These software tools are models which are being designed to adapt to meet the evolving needs of river planners and managers across Australia and internationally.

Two new eWater tools are being developed in this project:

River Manager:

a river systems model of water and management in river systems, designed for use by river planners and managers. The model will enable users to simulate the physical aspects (natural and constructed, such as dams, canals, pipes, farming) of any river network, and also the management aspects (ownership, allocations, demand, etc.) River Manager will reproduce the functionality of existing river models currently in use, including IQQM, REALM and MSM-BIGMOD. Users will be able to consider combined effects of influences such as climate change, landscape change and economic change.

River Operator:

a river systems model designed to support river operations for time-steps ranging from daily (or smaller) to seasonal. The model is being designed to enable (e.g.) efficient interaction with long-term planners and managers; forecasts for up to several years ahead; advanced scenario management.

River Operator and River Manager will both contain the same basic model. At present, the tools (working titles only) are still under construction.

These tools are based on ongoing research as well as existing research findings and knowledge. They have been designed to suit the needs of a range of eWater's water-industry partners.

More information is available here in the article by Dr Peter Wallbrink. A version of this article was published in 'WATER' (the AWA journal) in 2008.

eWater is pleased to have been granted extra funding by both the National Water Commission and the Dept of Environment, Water, Heritage & the Arts, to expand the capability of River Manager and accelerate its development.