Applying the GoldSim WGEN Model to Generate Stochastic Weather Data

Posted by Jason Lillywhite

Now you can let GoldSim do all the heavy lifting for you when simulating weather for your next project. A new GoldSim model example in our library lets you quickly generate the input data required to run the WGEN model, which is a stochastic weather generator built in GoldSim that creates daily stochastic time series of precipitation, temperature, and solar radiation.

This model (called WGENprep) uses time series data to automatically generate the input file you need to run WGEN. The WGEN model requires a lot of statistical information in order to run it and it can be quite a project to develop these inputs. With WGENprep, you can simply input the time series, change the simulation start and end time to correspond to the time series and the model will automatically export all the WGEN input data to an Excel spreadsheet. All you have to do is start up the WGEN model and then copy and paste the data from Excel right into the WGEN dashboard. These models were recently put to the test using some observed historical time series data gathered from the Salt Lake City airport weather station, provided by the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information website.

GoldSim at AWRA 2017 National Conference

Posted by Jason Lillywhite

The GoldSim booth in the exhibit hall

I recently traveled to Portland, Oregon for the AWRA 2017 National Conference to exhibit and participate in a presentation. With over 70 oral presentations to choose from, I was able to hear about a lot of the latest developments in the world of water resources. I also learned more about some of the unique challenges the Pacific Northwest is facing due to climate change, flood risk, and water quality concerns. Some topics were particularly relevant to GoldSim, such as decision support, risk-based planning, human health risk, reservoir operations, and fate of contaminants in water systems.

An interesting GoldSim application was presented by Rebecca Pluche of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to summarize on-going work to help manage critical dam operations during construction onsite.

Training Workshop in Phoenix, AZ

Posted by Jason Lillywhite

GoldSim Technology Group provided on-site training for the Arizona Department of Water Resources in Phoenix, Arizona last week. This training covered the basics of GoldSim software along with another full day of application specific training, discussing real-world examples and modeling tips to help the attendees start work on their projects immediately.

The class was well attended and everyone enjoyed learning the software. I could tell everyone was thinking about all the ways they could use GoldSim to help answer their challenging questions.

GoldSim at AWRA Summer Specialty Conference 2017

Posted by Jason Lillywhite

GoldSim presented a workshop and exhibited at the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Summer Specialty Conference last week.

The theme of the conference was “Climate Change Solutions: Collaborative Science, Policy and Planning for Sustainable Water Management.”  The conference included many presentation and sessions on a variety of topics covering science, data, modeling, and tools for assessing climate risk and making water resiliency decisions based on cost/benefit factors.

GoldSim at Waterpower Week in Washington

Posted by Jason Lillywhite

GoldSim is exhibiting at the Waterpower week in Washington conference this week. This conference provides three conferences into one:  International Marine Energy Conference, Marine Energy Technology Symposium and National Hydropower Association's Annual Conference, which have teamed up for a 3-day event to network and discuss the news in the hydro and marine industry in Washington DC. The event highlights perspectives on the role of hydro, explores issues affecting hydro and marine resources, and helps participants develop a future game plan to meet challenges and ensure the future sustainability of the hydro and marine industry.

Free, Self-Paced Online Training Course Now Available!

Posted by Rick Kossik

We are excited to announce that the GoldSim Online Training Course is now available. We have been working on this for two years (creating an effective online course is hard work)!  This “hands-on” course includes nearly sixty exercises and examples, and is linked throughout to a web-based version of the Help system, so you can immediately dive into reference documentation to explore any topic in more detail.

This self-paced course provides you with a thorough understanding of the key concepts on which GoldSim is based. As such, it provides the fundamentals required to build complex models of nearly any kind of system. That is, it does not simply focus on the mechanics of using the GoldSim software; just as importantly, it explains the fundamental concepts underlying dynamic, probabilistic simulation in general. Although the course was primarily designed for those who are new to GoldSim, existing GoldSim users are also likely to find many parts of the course to be of value.

When an introductory GoldSim course is taught in person, it typically requires two (intensive) days (16 hours).  However, this course actually covers the material in significantly greater detail, so it will likely take up to three or four days to complete. The course is organized into Units and Lessons, so you can easily take the course at your own pace (and if you register, the site will remember where you left off).

GoldSim 12 Has Been Released!

Posted by Rick Kossik

GoldSim 12 has been under development for over two years and we are very excited about this new version.  There are many new features and modifications in GoldSim 12.  However, the most noticeable thing is the totally updated graphics engine and user interface. Although changes like these don't actually affect how GoldSim carries out simulations, they have a significant effect on how your models look. Being able to explain a model to others is critical, and a clean-looking model with nice graphics simply is much more effective and easy to communicate.  Frankly, it is also much more enjoyable to work with a tool that has nice graphics and a clean and powerful user interface. All of the new features are described in detail in the GoldSim 12 Summary Document.