Arpita Patel , James Halgren , Zach Wills , Nels Frazier , Benjamin Lee , Joshua Cunningham , Jordan Laser , Mohammadsepehr Karimiziarani , Trupesh Patel , Giovanni Romero , Matthew Denno , Sam Lamont , Iman Maghami , Hari Teja Jajula , M. Shahabul Alam , Sifan A. Koriche , Manjila Singh , Nia Minor , Bhavya Duvvuri , Savalan Naser Neisary , Daniel P. Ames
{"title":"NextGen In A Box (NGIAB): Open-Source containerization of the NextGen framework to enable community-driven hydrology modeling","authors":"Arpita Patel , James Halgren , Zach Wills , Nels Frazier , Benjamin Lee , Joshua Cunningham , Jordan Laser , Mohammadsepehr Karimiziarani , Trupesh Patel , Giovanni Romero , Matthew Denno , Sam Lamont , Iman Maghami , Hari Teja Jajula , M. Shahabul Alam , Sifan A. Koriche , Manjila Singh , Nia Minor , Bhavya Duvvuri , Savalan Naser Neisary , Daniel P. Ames","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The NextGen Water Resources Modeling Framework (NextGen) greatly increases the flexibility and interoperability of hydrologic modeling workflows. However, deploying NextGen models remains challenging due to a complex installation process. To address this, we developed NextGen In A Box (NGIAB), an all-in-one distribution of the NextGen framework that simplifies deployment across environments using Docker and Singularity containers. NGIAB comes pre-configured with most components expected in version 4.0 of the National Water Model, which will use the NextGen framework. Additionally, NGIAB utilizes a cloud-based continuous integration/continuous deployment pipeline to automate releases. Through its ease of access and robust suite of included utilities, NGIAB promotes community engagement in hydrologic modeling and facilitates research-to-operation (R2O) pathways. In this work, we present the designs and technologies that enable these outcomes, along with studies and performance benchmarks that demonstrate NGIAB's applicability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 106666"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144923034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Friends don't let friends use Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) or KGE for hydrologic model accuracy evaluation: A rant with data and suggestions for better practice","authors":"Gustavious Paul Williams","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>I evaluate the use of Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) and Kling-Gupta Efficiency (KGE) for hydrologic model accuracy assessment. Using synthetic data with identical error distributions, (σ = 2), NSE and KGE values vary widely—from −190 to 0.999—due to flow characteristics, not model accuracy. Applying identical noise, (σ = 10), to 6595 U.S. gages, models with identical RMSE (∼10) results in NSE values from −325,272 to 1.0 which corresponds with flow variability rather than model fit. If noise is scaled to 25 % of mean flow, spatial patterns in NSE and KGE persist that reflect flow characteristics rather than accuracy and misrepresent accuracy. NSE and KGE are skill scores and useful for within-site model calibration, not cross-site accuracy comparisons. Metrics such as RMSE, normalized RMSE, or percent bias offer more interpretable, transferable accuracy evaluations. I advocate abandoning NSE and KGE for comparisons of model performance and urge hydrologists to adopt fit-for-purpose metrics. I present this study as a position paper, rather than a research paper, the limitations of NSE and KGE—particularly their dependence on flow variability and unsuitability for cross-site comparisons—are well known and have been addressed extensively in the literature. However, my experience and review of the literature indicate an over-reliance and misuse of these metrics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 106665"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144933614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Multi-objective optimization of nature-based solutions in urban stormwater management: A scoping review","authors":"A. Bista , K.A.H. Paus , I. Seifert-Dähnn","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Multi-objective optimization (MOO) methods are increasingly used to optimize the multifunctional benefits and costs of Nature-based solutions (NbS) in urban water management. However, comprehensive reviews of current research in this area remain limited. This scoping review analyzed 110 optimization studies focused on NbS in urban water management. It examined key components of the simulation-optimization (S/O) framework, including simulation models, optimization algorithms, objectives, spatial and temporal configurations.</div><div>Twenty-three algorithms were assessed for their applications, strengths and limitations. NSGA-II was the most widely used, while advanced algorithms were applied in a few studies for complex, high-dimensional problems.</div><div>Water quantity (87 %) and costs (93 %) were the most studied objectives, whereas only 11 % of studies addressed other socio-environmental objectives. Various challenges in the S/O framework, such as integrating socio-environmental benefits, model complexity, uncertainties and optimal solution selection, are discussed. Future research should prioritize proper objectives selection, socio-environmental objectives integration and advanced dynamic NbS planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 106659"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xuke Wu , Kun Shan , Friedrich Recknagel , Lan Wang , Mingsheng Shang
{"title":"Enhanced tensor factorization for spatiotemporal imputation of high-frequency water quality monitoring data","authors":"Xuke Wu , Kun Shan , Friedrich Recknagel , Lan Wang , Mingsheng Shang","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106667","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106667","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Automatic high-frequency monitoring (AHFM) of water quality is increasingly being deployed to enhance the management and scientific understanding of eutrophic lakes. However, the prevalence of missing data in such systems poses significant challenges, potentially compromising decision-making processes and distorting analytical or modelling outcomes. This study proposes an enhanced tensor factorization model, termed the Diverse Biases-integrated Adaptive Latent-factorization-of-tensors (DBAL), which decomposes high-dimensional data into low-rank components while incorporating diverse linear biases to capture temporal fluctuations and employing a differential evolution algorithm for adaptive hyperparameter optimization. Extensive empirical validation using real-world AHFM datasets from a large eutrophic lake in China demonstrates that our proposed DBAL consistently outperforms the state-of-the-art models, achieving 5.6 %–50.3 % and 5.7 %–43.7 % reductions in RMSE and MAE, alongside a 0.3 %–6.1 % improvement in R<sup>2</sup>. Notably, DBAL demonstrates variable-specific performance, with particularly accurate imputation for stable physical parameters while revealing greater challenges for biologically-active variables that exhibit stronger temporal dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 106667"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144916857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Berina Mina Kilicarslan , Qianqiu Longyang , Victor Obi , Sagy Cohen , Ehab Meselhe , Marouane Temimi
{"title":"Improving the fidelity and performance of a conceptual flood inundation mapping approach using a machine learning-based surrogate model","authors":"Berina Mina Kilicarslan , Qianqiu Longyang , Victor Obi , Sagy Cohen , Ehab Meselhe , Marouane Temimi","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focuses on enhancing the accuracy of Flood Inundation Mapping (FIM) by utilizing a surrogate modeling approach. The Height Above the Nearest Drainage (HAND) method is used as our baseline FIM approach. The terrain-based HAND-FIM framework was developed to allow large-scale applications at low computational costs. A Surrogate Model (SM) is constructed using machine learning-based methodologies to emulate the high-fidelity Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) model. HAND-FIM, generated using streamflow data from the National Water Model, serves as the input to the SM, while the flood extent predicted by HEC-RAS for the same event serves as the target. Results demonstrate that SM reduces false alarms in HAND-FIM by 18 % while improving the Critical Success Index score by 26 %. Integrating the SM offers a promising approach for enhancing flood prediction accuracy, mitigating HAND-FIM limitations, and providing fast, cost-effective solutions for operational FIM applications, especially in data- and resource-limited regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 106664"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144933615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michela Sammartino , Lorenzo Della Cioppa , Simone Colella , Bruno Buongiorno Nardelli
{"title":"A Physics-informed deep neural network for the joint prediction of chlorophyll-a and hydrographic fields in the Mediterranean Sea","authors":"Michela Sammartino , Lorenzo Della Cioppa , Simone Colella , Bruno Buongiorno Nardelli","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Monitoring the ocean's four-dimensional state is essential for marine ecosystem preservation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms represent promising tools to merge satellite and in situ measurements, improving reconstructions of ocean interior dynamics. Here, we describe 4DMED-bionet, an AI-based model developed under the European Space Agency 4DMED-Sea project, designed to infer subsurface properties from surface observations. Combining Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) layers, the model reconstructs 4D fields of temperature, salinity, density and chlorophyll-a in the Mediterranean Sea. The algorithm includes a physics-informed loss function that imposes constraints on density predictions, improving its accuracy without degrading other outputs. 4DMED-bionet outperforms different deep learning models, providing a high-quality 4D dataset, available at <span><span>https://doi.org/10.25423/CMCC/4DMEDSEA_BIOPHYS_REP_3D</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>. This dataset includes 4D geostrophic velocities derived from reconstructed physical tracers and surface geostrophic currents. Scientific analysis of 4D data is ongoing, aiming to better understand the processes that couple phytoplankton responses with 3D physical dynamic.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"194 ","pages":"Article 106660"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144989798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Coherent integration of the terrestrial hydrosphere: Needs and pathways for knowledge convergence","authors":"Georgia Destouni","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Many scientific disciplines address, and societal sectors interact with, various aspects, components, and subsystems of water on land, which together form the terrestrial hydrosphere within the Earth System. Advancing knowledge of this sphere as a coherent, integrated whole requires a consistent and realistic understanding across the water-related domains. Achieving such knowledge convergence requires systematically and synergistically identifying and bridging major gaps across the domains. A network-based standard model is proposed as a foundation for this.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 106663"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mehdi Taghizadeh, Zanko Zandsalimi, Majid Shafiee-Jood, Negin Alemazkoor
{"title":"Multi-fidelity graph neural networks for efficient and accurate flood hazard mapping","authors":"Mehdi Taghizadeh, Zanko Zandsalimi, Majid Shafiee-Jood, Negin Alemazkoor","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Generating high-resolution flood hazard maps with traditional hydrodynamic models is computationally prohibitive. While surrogate models like graph neural networks (GNNs) offer a faster alternative, they require large, expensive-to-generate, high-fidelity training datasets. This study addresses the critical challenge of creating accurate surrogate models with limited high-fidelity data. We propose a novel multi-fidelity graph neural network (MFGNN) framework that integrates numerous inexpensive, coarse-resolution simulations with a few high-fidelity runs. The method uses a hierarchical pipeline where one GNN learns broad flood patterns from low-fidelity data, and a second GNN learns to predict and apply a high-resolution correction based on the residual error. Comprehensive validation across diverse fluvial and pluvial flood scenarios demonstrates that the MFGNN framework significantly reduces prediction error compared to a standard GNN trained with an equivalent computational budget. This computationally efficient, novel framework makes development of accurate, high-resolution surrogate models for large floodplains feasible by lowering the data-generation barrier.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 106654"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Enyu Tong , Yiming Chen , Yu Bai , Fengying Zhang , Thomas Krafft
{"title":"Application of machine learning in modeling the quality of acoustic environments: A review","authors":"Enyu Tong , Yiming Chen , Yu Bai , Fengying Zhang , Thomas Krafft","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106658","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of machine learning (ML) methods for modeling the acoustic environment quality. This review evaluates supervised, ensemble, and unsupervised ML models used to assess and predict acoustic environment quality. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been the most widely used ML model in this domain, while recent advancements have increased the adoption of techniques such as ensemble and deep learning. India led global publications in this field, with “equivalent continuous sound levels (<em>L</em><sub><em>eq</em></sub>)” and “A-weighted equivalent continuous sound levels (<em>L</em><sub><em>Aeq</em></sub>)” being the most extensively studied output parameters. Future research should focus on integrating advanced techniques to enhance predictive accuracy and implementing ML models to improve the management of acoustic environment quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 106658"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144902300","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danny A.P. Hooftman , Guy Ziv , Paul M. Evans , James M. Bullock
{"title":"Validation of the InVEST nutrient retention model across Europe with attribution of model errors","authors":"Danny A.P. Hooftman , Guy Ziv , Paul M. Evans , James M. Bullock","doi":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106657","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.envsoft.2025.106657","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensive fertilisation of farmland leads to substantial nutrient escape into the environment, polluting land, water, and the atmosphere. We used the InVEST NDR model to investigate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) run-off and retention across the European continent at 25 × 25 m resolution, and validated outputs against empirical measurements at 2251 river locations. Mean nutrient retention across Europe was estimated as 93 % for N and 92 % for P, through accumulation by standing vegetation and the soil. Modelled nutrient export to streams matched well to empirical measurements. Model-based uncertainties were related to seasonality, the balance between surface and sub-surface flows, and extremes in slope and rainfall. Uncertainties related to empirical data suggested enhancements to monitoring programmes that would improve nutrient export and erosion modelling, which included higher resolution fertiliser and manure data, differentiation of grassland types, including stocking density categories, and in-river nutrient measurements at low flow.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":310,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Modelling & Software","volume":"193 ","pages":"Article 106657"},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144890537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}