Team modeling facilitates collaboration between modelers working with the same watershed and forecasts. Multiple modelers may be sharing responsibility within a complex watershed containing several models. One modeler may only be responsible for the HEC-HMS model, while another oversees HEC-ResSim and HEC-RAS. Team modeling allows each modeling team member to contribute expertise and participate in real-time synchronized activities.
Team modeling consists of a master watershed and its associated forecasts, which are stored in a shared location (such as a networked drive). Team members share data by uploading and downloading changes to and from a master watershed, interacting with a local copy that resides on their computer. When watershed files are updated on the master watershed, team members working on the same watershed are notified of the changes by a real-time notification system.
The master watershed keeps detailed records that provide information on what files are changed, when the changes were made, and who modified the data. This information includes changes made to base and forecast data. Base data refers to the starting copies of the model alternatives that are used in forecasts. Forecast data represents the working copies of the model alternatives, including observed and forecast boundary condition data.
This chapter describes how to utilize the team modeling features, how to set up a master watershed; how to work with base data; and, how forecasts work in a team environment. Further additional details important to understanding team modeling, are detailed in Technical Notes on Versioning.