Object Orientation in Hydraulic Modeling Architectures

Abstract

A “separable” approach to the object-oriented design of modeling systems is presented. In it, the local behavior of an individual object is separated from the global behavior of the system, and the functional decomposition of the system is separated from its synthesis as a set of interacting objects—entities that encapsulate data and behavior. In a pipe network, elements such as pipes, junctions, pumps, and valves can be represented in the form of objects (so-called agents) encapsulating specific attributes and the behavior of each element. The behavior of the network as a whole is encapsulated in an object that controls agents (so-called actor). This approach is demonstrated in the design and implementation of an interactive water distribution modeling and design system, the hydraulic modeling system (HIS); an example of its application is given. The use of object orientation in constructing computer-based models is viewed as very promising in the field of hydraulic and environmental modeling, and especially in relation to promoting computer code reusability and model flexibility.