Openchannelflow

Openchannelflow is an open-source software framework designed for simulating and analyzing open-channel flow in hydraulic engineering and hydrology. It provides tools to model unsteady flow in single channels and channel networks, using common formulations such as the Saint-Venant shallow water equations. The project targets researchers, practitioners, and educators by offering a modular architecture and a high-level scripting interface.

Key features include a modular solver suite for one-dimensional and two-dimensional flow, flexible boundary and initial conditions, and bed roughness options such as Manning’s n. It supports steady-state and time-dependent runs, complex channel geometries, and scenarios involving rainfall, inflows, and outflow controls. Data input and output cover formats like NetCDF and CSV, with built-in units handling to reduce dimensional errors. Visualization hooks and lightweight plotting aids help with quick analysis and teaching demonstrations.

The software architecture centers on a performant core engine with Python bindings, enabling rapid experimentation while preserving computational efficiency. A plugin system allows users to extend solvers, boundary conditions, and bed profiles without altering the core codebase. The project emphasizes portability, test coverage, and a transparent development process, with public issue tracking, code reviews, and continuous integration.

Openchannelflow is released under an open-source license and maintained by a community of contributors and institutions. It is used in academic courses, research investigations, and practical flood-hydraulics analyses, serving as a collaborative platform for modeling open-channel systems and sharing reproducible workflows.