Transforming Hydrology Python Packages into Web Application Programming Interfaces: A Comprehensive Workflow Using Modern Web Technologies

• Published in: Water (Basel) Vol. 16; no. 18; p. 2609
• Main Authors: Pulla, Sarva T., Yasarer, Hakan, Yarbrough, Lance D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Algorithms; Application Programming Interface; Automation; Climate change; Collaboration; computer software; Data processing; Datasets; Decision making; Distributed processing; Geographic information systems; Groundwater; hydrologic models; Hydrology; Information retrieval; Information sharing; Internet; JavaScript; Land use; Machine learning; Management; Remote sensing; Simulation; time series analysis; Usability; Water; water management; Water resources management; Water shortages; Watersheds; Web services; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 2073-4441; 2073-4441
• DOI: 10.3390/w16182609

The accessibility and deployment of complex hydrological models remain significant challenges in water resource management and research. This study presents a comprehensive workflow for converting Python-based hydrological models into web APIs, addressing the need for more accessible and interoperable modeling tools. The workflow leverages modern web technologies and containerization to streamline the deployment process. The workflow was applied to three distinct models: a GRACE downscaling model, a synthetic time series generator, and a MODFLOW groundwater model. The implementation process for each model was completed in approximately 15 min with a reliable internet connection, demonstrating the efficiency of the approach. The resulting APIs provide standardized interfaces for model execution, progress tracking, and result retrieval, facilitating integration with various applications. This workflow significantly reduces barriers to model deployment and usage, potentially broadening the user base for sophisticated hydrological tools. The approach aligns hydrological modeling with contemporary software development practices, opening new avenues for collaboration and innovation. While challenges such as performance scaling and security considerations remain, this work provides a blueprint for making complex hydrological models more accessible and operational, paving the way for enhanced research and practical applications in hydrology.