Current Development Projects

The Spatial Modeling Environment (SME) is a modelling collaboratory designed to enable students, educators, policy makers, and other non-computer scientists to utilized state-of-the-art distributed computing resources ( through Java/Web-based interfaces ) to explore the dynamics of complex systems through simulation.

The Simulation Module Markup Language (SiMMaL) Project is researching methods for supporting modular, pluggable, simulation based on freely exchangable XML-based model components.

Current Collaborations

The current management applications of the SME include the Everglades Landscape Model (ELM), the Baltimore LTER project (BES), and the Patuxent Landscape Model (PLM).

As a member of the National Computational Science Alliance (NCSA), I have been directing the ecological modeling component of the Environmental Hydrology (EvHydro) Application Technology (AT) Team's research effort.

We have been collaborating with the Maryland Virtual High School Program to make realistic ecosystem modeling available to students (very broadly defined) through the use of the SME Java interface, which has lead to our participation in the CoreModels and RiverWeb program, designed to prototype learning tools and collaborative frameworks for education of 21st century citizens to participate actively in the management of natural resources vital to their communities.

The Integrating Modelling Architecture design: a proposal and open space for discussion on the next step in multi-paradigm, collaborative natural systems modelling.

The Simulation Network Interface (SNI): a simple but powerful client/server architecture for secure remote execution of simulation models, allowing multi-paradigm simulation development, remote GUI development and integration of new with legacy models, with minimal or no recoding and minimal installation trouble.