WMS:Overview of Datasets

WMS was designed as a general purpose watershed modeling system. One of the main purposes of WMS is to provide a consistent interface for a variety of models and grid types. In order to accomplish this goal, input data for models and solution data (other than those models defined using topological trees) are handled in a simple, consistent fashion using data sets. They are accessed and managed using the Project Explorer as shown in the figure below:

A data set is a set of values associated with each grid cell, or scatter point. A data set can be steady state (one value per item) or transient (one value per item per time step). The following objects in WMS each have a scalar data set list:

• TINs (elevations and solutions for flood plain delineation)

• 2D Grids (solutions for the GSSHA model)

• 2D Scatter Point Sets (could be a variety of things, but are used in WMS for storing hydraulic modeling water surface elevations that are used to delineate flood plains)

The commands for manipulating data sets are located in the Data menu of the respective modules, and as part of the Project Explorer where datasets are listed separately, or as part of solution folders.

Data sets are used for both pre- and post-processing of models. For example, a scalar data set associated with a 2D grid can represent starting values of surface depth or values of hydraulic conductivity for a runoff modeling problem. Another data set associated with the same grid may represent computed depth values. All data sets can be used to generate contours, color fringes, and animation sequences.

Related Topics

• Solutions
• File I/O
• Data Sets
• Dataset Zonal Classification