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WHAT ARE THE NUMERICAL MODELS DEVELOPED BY NCCHE?

HOW ARE NCCHE MODELS VERIFIED AND VALIDATED?

WHICH NCCHE MODELS ARE RELEASED FOR PUBLIC USE?

HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD AND USE NCCHE MODELS?

IS TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR LEARNING HOW TO USE NCCHE MODELS?

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WITH NCCHE?

CAN I HAVE ACCESS TO THE SOURCE CODE OF THE SOFTWARE OFICIALLY RELEASED BY NCCHE?

WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR TESTING BETA-VERSION SOFTWARE?

WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USING OFICIALLY RELEASED SOFTWARE?

LIST OF SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING TOOLS DEVELOPED BY NCCHE AND THEIR STATUS

WHAT ARE THE NUMERICAL MODELS DEVELOPED BY NCCHE?

Since its establishment in 1982, NCCHE has been developing numerical models for simulation of free surface flows, soil erosion, sediment transport and morphological processes in streams, reservoirs, and channel networks in watersheds, water quality and transport of pollutants, etc. All numerical models developed by NCCHE, their status and availability are listed in a table, which can be viewed by clicking here.

HOW ARE NCCHE MODELS VERIFIED AND VALIDATED?

All numerical simulation models developed by NCCHE go through a systematic verification and validation process before they can be released for general use by the public. Briefly, the procedure adopted by NCCHE consists of the following steps:

WHICH NCCHE MODELS ARE RELEASED FOR PUBLIC USE?

NCCHE develops models both for research purposes and for general public use. All developed numerical models are first alpha-tested by the personnel of NCCHE. Once all the known bugs are cleared, models intended for general public use are released to registered users for free-of-charge beta-testing. They are accompanied by appropriate documentation, such as User’s Manual, Technical Manual, and Verification and Validation Documents. After a successful period of beta-testing these models are officially released to the general public free of charge. The interested users are, however, requested to register before downloading the software from the webpage.

Research models, some of which may eventually become models for general public use, are not released. They are used within the framework of research projects, and some application projects.

HOW CAN I DOWNLOAD AND USE NCCHE MODELS?

General-Public Numerical Models:

These models may have three different status levels:

• Models in alpha testing status: These models are still in verification-validation process and cannot be made available to third party users.

• Models in beta testing status: These models are available for download at NCCHE’s web site. The beta users are requested to register and to agree the terms and conditions of use before they can download the software. Full documentation, including User’s Manual, Technical Manual, and Verification-Validation Tests are made available with the software. Click here to see the terms and conditions for downloading beta-test software.

• Models officially released to the public: Models that have gone through a successful beta-testing period are released officially for general public use. These officially released models can be downloaded from NCCHE’s web site. The interested users are requested to register and to agree the terms and conditions of use before they can download the software. Full documentation, including User’s Manual, Technical Manual, and Verification-Validation Tests are made available with the software. Click here to see the terms and conditions for downloading officially released software.

Research Numerical Models:

These models can only be made available under special conditions and through joint collaboration projects with NCCHE.

IS TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR LEARNING HOW TO USE NCCHE MODELS?

In the past NCCHE organized several short courses, seminars, training sessions for users who wish to learn how to use its models. These course are organized at different levels, ranging from beginners to advanced level, and they can be tailored to the needs of the interested parties. They can be organized at NCCHE or at the work place of the user.

Courses organized by NCCHE are announced on the web site of the center sufficiently ahead of time. If you are interested in a special course to be organized for the personnel of your institution, please do get in touch with us using the contact information that can be obtained by clicking here.

It is important that courses or seminars on the use of the software can also be organized within the framework of collaborative research projects.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH WITH NCCHE?

Over the years NCCHE has accumulated extensive knowledge and experience in development and application of numerical models for the simulation of free surface flows, soil erosion, sediment transport and morphological processes in streams, reservoirs, and channel networks in watersheds, water quality and transport of pollutants, etc. The list of principal numerical models and accompanying software can be viewed by clicking here.

It must be emphasized that this table does not exhaustively list all the existing model capabilities. Various other models and tools exist and are being developed. The models and tools that are under development can also be used by third parties through collaborative research projects with NCCHE. In such cases, special permission can be granted to the research partners to use even alpha-version models and research models under the guidance of the developers and scientists at NCCHE. Interested parties are requested to contact NCCHE to propose joint research projects. Confidentiality of the proposals is guaranteed by NCCHE.

NCCHE is fully aware that no model is perfect. In some cases it may be necessary to modify, adapt or refine an officially-released or beta-version program for a specific project’s needs. NCCHE would be more than happy to make such changes to the models through collaborative research projects or for a reasonable fee provided a mutual understanding can be reached and the topics are in the area of interest of both parties.

Finally, NCCHE is also prepared to discuss with potential partners the development of custom tailored numerical models for a competitive fee.

It is difficult to set general guidelines and rules on conditions of collaboration. NCCHE is very flexible and ready to discuss any specific needs of interested parties on a case by case basis. You may get in touch with us by mail or by phone using the contact information given here.

CAN I HAVE ACCESS TO THE SOURCE CODE OF THE SOFTWARE OFFICIALLY RELEASED BY NCCHE?

From time to time, NCCHE receives requests for the release of the source code for particular software. The source codes of models are normally very complex and contain tens of thousands of code lines. It is our experience that uncontrolled release of source code of such sophisticated software causes much confusion and creates more problems than it solves. It also leads to numerous questions and requests from third parties trying to modify the code. The researchers and developers at NCCHE simply do not have time to answer all questions asked by developers who do not fully understand the code. Therefore, in principle NCCHE discourages requests for source code.

However, NCCHE also recognizes that in some cases researchers may want to use the software developed by NCCHE with small modifications (such as the implementation and use of a special empirical function). In other cases they may want to integrate the software developed by NCCHE with other numerical code developed by them.

In most of the cases, model integration requests can be handled through collaborative research projects. In some rare cases, however, the source codes for officially released models can be released to third parties, either partially of in full, under special terms. For this, the party requesting the source code should write to NCCHE stating the purpose of the request, the nature of the intended use, and the possible modifications envisaged. NCCHE is free to reject unreasonable proposals from unqualified parties. In the case of mutual agreement, the source code can be released to the party by signing an ad-hoc agreement which enforces the following general rules:

• The general disclaimer text stipulating that the software and any accompanying documentation are made available on “as is” basis is valid for the release of the source code and the accompanying documents.

• Any changes made in the code must be communicated to NCCHE along with appropriate documentation and the source code. If the changes made to the source code are in the interest of general users, they may be implemented in a new official version of the model. In such cases, due credit will be given to the developers of the included code. No remuneration can be requested for the inclusion of contributions submitted to NCCHE in the numerical code.

• The modified code cannot be distributed or sold to the third parties or commercially marketed without explicit, written agreement from NCCHE, neither under the original name nor under a different name.

• Any bugs, errors, inconsistencies found in the source code should be reported to NCCHE with appropriate information.

• These terms and conditions of use are subject to change without notice. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions may apply.

Please note that the source codes for research models, models in alpha-testing phase and development phase cannot be released unless this involves a collaborative research project.

WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR TESTING BETA-VERSION SOFTWARE?

Registered beta-testers agree to the following conditions:

• The general disclaimer text stipulating that the software and any accompanying documentation are made available on “as is” basis is valid for all software released for beta-testing.

• The software downloaded for beta-testing purposes cannot be distributed to third parties without informing NCCHE in writing. Potential third-party users are encouraged to become registered beta-testers. This way they can be kept informed about the modifications, new versions, etc. In any case, the disclaimer text must always be passed on to any third party users.

• Any problems related to the use of the software and/or the accompanying documentation should be reported to NCCHE together with appropriate information that will allow the NCCHE researchers to diagnose and resolve the problem.

• Any reports or publications, which are prepared based by using the beta-version NCCHE software must include due credit to NCCHE. Beta testers are kindly requested to inform the NCCHE about any publications made using beta-version NCCHE software. 

• These terms and conditions of use are subject to change without notice. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions may also apply in particular cases.

Although the beta-version software and the documentation is released to registered users on “as is” basis, out of courtesy and professional interest, NCCHE agrees to investigate problems encountered by the beta-testers and, if necessary, to make the necessary corrections in a reasonable time period. Modifications of the model for tailoring it to specific application area or to programming new capabilities requested by the users cannot be done free-of-charge. Such important modifications, however, can be conveniently handled within the framework of collaborative research, or for a reasonable fee if mutual agreement can be reached.

NCCHE also agrees to regularly inform the registered beta-testers about the new versions and future development plans.

WHAT ARE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR USING OFFICIALLY RELEASED SOFTWARE?

Registered users of officially released software agree to the following conditions:

• The general disclaimer text stipulating that the software and any accompanying documentation are made available on “as is” basis is valid for all officially released software.

• The officially released software cannot be distributed to third parties without informing NCCHE in writing. Potential third-party users are encouraged to become registered users. This way they can be kept informed about the modifications, new versions, etc. In any case, the disclaimer text must always be passed on to any third party users.

• Any problems related to the use of the software and/or the accompanying documentation should be reported to NCCHE together with appropriate information that will allow the NCCHE researchers to diagnose and resolve the problem.

• Any reports or publications, which are prepared based by using the officially released NCCHE software must include due credit to NCCHE. Users are kindly requested to inform the NCCHE about any publications made using NCCHE software. 

• These terms and conditions of use are subject to change without notice. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions may also apply in particular cases.

Although the officially-released software and the documentation is released to registered users on “as is” basis, out of courtesy and professional interest, NCCHE agrees to investigate problems encountered by the users and, if necessary, to make the necessary corrections in a reasonable time period. Modifications of the model for tailoring it to specific application area or to programming new capabilities requested by the users cannot be done free-of-charge. Such important modifications, however, can be conveniently handled within the framework of collaborative research, or for a reasonable fee if mutual agreement can be reached.

NCCHE also agrees to regularly inform the registered users about the new versions and future development plans.