simulation. A link ( or ) is then created between the component and the simulation.

Components can also be added to a simulation by right-clicking on the component in the project explorer and selecting the simulation name in the Apply To submenu. The Apply To submenu becomes available once a simulation has been created.

Components can be removed by right-clicking on the component link under the simulation and select Remove.

If a component is updated, it must be reapplied to the simulation.

Running the ADCIRC Simulation

After all components have been added to the simulation and the model parameters have been established, the simulation can be run. This is done by right-clicking on the simulation and choosing the Run Simulation command or the Save and Run Simulation command.

The simulation run involves three steps.

1. Exporting the ADCIRC files – SMS writes out an ADCIRC folder in the same directory where the SMS project is saved. The ADCIRC folder has several files which have mesh geometry information, and boundary conditions as well as model control information defined in the model.
2. Running ADCIRC – After using a launch command, the Simulation Run Queue dialog will appear. If there are any errors in the model run, the model wrapper will exit early. The model run can also be exited early by clicking the Abort button. When the model run is completed, select Exit to close the model wrapper.

The Load solution button appears with the model run has finished. Clicking this button will load the solution into SMS.

ADCIRC Menus

ADCIRC makes use of a number of right-click menus found on the ADCIRC simulation items and coverages in the Project Explorer. See ADCIRC Menu for more information.

ADCIRC Map Coverages

ADCIRC makes use of map coverage to define certain features and components for the ADCIRC model run. Available coverage types include:

• Boundary Condition
• Recording Stations
• Wind Stations

Boundary Conditions

All numeric models require boundary condition data. The ADCIRC boundary condition coverage is used to apply boundary condition data to the simulation.

Model Control

The ADCIRC Model Control dialog is used to setup the options that apply to the simulation as a whole. These options include time controls, run types, output options, global parameters, print options and other global settings.

Related Topics

• Boundary Types
• Boundary Conditions – tidal forcing
• Coverage
• Linear Truncation Error Analysis (LTEA)
• Meshes
• Model Control
• Spatial Attributes
• Steering