Managing Water for the City of the Future

Software

The software on this page was produced before Spring 2011 when the SWITCH project ended. Each was developed and tested on operating systems and software that were current at that time, but may not work on later releases. Any contact details that are provided were also accurate at the time the project closed. We regret that the site webmaster cannot offer assistance with queries relating to the software below.

Please find below links to software developed during the life of the SWITCH project, grouped by Research Area:

• Water Supply: Exploring the options
• Stormwater: Exploring the options
• Decision-Support Tools: Choosing a sustainable path

Water Demand Management (WDM) Options Model in VENSIM

• Download the software (zip)

To use the software, please download a freeware version of the VENSIM reader by following the instructions at http://www.vensim.com/freedownload.html. Install the reader by running the file you downloaded (*.exe if on Windows; *.dmg if on Mac OS).

To run the WDM model as supplied, download and unzip the file above, open the Vensim Model Reader program, and then use File | Open Model and browse to the folder where you unzipped the WDM model files. The file to open is WDM3.vpm.

To modify the model, you will require a commercial version of the software (VENSIM Professional). This is be used to open the file WDM3.mdl and the input data spreadsheet in Excel (WDM.xls). VENSIM Professional allows the user to add and modify the model settings, configurations, equations, etc. An extensive modelling guide is available for free download at http://www.vensim.com/documentation.html. For more information on purchasing VENSIM Professional (developed by Ventana Systems Inc.), please go to http://www.vensim.com/buy.html.

COFAS-Software

• English download (external link – zip)
  German download (external link – zip)
  To run the program, unzip the file to any folder and double-click "EntscheidungsMatrix.exe"
• Assessing future uncertainties associated with urban drainage using flexible systems – the COFAS method and tool (pdf)
• Example files (zip)

 
LCCA tool
ECO.SWM is a tool to calculate the so-called "Net present value" for different scenarios in water management.

• Download the software (external link – exe)
• Install the software by starting setup_ecoswm.exe. The program will be installed under C:\Program Files\ips\Eco.SWM. A demo file (sample.kvr) is stored in the samples folder. A short description in English is given in the poster LCCAToolPoster_IPS_Birmingham2006.pdf
• Because it is often time consuming to collect prices for different alternatives and to present results properly Eco.SWM has been developed as an application with access to a web-based database. In the database unit prices, operational cost per unit and lifetime expectancy for many different measures can be stored. To connect to this mysql-database the user needs an internet connection and an user account. For SWITCH partners the following login data can be used: username: switch | password: switch
• Please report bugs and suggestions for improvements to: Heiko Sieker, IPS h.sieker@sieker.de

 
SETNAWWAT
Selection tool for natural wastewater treatment systems

• The user manual for SETNAWWAT
• For the installation files, please contact Dr Diederik Rousseau

 
SOMA – the "SWITCH Organic Micropollutants Assessment" tool
Facilitates the design and operation of Bank Filtration systems in the reduction of selected groups of OMPs.

• Spreadsheet model (xls)
• Background to the model and information for users

The City Water Information System (CWIS)
Sharing information and knowledge, providing support to scenario planning
To try out the demo version, download the user manual and access to other documentation, go to CWIS website (external link)

To install and use the CWIS Web platform, three elements are needed:

1. A MSSQL database, either empty (but adequately structured) to add your own data or a pre-filled demo database. (Although not needed, you may want to use the free MSSQL Express database management tool.)
2. The CWIS solution to be deployed on Web server
3. A Web client (IExplorer, Firefox, Chrome, etc.) with the Silverlight Plug-in installed. Installation of this plug-in is automatic but requires administrative rights.

All these elements (the empty demo databases, the current version of CWIS and instructions on how to setup the web service) can be obtained by sending an email to info@ipogee.ch.

For information about licensing, please contact info@ipogee.ch.

 
City Water Balance (CWB)
A scoping model for assessing the dynamic balances of water, energy and pollutants at the city scale.

• Setup for the executable code for CWB (zip)
• Read-me for CWB: provides basic instructions for installing the executable version of CWB on a PC
• Example data: the base case data set for Birmingham for use with CWB (zip)
• For background information on the model, see
  City Water Balance – PHD Thesis

 
City Water Economics
Explores the potential economic implications of future strategies on urban water management by analysing scenarios for cost recovery and economic drivers for change (financing, pricing and subsidies).

• City Water Economics Manual and Application Cases – the document is structured in 3 parts. Part I and II comprise the user and reference manuals of the City Water Economics Model respectively. Part III presents the City Water Economics Application cases in Birmingham, Alexandria and Accra.
• The setup (installation) files for City Water Economics (version 4.0) (zip)
• Input data files and saved scenarios for the application of City Water Economics in Birmingham, Alexandria and Accra (zip)

 
"Jericho" Decision Support System
Evaluates options of water resources allocation under conditions of scarcity and potential for wastewater reuse, using sustainability indicators.

• The setup (installation) files for the "Jericho" DSS (zip)
• The user manual for the "Jericho" DSS