JAMS – A Framework for Natural Resource Model Development and Application

Current challenges in sustainable management of water resources have created demand for integrated, flexible and easy to use hydrological models which are able to simulate the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the hydrological cycle with a sufficient degree of certainty. Existing models which have been developed to fit these needs are often constrained to specific scales or purposes and thus can not be easily adapted to meet different challenges. As a consequence resulting from this shortage a number of modelling frameworks have been developed, e.g. the ObjectModelling System (OMS). In order to enhance the capabilities of OMS towards special demands from model developerswe created the Jena AdaptableModelling System (JAMS). Built on the basis of OMS, JAMS focuses especially on flexibility during the development of new model components and less on easy integration of existing ones. This paper will present an overview of the JAMS architecture and sketches the model component development with JAMS.