The AgESGUI Geospatial Simulation System for Environmental Model Application and Evaluation

Practical decision making in spatially-distributed environmental assessment and management is increasingly being based on environmental process-based models linked to geographical information systems (GIS). Furthermore, powerful computers and Internet-accessible assessment tools are providing much greater public access to, and use of, environmental models and geospatial data. This paper provides an overview of the AgESGUI (AgroEcoSystem Graphical User Interface) geospatial simulation system for environmental model application and evaluation. AgESGUI currently provides access to four environmental models: (1) AgroEcoSystem-Watershed (AgES-W), (2) Nitrate Leaching and Economic Analysis Package (NLEAP) GIS/NT, (3) Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS), and (4) Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). AgESGUI data processing and visualization features include: (1) editing and visualization of geospatial model input data; (2) the ability to input measured experimental data for robust statistical model evaluation; and (3) geospatial output visualization across space, time, and modeling scenarios including capabilities for real-time post-processing (e.g., on-the-fly color ramping) and querying. AgESGUI leverages the GeoWind open source GIS platform that integrates Open Geospatial Consortium standards (as implemented in GeoTools) within NASA's World Wind Java SDK. The overall vision of the AgESGUI development effort is the creation of an open geospatial modeling system that enables the scientific modeling process to be closer to a “real world” experience.