Tuflow Classic / Tuflow HPC
Many of those who will read this blog entry will undoubtably recognize the name from the inclusion of Tuflow as the XP2D engine provided within XPSWMM or XPSTORM. [If not, well, welcome to the blog, you now know] The Tuflow engine received national FEMA approval way back in 2011. (FEMA Approves XPSWMM 2D and XPSTORM 2D Software | Stormwater Solutions) It wasn’t until recently that FEMA undertook a rebranded website that the Two-Dimensional Steady/Unsteady Flow Models changed that entry from XP2D to XPSWMM, XPSTORM 10.0 AND UP. As I explained to FEMA then - XP2D is the 2D engine of XPSWMM, and did not work without the overlaying user-interface. Technically, that entry could have simply read as Tuflow version 2009-07 and up, rather than XP2D.
With Autodesk abandoning, or rather cajoling users to migrate from perpetual XPSWMM to InfoWorks ICM - it might be good to offer the following rebuttal?
Why? Tuflow is the only software package to offer a like-for-like answer.
Tuflow has significantly advanced beyond the capabilities offered by XPSWMM, and arguably matches or surpasses those of InfoWorks ICM or HEC-RAS. While Tuflow has always featured a 1D solver, it now includes a SWMM5 1D option with SWMM5 inlets, that offers integration with the Tuflow 2D engine. There is no need to switch between different packages; a 1D SWMM5 model can be constructed in QGIS using a GeoPackage database. The Tuflow Viewer plugin enables users to build a model directly in open-source GIS, and incorporating the 2D component is straightforward. This open-source approach is truly impressive.
To emphasize this key value proposition: Tuflow allows for the construction and review of model simulation results using only the Tuflow Viewer plugin in QGIS. Only the Tuflow engine requires a license; there is no license needed to build or view results. For more information, visit the TUFLOW Viewer wiki page.
I’ll have to blog more about the SWMM5 workflows in the future, as my mind has been a buzz of activity as to how to get this into the modeling team and socialize this workflow. I know the EPA has tried and failed to redo the SWMM5 interface in QGIS before - but this Tuflow Viewer has simply blown my mind as to how easy it was to build, edit, and run a model, and then review a model in QGIS.
Back to the pitch - Tuflow is offering, an existing or past XPSWMM perpetual license owner who would like to purchase a TUFLOW license(s), please reach out to TuflowSales-Us@inundar.com.
I will continue blogging on stormwater, design, and other elements, including Tuflow in the future.
Let’s review Tuflow:
Strengths: With the addition of the SWMM5 engine, Tuflow offers full 1D/2D stormwater modeling in the urban and rural environment. The use of the Quadtree grid, and the GPU acceleration together with the sub-grid sampling - the full catchment model is simply limited by hard-drive space. Freed of the limitations of the lagging development cycle - Tuflow simply offers an easy path to the same results.
Weaknesses: I know the envy of most stormwater modelers is HEC-RASs streamline velocity animation - Tuflow does not have that yet. No design.
Opportunities: Replace XPSWMM for stormwater and floodwater analysis. Speed! GPU acceleration saves time - and XPSWMM testing proved out the ability to reduce simulation times in half. FEMA acceptance of a 2D model requires local agencies being onboard. Tuflow engine output does not require post-processing to view results - GeoTiff and NETCDF are two new formats that provide improved workflows in GIS.
Threats: HEC-RAS. While open-source (free) - its super commonly accepted and used.
Observations: Tuflow’s workflow is very layered and as structured works wonderfully in the existing - proposed workflow. With hardware being what is today vs. 8 years ago - local hardware can accelerate a simulations faster than we could in the past. This opens the simulations to evaluation more what-ifs than possible.
HEC-22 Score: Will show once I finish the giant HEC-22 spreadsheet.
Note: Inundar, LLC is the North American reseller for Tuflow, and for which I am the sole member. If you want to know more about Tuflow, please reach out to me via TuflowSales-Us@inundar.com.