On Demand Environmental Modelling: Groundwater Modelling as a Service for Flood and Drought Decision Support Planning

Modelling of groundwater is currently used for long term management of water resources but this has potential as a decision support tool during stress periods such as drought and flooding. Achieving this will require modelling on shorter timescales (weeks or months) and different data sources (i.e. forecasted rainfall). In this project, the partners will develop a prototype of a web-service to provide on-demand groundwater modelling. Such a tool will be interactive, enabling planners to explore the results of alternative courses of action under different scenarios and utilize a combination of current, historical and forecast datasets. Three organisations will contribute: Maxeler Technologies, with a track record in developing and delivering High Performance Computing hardware and software; the British Geological Survey, with a track record in developing groundwater models and supporting decision making; will work together to develop a product intended to meet the requirements of Thames Water, a large water supply utility, as customer. If successful this will be extended as a platform for delivery of multiple environmental models for the UK and global market.