Object-oriented modeling approach to surface water quality management

The lack of sufficient water quality data in many places hinders the efforts of surface water quality modeling, and therefore affects the process of water quality management. In this paper, the potential of an object-oriented simulation environment for surface water quality management, based on the concepts of system dynamics (OO-SD), is discussed. The characteristics, along with a brief explanation, of the OO-SD approach are provided. A case study on the use of the OO-SD modeling approach for surface water quality management in southeastern Kentucky, USA, is described to highlight key features of the approach. In a later section, advantages and present shortcomings of the OO-SD approach to model hydrologic systems are discussed. The potential use of the proposed approach, especially in data-poor conditions, and the challenges that lie ahead of hydrologists to fully exploit such a modeling approach are identified.