sedimentmodeller

Sedimentmodeller is a software framework designed to simulate sediment transport, deposition, and stratigraphic development in aquatic and coastal environments. It integrates hydrodynamics with sediment transport and morphodynamic processes to predict how landscapes and deposits evolve under varying flow conditions and sediment supply.

The model typically comprises modular components for flow hydraulics, sediment transport (including suspended load and bedload), bed evolution, and stratigraphy. Numerical approaches can range from one-dimensional to two-dimensional depth-averaged schemes, with potential extensions to three dimensions. Time integration uses explicit or implicit schemes, and the framework emphasizes stability and efficiency for long-term simulations. Sedimentmodeller supports multiple grain-size classes and can accommodate changes in sediment supply and water discharge over time.

Inputs include topography or bathymetry, boundary conditions for flow, sediment properties such as grain-size distribution and settling velocities, and external sediment sources. Outputs consist of bed-elevation maps, sediment thickness distributions, cross-sections, and synthetic stratigraphic logs. The software is designed to export results to geographic information systems and standard data formats to facilitate integration with other analyses and visualization tools.

Applications cover river morphodynamics, deltaic and coastal evolution, sediment-budget studies, and engineering planning for dredging, shoreline protection, and habitat restoration. The framework is intended to be adaptable for different environments and scales, enabling researchers and engineers to explore scenario-based questions about erosion, deposition, and long-term landscape change.

Development and licensing vary by distribution, but sedimentmodeller is commonly described as an extensible, community-oriented tool with documentation, tutorials, and cross-platform support. Limitations include uncertainties in hydrodynamic forcing and sediment properties, scale limitations, and the need for calibration with field data.