Delft3D-FM

Criterion	Explanation
General Description	Delft3D Flexible Mesh (FM) allows the modeler to simulate the interaction of water, sediment, ecology, and water quality in time and space. Delft3D-FM is the successor model to the structured Delft3D model. The suite is mostly used for the modeling of natural environments like coastal, estuarine, lakes and river areas, but it is equally suitable for more artificial environments like harbours, locks, and urban areas. Delft3D FM consists of several validated modules, which are linked to and integrated with each other. The model website is at: https://www.deltares.nl/en/software/delft3d-flexible-mesh-suite/
Model Domain	The model domain is flexible and can be specified by the user, and can include coastal, estuarine, lakes and river areas.
Developer	Developed by Deltares, based in the Netherlands
Hardware computing requirements	Delft3D FM is supported on both Microsoft Windows and Linux. The advised requirements: (Minimal, Preferred) Processor: 1 GHz, 2 GHz Memory: 1 GB, 4 GB Disk space: 1 GB
Code language	FORTRAN (technical code), C++ (GUI)
Original application	The original focus and application of the model was to the marine environment of the Netherlands.
Public/proprietary and cost	Deltares offers service packages (including the full model download) at varying costs. The model is available as open source code.
Physically or empirically based	Physically based
Mathematical methods used	Combined curvilinear and unstructured grid discretization approach along with finite volume numerical schemes to compute estuarine flows, salinity, and temperature dynamics
Input data requirements	Input data for the Delta is well-parameterized and readily available from public sources. Input data includes: Domain (grid parameters, bathymetry) Initial conditions (water level, salinity, water temperature, pollutant and sediment concentrations) Boundary conditions (inflows, outflows, water level, salinity, water temperature, pollutant and sediment concentrations) Physical parameters (describing constants, viscosity, heat flux, sediment, tidal forces) Environmental parameters (precipitation, evaporation, wind speed and direction)
Outputs	Water level, flow volume and direction, salinity, water temperature, water quality (pollutant, sediment) concentrations; Model output is written to binary files for use by the model GUI, however observation points can be specified for ASCII time series files to be written for post-processing.
Pre-processing and post-processing tools	The technical code is built in to a comprehensive Graphical User Interface (GUI).
Representation of uncertainty	Uncertainty is not represented.
Prevalence	The model has been applied to marine environments in the Netherlands, USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and Venice.
Ease of use for public entities	Model training is available. Computational requirements can be large; parallel computing was used for Delta model.
Ease of obtaining information and availability of technical support	User meetings, online forum, training courses. Deltares offers service packages at varying costs.
Source code availability	The model is freely available as open source code.
Status of model development	The model has an active user and developer community.
Challenges in integration	Because the model is open source, well documented, and has an active user and development community, challenges to integration are few.

References

Achete, F. M., van der Wegen, M., Roelvink, D., and Jaffe, B. A 2-D process-based model for suspended sediment dynamics: a first step towards ecological modeling, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 2837-2857, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-2837-2015, 2015.

Achete, F.M., van der Wegen, M., Roelvink, D. et al. Suspended sediment dynamics in a tidal channel network under peak river flow. Ocean Dynamics (2016) 66: 703. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10236-016-0944-0

Achete, F., van der Wegen, M., Roelvink, J. et al. How can climate change and engineered water conveyance affect sediment dynamics in the San Francisco Bay-Delta system? Climatic Change (2017) 142: 375. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-017-1954-8

Holleman, R.; Nuss, E.; Senn, D. 2017. San Francisco Bay Interim Model Validation Report. SFEI Contribution No. 850. San Francisco Estuary Institute: Richmond, CA. Available at: https://www.sfei.org/documents/san-francisco-bay-interim-model-validation-report

Martyr-Koller, R.C., Kernkamp, H.W.J., van Dam, A., van der Wegen, M., Lucas, L.V., Knowles, N., Jaffe, B. and Fregoso, T.A., 2017. Application of an unstructured 3D finite volume numerical model to flows and salinity dynamics in the San Francisco Bay-Delta. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 192, pp. 86-107. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2017.04.024

Vroom, J., van der Wegen, M., Martyr-Koller, R. C., & Lucas, L. V. 2017. What determines water temperature dynamics in the San Francisco Bay-Delta system? Water Resources Research, 53, 9901–9921. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2016WR020062

Browser not supported