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Welcome to the next generation MIKE+ Documentation

Simulation Setup

MIKE+ simulations are started from the 'Simulation specifications' section. Individual simulations can be configured and run from the 'Simulation setup' editor, each e.g. using different modules, simulation periods or time setp settings.

Once configured, individual simulations can be executed in batch mode from the Batch simulation editor, applying an automatic and sequential launch of several simulation setups.

Info

Simulations can also be executed without opening the editor, through command lines. Refer to Section Predefined export from command lines for more information.

The following sections describe the configuration of individual simulation setups. The 'Simulation setup' editor has several tabs, which are shown depending on the active features and modules for the project:

  • General: Includes general parameters, such as definition of the simulation period, selection of simulation types, and free text description of the simulation setup.
  • Catchments: Includes parameters specific for Runoff simulation.
  • HD: Includes parameters specific for HD simulation.
  • AD and WQ: Includes parameters specific for network AD simulation and MIKE ECO Lab.
  • LTS: Includes parameters specific for Network LTS simulation.
  • Results: Includes specification of results (output) to be generated by the simulation.

SimulationSetup.png 

Figure: The Simulation Setup editor

The table at the bottom of the editor contains an 'Active simulation' check box, which flags a simulation setup as the one in use by default, for instance when starting the simulation using the Ctrl+R shortcut or using a command line. Only one simulation at a time may be set as "Active".

Identification

The 'Identification' group at the top contains the following attributes:

  • ID: User-specified ID of simulation. This ID will be reflected in the name of result files.
  • Scenario: Dropdown menu for selecting ID of Scenario for the simulation.
  • Event ID: An 'Event ID' may be associated with the simulation, to use only boundary conditions associated with this event (or not associated with any event). The value 'No event filter' indicates that all active boundary conditions will be used in the simulation (unless their 'Apply' check box is unticked). If some boundary conditions (from editors 'Boundary conditions', 'Load points' and/or '2D boundary conditions') are associated with a specific event ID in their 'Description' tab, this event ID can be selected in the simulation setup. When such a specific event ID is selected, the simulation runs with only the boundary conditions defined with this event ID as well as with those not associated with any event, i.e. set to 'Default (any event)'. The use of events is a simple alternative to the use of boundary alternatives with the Scenario manager.

The following buttons are also located at the top of the editor with the Identification group:

‘Insert’ button

Inserts a new record in the Simulation Setup editor with a default ID.

‘Copy’ button

Duplicates an existing (currently active) simulation setup record.

‘Delete’ button

Deletes a currently active simulation record.

‘RUN’ button

Triggers export of the current simulation job and execution of the simulation within MIKE+.

‘Run detached’ button

Triggers export of the current simulation job and execution of the simulation in a separate window. It is possible to run only one simulation at a time within the MIKE+ window, therefore this button offers an alternative which allows to run multiple simulations at the same time in different windows.

'Validate' button

MIKE+ offers an automatic validation, checking for data errors on-the-fly while data are edited in the various editors. For river and/or CS networks, the ‘Validate’ button offers a complementary option to collectively check the consistency of the MIKE+ project data through the validation of the entire simulation setup. Press the 'Validate' button to open the validation window:

SimulationValidationGUI.png 

Figure: The Simulation Validation window

The validation applies to the simulation currently “selected” in the 'Simulation setup' editor. From this window, press the 'Run validation' button to start the data validation and see the list of warnings and errors in the table. The validation time depends on the database size, number of active modules and number of errors found.

A description of the warning or error is included in the 'Text' column in the list. The description usually indicates the data type or editor in which the error should be corrected.

SimulationValidationErrList.png 

Figure: The validation list indicates whether an item is an Error (highlighted in red) or a Warning (highlighted in yellow)

It is possible to activate the 'Hide warnings' option to only show errors without warnings in the list.

Note

The comprehensive validation performed by the 'Validate' function only supports river and/or CS networks, but not 2D overland models. For 2D overland models, validation errors are solely reported in the 2D overland editors.

'Analyse' button

This button opens a tool that can be used to find elements of a river or CS network that may be contributing to instabilities during an HD simulation. The tool produces a list of h-points ranked according to one of the three following criteria, all ranked from smallest to largest:

  • Time step required to achieve a specified stability criterion
  • Surface area
  • Length

AnalyseNetworkTool.png 

Figure: The Analyse network tool

More information about the three options is provided below.

Time step required to achieve a specified stability criterion

When using this option, the tool finds the time step needed to achieve a specified Courant number for each h-point. This option can be used to find an appropriate time step for a stable simulation or identify parts of the model network that should be streamlined to enable a stable simulation at a longer time step.

Because the Courant number evaluation depends on the depth of water, a depth definition must be provided. Four options are available:

  • User-defined global value: single value applied throughout network.
  • Full-running pipe or river (min. of markers 1 and 3): for rivers, this option uses the minimum of markers 1 and 3 as water level in each cross section. A full-running pipe is used for collection system modelling.
  • Full-running pipe or river (min. of markers 1 and 3): for rivers, this option uses the minimum of markers 4 and 5. If markers 4 and 5 are not defined, then the minimum of markers 1 and 3 is used. A full-running pipe is used for collection system modelling.
  • Initial conditions: Water depth definitions are taken from the initial conditions specification.

Surface area

Under this option, the tool computes the surface area associated with each h-point, in other words the surface area from the upstream Q-point to the downstream Q-point (or from the calculation point to the nearest upstream or downstream Q-point, if the calculation point is located at the start or end of a river branch).

A depth is needed to compute a surface area. The same four options are available as for 'Time step required to achieve a specified stability criterion'.

For rivers, the area is calculated assuming a constant width equal to the width of the cross-section at the specified depth. For collection system modelling, the area is calculated using a very small width corresponding to a pipe that is almost full. The flow area criterion is not particularly useful for analysis of pipes.

Length

Under this option, the tool computes the length associated with each h-point, in other words the length from the upstream Q-point to the downstream Q-point (or from the calculation point to the nearest upstream or downstream Q-point, if the calculation point is located at the start or end of a river).

Note

The 'Analyse' function only supports river and/or CS networks, but not 2D overland models.

General

The 'General' tab includes parameters relevant for the entire simulation setup. The following parameters are specified in the General tab:

  • Simulation type
  • Simulation period
  • Description

SimulationSetup_General.jpg 

Figure: The Simulation Setup editor General tab

An overview of the editor fields and corresponding database attributes is provided in the table below.

Edit field Description Used or required by simulations Field name in datastructure
Catchments Activates catchment-related simulation types Yes Enable_Catchment
Collection system network Activates CS related simulation type Yes Enable_CS
River network Activates river related simulation type Yes Enable_River
2D Overland Activates 2D related simulation types Yes Enable_2DOverland
Rainfall-Runoff (RR) Activates runoff simulation Yes Enable_RR
Catchment Discharge (CD) Activates catchment discharge computations Yes Enable_CD
Hydrodynamic (HD) Activates HD simulations for CS, Rivers and/or 2D overland Yes Enable_HD
Long Term Statistics (LTS) Activates LTS simulation Yes Enable_LTS
Transport (AD, SWQ) Activates AD simulations for CS, Rivers and/or 2D overland and/or SWQ simulations for catchments Yes Enable_AD
Water quality (MIKE ECO Lab Activates MIKE ECO Lab simulations for CS, Rivers and/or 2D overland Yes Enable_ECOLAB
Sediment Transport (ST) Activates CS network sediment transport simulation Yes Enable_ST
Data Assimilation (DA) Activates DA network update simulation Yes Enable_DA
Coupling to MIKE HYDRO River Activates coupling to MIKE HYDRO River. HD coupling is always activated. AD coupling is activated if Transport (AD,SWQ) module is also activated (see note below). Yes Enable_MHRiver_ Coupling
Coupling to MIKE 21 or MIKE 3 FM Activates coupling to MIKE 21 FM or MIKE 3 FM. HD coupling is always activated. AD coupling is activated if Transport (AD,SWQ) module is also activated (see note below). Yes Enable_M21FM_ Coupling
Start Specifies start date and time for the simulation. Yes ComputationBegin
Duration Displays the duration of the simulation in days, hours. minutes and seconds. Automatically adjusted based on Start and End time/date. May be edited, adjusting End date/time accordingly. Yes -
End Specifies end date and time for the simulation. Adjusted automatically according to user's specification of duration. Yes ComputationEnd
Description Free text description of the simulation setup Optional Description

Table: Overview of the Simulation Setup General tab attributes (Table msm_Project)

Note about water quality coupling

Coupling of AD components or MIKE ECO Lab state variables from external model setups is also supported under the following conditions:

  • When coupling to a MIKE HYDRO River file, and when the 'Transport (AD, SWQ)' module is included in the simulation: all components defined in the 'WQ components' editor in MIKE+ will be coupled to AD components from MIKE HYDRO River having the same name.
  • When coupling to a MIKE HYDRO River file, and when the 'Water quality (MIKE ECO Lab)' module is included in the simulation: all components defined in the 'WQ components' editor in MIKE+ will be coupled to state variables from MIKE HYDRO River having the same name.
  • When coupling to a MIKE 21 or MIKE 3 FM file, and when the 'Transport (AD, SWQ)' module is included in the simulation: all components defined in the 'WQ components' editor in MIKE+ will be coupled to AD components from MIKE 21 / 3 FM having the same name.
  • When coupling to a MIKE 21 or MIKE 3 FM file, and when the 'Water quality (MIKE ECO Lab)' module is included in the simulation: all components defined in the 'WQ components' editor in MIKE+ will be coupled to state variables from MIKE 21 / 3 FM having the same name.
  • When coupling to a MIKE 21 or MIKE 3 FM file, and when the 'Transport (AD, SWQ)' module is included in the simulation: if the density in the MIKE 21 or MIKE 3 FM file is defined as a function of the temperature and/or salinity, these built-in temperature / salinity components will be coupled respectively to components called 'Temperature' and 'Salinity' in the 'WQ components' editor in MIKE+, if any.

'Boundary Info.' button

The 'Boundary Info.' button opens the 'Boundary overview' window with a horizontal bar chart showing time extent of all active boundary conditions from all included modules.

Boundary_Overview.jpg 

Figure: The Boundary Overview appears when pressing the ‘Boundary Info.’ button

'Set max. time' button

The 'Set max. time' button sets the maximum simulation time by filling in the start and end times of the simulation. The start time of a simulation is considered the latest start time of all boundaries. Likewise the end time for the simulation is considered the earliest end time of all boundaries.

Each boundary contains a number of items which can cover different parts of the simulation.

If a limited validity interval is specified for a boundary condition, this specifies the start and end time. If a validity is not specified, only items specified as timeseries have a start and end time. If either a constant or cyclic value is given without validity interval, the item is not included in the evaluation.

Catchments

The following parameters can be specified on the Catchments tab:

  • Surface runoff model simulation time step
  • RDI simulation time step
  • Catchment discharge simulation time step
  • Spatial distribution of rainfall
  • RDI hotstart specification
  • Additional parameters specification

SimulationSetup_Catchments.png 

Figure: The Simulation Setup Catchments tab

Edit field Description Used or required by simulations Field name in datastructure
Time-Area Fixed time step for Time-Area runoff model Yes if at least one catchment is set for simulation with Time-Area model TSDt
Kin. Wave Fixed time step for Kinematic Wave runoff model Yes if at least one catchment is set for simulation with Kinematic Wave model KWDt
UHM Time step for UHM model Yes if at least one catchment is set for simulation with UHM runoff model UHMDt
Wet weather Time step during wet periods Yes if at least one catchment is set for simulation with Linear Reservoir runoff model DtWetPeriod
Dry weather Time step during dry periods Yes if at least one catchment is set for simulation with Linear Reservoir runoff model DtDryPeriod
RDI RDI slow runoff component time step. The fast runoff component time step is the corresponding surface runoff model time step. Yes if at least one catchment is set for simulation with RDI runoff model SRCDt
Catchment Discharge Time step for catchment discharge Yes if Catchment Discharge simulation active CDDt
Distribution type When rainfall boundary conditions are defined with the geographical location of the rain station (boundary type 'Data source location'), it is possible to control how the rainfall intensity from the various rain gauges (boundary conditions) are applied to the different catchments. Three methods are available: assign the closest rainfall time series to each catchment, apply weighting using Thiessen polygons, or apply weighting using an inverse distance interpolation. Weights can be reviewed in the 'Boundary conditions' editor. Yes, if rainfall boundary conditions are of spatial extent type 'Data source location' DistribTypeNo
Power parameter The power coefficient, in the inverse distance interpolation equation. Yes, when the distribution type is set to 'Inverse distance weighting'. Power
Maximum search radius The maximum distance for searching rainfall stations, in the inverse distance interpolation equation. Yes, when the distribution type is set to 'Inverse distance weighting'. SearchRadius
RDI Hotstart Apply checkbox If this checkbox is ticked, a hotstart file for RDIImust be specified. Optional RDIHotStartNo
Use simulation start time If 'Use simulation start time' option is enabled, the initial condition is automatically extracted from the hotstart file using the simulation start date and time as specified in the 'Simulation Setup' editor. Optional RDIHotStartTimeUseNo
RDI hotstart time The date and time at which the initial conditions are loaded from the hotstart file. Only active if 'Use simulation start time' option is inactive. Optional RDIHotStartTime
Additional Parameters Apply checkbox If this checkbox is ticked, an *.ADP file for the runoff simulation can be specified Optional ADPRunoffFileNo

Table: The Simulation Setup Catchments tab attributes (Table msm_Project)

The additional parameter file (*.ADP file) is a separate file from MIKE URBAN with additional settings for the simulation, which is supported in MIKE+ for backward compatibility with MIKE URBAN.

HD

For a network (CS network and/or river network) simulation, the tab holds parameters specific to the hydrodynamic simulation setup:

  • Fixed simulation time step, or
  • Adaptive simulation time step settings
  • Network initial condition type
  • Additional parameters

For a simulation including 2D overland, the time step parameters are changed to:

  • A fixed simulation time step, used by the network simulation. This time step is also used to determine the saving frequency of 2D overland result files, and to synchronize the HD and AD modules for the 2D overland simulation.
  • Adaptive time step settings, applying only to the 2D overland simulation.

The tab is active if a hydrodynamic (HD) module is activated and if relevant data exist in the project (e.g. if at least 1 conduit is specified).

SimulationSetup_HD.jpg 

Figure: HD tab of the Simulation Setup editor

For network simulations, the initial condition definition may be of the following types:

  • Empty network: with this option, the network will be empty at the first time step of the simulation, except at outlet nodes where water levels from possible boundary conditions will propagate into the network.
  • User-specified: with this option, a set of initial conditions must be selected. Sets of initial conditions contain definition of default values, local values, and hotstart files. They are defined in the 'Initial conditions' editor.
  • State file: with this option, initial conditions for all modules included in the simulation (Hydrodynamic, Rainfall-runoff, Transport, etc.) are obtained from a state file, which is a detailed result file from a previous simulation. It is therefore required that state files have been saved during a previous simulation (see Result files). For this type of initial condition, it is required to provide a path to the folder containing the state files created from the previous simulation, along with a date and time controlling which time step (i.e. which state file) will be used as initial condition. The appropriate state file from the selected folder, with the date and time the closest to the specified instant, will be selected automatically during the simulation. If 'Select state file using simulation start time' is ticked, the state file with the date and time the closest to the simulation start date will automatically be selected, otherwise the state file with the date and time the closest to the user-defined date and time will be used. A set of 'Initial conditions ID' must also be selected: initial conditions from the state file have the highest priority, but if the network has e.g. been extended and some calculation points do not exist in the state file, the initial conditions in these points will be controlled by the user-defined initial conditions.
  • Steady state: with this option, initial conditions will be based on a steady state calculation for all rivers in the model, except for locations where local user-defined values are defined in the optional user-defined 'Initial conditions ID'. Default values and hotstart files defined in the selected 'Initial conditions ID' are ignored. This option is not supported for collection system networks.
Edit field Description Used or required by simulations Field name in datastructure
Fixed/Adaptive radio buttons Toggles between alternative time step type Yes HDTimeStepType
Fixed Specifies a fixed time step for the network simulation Yes if Fixed time step type or if including 2D overland HDDtFixed
Minimum Specifies a minimum time step for network or 2D overland model Yes if Adaptive time step type or if including 2D overland HDDtMin
Maximum Specifies a maximum time step for network or 2D overland model Yes if Adaptive time step type or if including 2D overland HDDtMax
Max. Increase Factor Specifies maximum increase factor for adaptive time step for network model Yes if Adaptive time step type HDDtIncreaseFactor
Max. CFL number Specifies the expected maximum CFL number in the simulation, to control the adaptive 2D overland time step Yes if including 2D overland M2DHDMaxCFL
Network initial conditions type Specifies the type of initial condition for the network (CS and/or river) Yes if including CS network or River network simulation HDInitCondTypeNo
Initial conditions ID Specifies the ID of the set of initial conditions, defined in the 'Initial conditions' page Yes except if defined as ‘Empty network‘ HDInitCondID
State files folder The path to the folder containing the state files saved during a previous simulation Yes if 'State file' is chosen StateFilesFolder
Select state file using simulation start time If selected, the simulation will use the state file with date and time matching the start time of the simulation. Yes if 'State file' is chosen UseSimulationTypeNo
Date and time The user-defined date and time to select the state file from all state files saved during a previous simulation Yes if 'Select state file using simulation start time' is not chosen StateStartTime
Additional Parameters Apply checkbox Activates .ADP file with network-relevant input. Define .ADP file name and path if activated. Optional ADPNetworkFileNo

Table: The Simulation Setup HD tab attributes (Table msm_Project)

The additional parameter file (*.ADP file) is a separate file with additional settings for the simulation. Please refer to the seperate documentation on this file for further information.

AD and WQ

The "AD and WQ" tab includes parameters specific for the AD and MIKE ECO Lab (WQ) simulation setup.The tab is available if the Transport (AD, SWQ) module is activated in the ‘General’ tab, otherwise it is hidden.

SimulationSetup_AD_WQ.png 

Figure: The Simulation Setup AD and WQ tab

Edit field Description Used or required by simulations Field name in datastructure
Minimum Specifies a minimum time step for 2D overland model Yes if including 2D overland M2DADDtMin
Maximum Specifies a maximum time step for 2D overland model Yes if including 2D overland M2DADDtMax
Max. CFL number Specifies the expected maximum CFL number in the AD simulation, to control the adaptive 2D overland AD time step Yes if including 2D overland M2DADMaxCFL
Type Controls whether the simulation start with an empty network (no component) or with pre-defined initial conditions Yes ADInitContTypeNo
AD initial condition ID The ID of the selected set of Network AD initial conditions Yes if Type = User-specified ADInitCondID
Decoupling of HD and AD simulations Decoupling a transport simulation (AD or WQ) from the HD simulation speeds up the simulation by getting the hydrodynamic conditions from a decoupled result file, instead of running the HD simulation at the same time. This is especially relevant when running multiple transport simulations with identical HD conditions. Yes DecouplingADHDTypeNo
Decoupling file The decoupled result file to be used as input for the decoupled transport simulation. It is a result file with content type 'Decoupling' which must be saved during a previous simulation. Yes, if 'Run transport simulation using decoupling file' is chosen DecouplingPath
MIKE ECO Lab Integration Specified ECOLab integration method Yes If Simulation Type = MIKE ECO Lab (WQ) ELIntegrationNo
Time step multiplier Multiplier used to scale the MIKE ECO Lab time step as a function of the HD time step Yes ELUpdateFrequency

Table: The Simulation Setup AD and WQ tab attributes (Table msm_Project)

LTS

The LTS tab includes parameters specific for Network LTS simulations. The tab is shown if the Long Term Statistics (LTS) module is activated in the project and if at least 1 Job List Criterion is specified.

SimulationSetup_LTS.jpg 

Figure: The Simulation Setup editor LTS tab

Edit field Description Used or required by simulations Field name in datastructure
LTS Job List Defines the Job List *.MJL file name and path to be used in the LTS simulation Yes If Simulation Type = Long Term Simulation (LTS) MJLFileName

Table: Simulation Setup LTS tab attributes (Table msm_Project)

The LTS tab also has buttons for the following functions.

'Edit' button

Opens the specified Job List file (*.mjl) in text editor. If the Job List File dialog is empty, or the specified file does not exist or is empty, the ‘Edit’ button opens an empty ASCII file.

'Generate Job List' button

Starts a Job List generation process. This is a special form of simulation where the output is a Job List file (*.MJL).

More details on Job List generation and editing are found in section Data Input and in the MIKE 1D Reference Manual.

Results

The Results tab includes parameters for defining output from a simulation setup.

Multiple result files may be specified for each simulation setup.

SimulationSetup_Results.jpg 

Figure: Results Tab of the Simulation Setup editor showing multiple result items

Edit field Description Used or required by simulations Field name in datastructure
Save Results in Default Folder/Save Results in this Folder [Output Folder radio buttons] Toggles between Default folder and user-specified folder for output file location Yes HDOutputNo
[Input box beside ‘Save Results in this Folder ‘option] Contains the path for user-specified output destination folder Yes if ‘Save Results in this Folder’ activated HDFolderPath
Collection System Summary dropdown menu Specifies a MIKE1D simulation summary. User selects from the list of available summaries. Only one network summary per simulation job is possible. Yes if including a network simulation SummaryID
Edit Summary button Opens the Network Summary editor with the current summary in focus. Allows for editing summary contents. If user has specified a non-existing summary ID, program automatically creates a new summary record with default contents and opens the summary editor with the new summary in focus. Yes -

Table: Overview of Simulation Setup Results tab attributes (Table msm_Project)

A secondary grid in the 'Results' tab displays a list of the output files selected for the simulation setup. The grid retrieves the information from the Result Files editor (Result Specifications| Result Files).

SimulationSetup_Results_SecondaryTable.jpg 

Figure: The Project Outputs secondary grid in the Results tab

An overview of the attributes of the 'Project Outputs' table is shown in the table below.

Edit field Description Used or required by simulations Field name in datastructure
ID MUID of the selected output file definition Yes OutputID
Type Shows type and default contents of the output file (read only) Yes ContentsTypeNo
Format Shows the file format (read only) Yes FormatNo
Save Every Specifies results saving frequency Yes DtSave
[Column to the right of ‘Save Every’ column] Specified unit for result saving frequency Yes DtSaveUnitNo
Default Save Period checkbox Specify to save results for the entire simulation (check), or for user-specified period only (un-check) Yes DefaultSavePeriodNo
Start Saving Defines start date and time for saving results Yes if user-specified save period SaveStartDate
End Saving Defines end date and time for saving results if user-specified save period SaveEndDate

Table: Overview of the Project Outputs secondary grid attributes (Table msm_ProjectOutput)

The list of outputs is controlled by the user using available buttons to the right of the grid. The following buttons are available.

'Include' button

Opens a list of all relevant results definitions as specified in the 'Result files' editor and allows to choose those which are to be added to the list. The list is filtered to show only the relevant results according to the features and modules included in the actual simulation.

'Include all' button

Fills the list with all relevant results defined in the 'Result files' editor. Relevance is determined by the modules and features included in the simulation. If the list is not empty, it only adds those outputs which are not already in the list.

'Edit' button

Opens the 'Result files' editor with the current result in focus.

'Remove' button

Removes selected result(s) from the list.

'Use default period' button

This function resets the 'Start saving' and 'End saving' date and times for each result file, to match the start and end date of the simulation.