Mission

"What modellers need is a standardized set of tools that will enable them to collaborate and share model components, pieces of well-defined software objects that can be interchanged and combined freely: Download the annual life cycle models of species A and B, combine them with soil model C and weather generator D, and set it all in the context of cropping system model E. We need a way out of modeling as a purely personal, or in the best case, small-team exercise. - Holst (2010), Weed Science, in press.'

This web site is devoted to the exchange of building blocks and tools for ecological models.

Universal Simulator (UniSim)

Universal Simulator is a software package for collaborative ecological modelling. It is composed of a GUI main module which is used to open and execute model specifications read from XML files. The XML files specify the components constituting a model. The functionality of these components are defined in plug-in libraries. This makes UniSim extendible and open for re-use. It is programmed in standard C++ but relies on the Qt library. Universal Simulater is open source (GPL).

Sponsors

The development of UniSim was supported by the ENDURE project funded by EU, International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems (ICROFS) and the BiosafeTrain project funded by Danida. Flying squirrel icon provided by Yoji Inata (icon N86) and redrawn by David Driessen.