Semaphore is a collection of tools to assist in (semi-)automating the process of modelling and analysing ecosystem dynamics using Australian data. The process involves data transformations, model execution and calibration, and result verification. More information can be found in our blog http://semaphoreblog.wordpress.com
The hightlight of Sempahore is a workflow management system that provides a web interface for user to manage and run experiments online. The workflow management system requires the execution service component contained in this repository. The source code for the workflow management system can be accessed from a seperate GitHub repository: https://github.com/QUT-IFE-eResearch/semaphore_wms
This repository contains the source code of various tools organised into main sub directories:
###1. service/executor The modelling of Carbon and Nitrogen dynamics in the ecosystem involves running a simulation program such as Century (www.nrel.colostate.edu/projects/century). Normally, a researcher needs to download or request such program, install, and run it on their computer. This directory contains a web application that provide a HTTP RESTful interface to run a model simulation on the cloud without the need to download and install the program locally. This tool is basically a web service wrapper for the modelling software.
###2. kepler Using the scientific workflow software such as Kepler (https://kepler-project.org), researchers can construct a custom workflow using a visual drag-and-drop-style interface. The constructed workflow can then be used to semi-automate the process of model execution, calibration, and validation. This directory contains some basic custom (Python) actors and examples of the workflow that represent a modelling process.
###3. excel-addins The widespread use of Microsoft Excel as the easiest and most convenience tool to process simulation output data and compare them with the historical data should not be overlooked. In particular with the Century/Daycent model, the process of getting the output from the model to the excel spreadsheet is tedious and time-consuming. This tool provides an add-ins that can be accessed form the ribbon interface (toolbar) to automatically import all the Century/Daycent output files to a currently open Excel workbook.
All documentation including user and developer manual can found in the Semaphore wiki.
This project is supported by the Australian National Data Service (ANDS). ANDS is supported by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Program and the Education Investment Fund (EIF) Super Science Initiative. The software is developed in conjunction with Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and The Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (ACEAS).
(The GNU Lesser General Public License)
Copyright (c) 2012-2013 Queensland University of Technology
This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along with this program. If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.