Predictive cum Adaptive Systems Development Methodology for HydroGIS Tool Development

Abstract

In system development methodologies, main consideration has being changed from processes to users since waterfall development. As the business logic became less complex due to familiarity; Extreme Programming methodologies like Agile and Scrum become popular among the programmers. Nevertheless, the engineering processes like hydrology modelling, which are still evolving, remain in the same complex. As well historically established hydrology calculations, which are base to evolving models, are remaining complex. When model development, hydrologists have to identify and sequencing those established calculations that best suited to the model scenarios. Then as the final step, they have to calibrate and validate the model, which takes considerable time and effort, before apply to decision making. Hence, once the models are crated, those cannot be changed very easily whilst the automation. As well as the programmers has to pay a considerable attention to the get the 100% accurate result. However, the most users of engineering applications are novice and required more user centric tools same as other users. Hence, there is a difficulty to develop such systems following either predictive (focus on process) or adaptive (focus on users) methodologies which presently available. The present work’s main objective is to identify and calibrate the most suited combination of methodologies to development of a HydroGIS (Hydrological Geographic Information System) tool, which should accurately automate the complex hydrology process in GIS environment whilst satisfying the user requirements. Whilst developing the tool, it carries out two parallel developments (1) Automation of engineering process and (2) Achieving the user-friendliness. Whilst automating the processes, a comprehensive devotion was paid to calibrate the accuracy of the calculations. When achieving the maximum user-friendliness, a repetitive developing prototype was used. Once the both parallels come to the accepted level, it amalgamates the prototype with engineering processes. Then integration and system testing were carried out before releasing the final product. The developed tool named GIS2MUSCLE. The HydroGIS tool which developed, demonstrates 100% accuracy in hydrological and GIS calculations whilst 92% user-friendliness in tool operation. Presently this calibrated methodology, which follows a process centric development to gain user centric tool (PcD.UcT), is being verified with six software development projects.