David A. Swayne

• Doctor of Philosophy
• University of Guelph

Erratum to: R. Denzer et al. (Eds.) Environmental Software Systems DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-35503-0

Trend analysis and change point detection in a time series are frequent analysis tools. Change point detection is the identification of abrupt variation in the process behavior due to distributional or structural changes, whereas trend can be defined as estimation of gradual departure from past norms. We examine four different change point detectio...

Modelling requires comparison of model outputs to measurements, for calibration and verification. A key aspect data smoothing is to “filter out” noise. Often, data must be adjusted to a model’s time step (e.g. hourly to daily). For noisy data, LOWESS/LOESS (Locally Weighted Scatterplot Smoothing) is a popular piecewise regression technique. It prod...

This volume contains a newly compiled version of the Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Environmental Software Systems 2001 (ISESS 2001), published by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) under ISBN 3-901882-14-6. The original version was a printed softcover book. This SECOND EDITION contains the scanned and...

Using as example the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and a Southern Ontario Canada watershed, we conduct a set of experiments on calibration using a manual approach, a parallelized version of the shuffled complex evolution (SCE), Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE), Sequential Uncertainty Fitting (SUFI-2) and compare to...

The role of environmental information systems in accepting, storing and making available information to researchers in a major interdisciplinary study is crucial. General access to all relevant information for all aspects of such a project should be the goal, but is difficult to achieve because of constraints such as the availability of the informa...

Watershed management and planning requires a reliable information system for the storage and manipulation of data and knowledge for an integrative approach to solve environmental problems. An approach to develop such an information system is described, with the focus on the requirements both for data analysis and for knowledge processing. Examples...

An environmental information system is an important tool in conducting ecosystem research that integrates data and knowledge from many disciplinary studies. Effective computer visualization of these data and knowledge leads to better communication and understanding of the individual results and the concept of the ecosystem approach. By using exampl...

Using the probably approximately correct (PAC) learning hypothesis, we have conducted experiments using clustered computers, high-performance workstations and ad-hoc grids of personal computers, to develop an analytical model for, and demonstrate asymptotic convergence of simple parallel search in the parameter space of complex environmental models...

By itself scientific specialization does not serve the needs for integrated analysis of environmental problems required to improve the linkage between science and management. Models are often very case dependent, and lack the flexibility for rapid adaptation to new or different management or policy issues. The goal of the EU-FP6 research program SP...

Integrated coastal zone management is an emerging governance practice which aims at combining environmental preservation, economic development and social concerns in the context of complex ecosystem dynamics and increasing anthropogenic pressures. Coastal managers need socio-environmental integrated models in order to investigate the consequences o...

We compare the computational effectiveness of two different approaches to the autocalibration of environmental models: algorithms based on gridding the input parameter set; and genetic or evolutionary algorithms (GAs). Dramatic steps were taken to reduce the total run-time per simulation of the selected complex model in the calibration phase: a mod...

A holistic model embeds water resources and economic components into a consistent mathematical programming model, with the objective of maximizing economic profits from water uses in various sectors. Such a model can be used to address combined environmental-economic ...

Integration of data and component models describing habitat-based land use, non-point source pollutants transport, and water and soil quality forms the decision support development processes to assist policy makers in examining management options for dealing with the impacts of land use on water for agricultural issues in Canada. The land and water...

Recently, it has been recognized that large lakes exert considerable influence on regional climate systems and vice versa and that the Canadian Regional Climate Model (CRCM), which does not currently have a lake component, requires the development of a coupled lake sub-model. Prior to a full effort for this model development, however, studies are n...

This paper illustrates a methodology to create a multi-objective modelling system using Bayesian probability networks to emulate the behaviour of an environmental model that was originally intended for the purpose of analyzing a problem – non-point source pollution in our example. Modelling systems frequently pertain to a single domain (physical or...

Calibration of hydrological models is an essential step for these models to simulate real world conditions as close as possible. Calibration is a tedious and timeconsuming process. An auto-calibration algorithm developed by Duan et al. [1] has been successfully used in hydrological modeling area. This algorithm suffers from high computational cost...

Our paper describes experiential work in developing distributed versions of several hydrological and non-point source pollution models. Work in parallelization of the calibration of environmental models and in the population of belief network representations of these models has required us to developing a client-server framework. Newer models often...

Hydrological models have been increasing in complexity over the years. These models rely on their calibration to simulate real world conditions as close as possible. Calibration is a tedious and time-consuming process. An auto-calibration algorithm (SCE-UA) developed by Duan et al. (1992), has been successfully used in hydrological modeling area. T...

Large lakes are recognized as an important influence on the circulation of the atmosphere; in return the resulting meteorological forcing also affects the lake thermal structure. This interaction is complex and continues to be a critical issue considering the millions of lakes in Canada, many of which are large, and are unaccounted for in the curre...

This paper describes our preliminary assessment of the system requirements (data, interface and process) for implementation of terms describing lake effects in the Canadian Regional Climate Model. We demonstrate test results for one-dimensional (1-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) models for lake hydrodynamics that have been tested and prepared for in...

Under a Canadian Foundation for Climate and Atmospheric Sciences (CFCAS) project, targeted to study the feasibility to link regional climate models with lake models, one of the tasks was to consider such a coupling in large lakes. The objective is to provide detailed information on temperature a nd circulation distributions of the lake to take into...

The new University of Guelph-Humber has created an innovative, combined university degree and college diploma program in computer science and communications technology. This venture between the university and the Humber Institute of Technology and advanced learning offers jointly an honors baccalaureate in computing science from Guelph and a diplom...

Modelling systems frequently work in a single domain, such as physical or chemical process modelling, hydrology or combinations, to simulate process in nature such as pollution transport or the production of food or manufactured goods. Side-effects of agro-industrial processes, or gains / losses from production enterprises are separately modelled w...

Parallel computing is a very useful tool for computing intensive and time constrained real time problems. Depending on the size of the grid and processors available in the cluster, a group of nodes or processes in the grid can be represented by an individual processor and it can be responsible for their computational needs. This increases the accur...

Canada has several of Earth's largest lakes and many small lakes. Heat storage and circulation are greatly affected by lakes. Currently the Canadian Regional climate model does not incorporate a lake component. Therefore, we are linking atmospheric and lake models for such applications as climate prediction and assessing changes in the lake water q...

In this paper we describe our experience in the design and teaching of a new evolutionary introductory programming course in a new Distributed Computing and Communications Systems Technology program at the University of Guelph-Humber. This course is evolutionary and innovative because it integrates the use of HTML, JavaScript, and Java in a one-sem...

Computer simulations using mathematical models provide useful tools to investigate different scenarios based on watershed management strategies and environmental conditions. They often require the combined knowledge of meteorological, hydrological, hydrodynamic and biochemical processes in air, soil and water. While existing models for individual p...

Learning to program requires much hard work and dedication. Most students in introductory programming courses struggle to grasp programming concepts in general. Universities in the US, Canada, and elsewhere have reported withdrawal, failure, and D-grade rates approaching 50 percent in introductory computer programming courses. To address these prob...

To study the possible impact on the Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa water quality due to actions performed at the watershed level, a modelling project supported by the World Bank, was conducted by the United Nations University, the University of Waterloo and WL Delft Hydraulics to integrate physical and bio-chemical processes models in the lake and its ba...

To study the possible impact on the Lake Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa water quality due to a ctions performed at the watershed level, a modeling project supported by the World Bank, was conducted by the United Nations University, the University of Waterloo and WL-Delft Hydraulics to integrate physical and bio-chemical processes models in the lake and its ba...

In contemporary decision processes several types of information systems become more and more important. Geographical Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, Models as well as Meta Information Systems can be combined to an Integrated Spatial Decision Support System (ISDSS) with a new dimension of possibilities for decision makers. With ISDS w...

We consider a novel approach to developing multi-objective environmental decision support applications. We propose using causal probabilistic networks (CPN) to subsume one or more engineering process models, together with CPN implementations of specific decisions and utility measures. So-called decision nodes are set to prior probability assignment...

This paper describes an approach to integrate complex modeling experience into a decision support framework for non-point source pollution modeling of a watershed. The approach employs probabilistic reasoning techniques and derives probability distributions from previous model simulations. Thus, the sensitivity of a given model to its inputs is cap...

Experiences in designing and developing Environmental Information Systems (EISs) are presented to identify important issues for improving design concepts. The lessons learned by the authors over the past decade are highlighted. It was found that a good design philosophy is the first requirement for any successful implementation. Other issues such a...

Many disciplines require decisions which are related to spatial information. In particular, most of the environmental decision processes are tightly related to the spatial properties of information. Environmental Decision Support Systems are therefore often related to the spatial properties of the underlying information and the required analysis me...

This paper is a progress report of an ongoing research project from which the expected final product will be an integral system to model nonpoint source pollution in surface waters. Diffuse pollution models will be included in a decision support system with a unique platform, common interfaces and GIS capabilities. This system will accommodate pre-...

This presentation is for the implementation of a course concerning environmental information systems. The course consists of: a concentrated set of lectures; a World-Wide Web follow-up; decentralized authority for credit; and, the re-use of modules from other courses and programs. The project ECCEI (EU-Canada Curriculum on Environmental Informatics...

During the 1999 International Symposium on Environmental Software Systems (ISESS), held at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, a two day workshop was conducted to examine the nature and characteristics of environmental decision support systems (EDSS). A reasonable informal definition of the composition, effectiveness, characterization an...

Environmental Informatics (or Enviromatics) is a maturing subject with interdisciplinary roots in computer science, environmental planning, ecology, economics and other related areas. Its practitioners must be prepared to work with many diverse professional groups. It forms the foundation for computer-assisted environmental protection. This book co...

Environmental Informatics is a fast growing field which deals with all methods from computer science, environmental planning, ecology and related subjects. As well as being an interdisciplinary area, Environmental Informatics provides an interface between all involved professional groups. Monitoring the state of the environment, analysing existing...

Decision support system often requires the combined knowledge of multiple domains. A knowledge-based approach is proposed to include not only the process modelling knowledge but also the descriptive knowledge in the integration. Descriptive knowledge such as survey statistics and expert opinions forms the core of a study on the uncertainty of the c...

This paper is a progress report of an ongoing research project from which the expected final product will be an integral system to model nonpoint source pollution in surface waters. Diffuse pollution models will be included in a decision support system with a unique platform, common interfaces and GIS capabilities. This system will accommodate pre-...

Modern farmers must process an overwhelming quantity and diversity of information of varying relevance. The Canada Ontario Green Plan (1992–1997), the most recent in a long series of government initiatives, was a program to encourage and assist farmers with the implementation of appropriate farm management practices within the framework of environm...

This paper describes the current status of an ongoing applied research project which is investigating design, implementation and utility of a large scale distributed environmental information system (EIS). This EIS is currently undergoing pilot-scale implementation. A structure for an environmental framework and an accompanying high-level architect...

Decision-support systems (DSS) for solving complex environmental problems are not merely computer software systems. A working system requires data and knowledge inputs from domain scientists and the results need to be easily understandable to decision makers. It must be designed with both scientists and end users in mind, and must involve them earl...

An integrated knowledge-based system, RAISON, was developed for environmental applications, using expert system and neural network technologies. Practical considerations dictate that access and linkage with databases, spreadsheet, maps, documents, graphics and other modules are essential. It was found necessary to implement the expert system and ne...

expert system, knowledge management, information technology

We outline the issues faced and the problems likely to be encountered in the implementation of comprehensive Environmental Information Systems (EIS). We describe our own efforts in implementing novel EIS components and systems, and research directions we consider promising.

Integration of database, models and GIS requires an intelligent system. An expert system approach is proposed in which logical inference and integrative design techniques are used to handle both fundamental operations and special cases and to provide open architecture programming capabilities among database, model, GIS and expert systems. -from Aut...

We have implemented a diagnostic system designed to advise on the likely causes of sanitary problems with public water sources. The approach to the problem makes extensive use of rule based expert systems and multi media information (maps, data, text, expert knowledge). The rules were based on actual water survey data, with a weighting scheme desig...

Data from over 2000 stations and knowledge from experts on atmospheric transport, soil geochemistry, lake chemistry, wetland processes and acidification modelling were assembled in an expert system. The data were grouped by aggregates of tertiary watersheds based on water chemistry knowledge. A set of expert rules was used to determine which of six...

Three algorithms for generating the convex hull of a discrete point-set in the plane are extended to a non-convex wrapping to follow concavities in the points distributions. Complexity of computation is derived along with actual performance on generated data sets of varying cardinalities. Some postulated anomalies are removed, with examples. Two re...

This article describes the authors’ approaches to developing information systems for water quality modelling and monitoring using an integrated systems approach. A collection of computer software programs have been developed and are designed to facilitate the development of water quality and quantity modelling and monitoring systems. These have bee...

Application of knowledge-based systems to modelling lake acidification is outlined. The approaches taken by our group are described, using expert systems to incorporate human understanding and qualitative reasoning in selection of models of progress of acidity, and to overcome the problems of data noise and scale variations in the spatial and tempo...

The authors implemented a causal probability network (CPN) model using the HUGIN shell to represent part of the overall effect of acid precipitation on lakes. A tool for entering raw data into the CPN model, based on earlier rule-based modeling efforts by the RAISON project at Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Environment Canada, was developed. The...

The Raison system is a fully integrated database, spreadsheet and graphic interpretive system with GIS and expert systems capabilities for PC/AT microcomputers. It is used as a toolkit that links internal programming functions with external files from popular software. With customization facility for special application, RAISON provides an intellig...

Experience gained in developing models for the LRTAP (Long-Range Transport of Atmospheric Pollutants) project at the National Water Research Institute has led to a number of development tools for modelling, data fitting, and simulation studies in environmental policy decision-support. The mechanisms for developing the initial models on personal wor...

This paper deals with the development of coastal effluent models of two locations on Lake Ontario, Pickering and the Niagara River. The models employ microcomputers to simulate the entry into Lake Ontario of spills or effluent plumes at either site.A spill or plume is observed as it interacts with shore currents. Observations have indicated that th...

This paper presents a novel approach to prediction of lake acidification. We use for illustration the Cation Denudation Rate (CDR) and the Trickle Down (TD) Acidification Models. Instead of selecting one model and discarding the other, we utilize each model in those cases where it is most applicable, an approach which requires both a quantitative a...

A prototype expert system has been developed to store and retrieve regional data on acid deposition, soil characteristics and aquatic chemistry. The system uses map-based data files and selects the most appropriate model for a given data set and spatial domain, according to the knowledge rules specified by experts. These rules can be extended by a...

This paper describes a workstation environment for the regional analysis by intelligent system on a microcomputer (RAISON) for studying watershed acidification and other environmental problems. Data is processed with a map-based query language and a spreadsheet paradigm. Spatial and temporal data retrieval is made possible for any chosen region and...

In this paper, we discuss a paradigm for the integration in time of parabolic partial differential equations with time-dependent boundary conditions by fractional step (locally one-dimensional or LOD) methods. The original results, communicated in [8], offered the possibility that for fixed spatial mesh of size h, one particular LOD scheme which wa...

We are interested in multi-agent contracting, in which customers must solicit the resources and capabilities of other, self-interested agents in order to accomplish their goals. Goals may involve the execution of multi-step plans, in which different ...

This article describes the development (current and proposed) of a user workstation for the analysis of acid rain data. The query language is map-based, and the analysis package uses a spreadsheet paradigm. Automatic decoding and transcription of data descriptions, a sophisticated special purpose programmable function library, and simultaneous mani...

Relevant behaviour of nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is encapsulated in a graphical probability model (GPM), to which can be added the decision process and utility measures based on potential crop revenues for each land use strategy from among a suite of management options available to a farmer in the location of the prototype experiment. We demon...

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Waterloo, 1975. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [105-107]). Microfiche of typescript.