SWAT Literature Database for Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Title:SWAT check: A screening tool to assist users in the identification of potential model application problems 
Authors:White, M.J., R.D. Harmel, J.G. Arnold and J.R. Williams 
Year:2014 
Journal:Journal of Environmental Quality 
Volume (Issue):43(1) 
Pages:208-214 
Article ID: 
DOI:10.2134/jeq2012.0039 
URL (non-DOI journals): 
Model:SWAT 
Broad Application Category:hydrologic and pollutant 
Primary Application Category:GIS interface, GIS utility, or other type of interface/utility 
Secondary Application Category:pollutant cycling/loss and transport 
Watershed Description:Three example watersheds that are 260, 3,500 and 240,000 km^2 in size 
Calibration Summary: 
Validation Summary: 
General Comments:This paper is part of a JEQ special SWAT issue. 
Abstract:The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a basin scale hydrologic model developed by the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. SWAT’s broad applicability, user friendly model interfaces, and automatic calibration software have led to a rapid increase in the number of new users. These advancements also allow less experienced users to conduct SWAT modeling applications. In particular, the use of automated calibration software may produce simulated values that appear appropriate because they adequately mimic measured data used in calibration and validation. Unfortunately, autocalibrated model applications (and often those of unexperienced modelers) may contain input data errors and/or inappropriate parameter adjustments not readily identified by users or the autocalibration software. Therefore, the objective of this research was to develop a program to assist users in the identification of potential model application problems. The resulting “SWAT Check” is a stand-alone Microsoft Windows® program that: 1) reads selected SWAT output 24 and alert users of values outside the typical range, 2) creates process-based figures for visualization of the appropriateness of output values, including important outputs that are commonly ignored, and 3) detects and alert users of common model application errors. By alerting users to potential model application problems, this software should assist the SWAT community in developing more reliable modeling applications. 
Language:English 
Keywords: