EFDC+ Explorer
A Pre- & Post-Processor for the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code
Model Calibration
EFDC+ Explorer (EE) is designed to streamline the generation of report-quality plots for model-to-data comparisons and results statistics. EE provides the tools to link model cells and layers to their corresponding datasets, with all linkages saved in the model configuration files for use across subsequent runs. Individual linkages can be enabled or disabled to focus reporting on the current calibration stage, and plots and statistics can be generated manually at any time or configured to produce automatically at the end of each run.
Time Series Plots
Temperature for model (blue) and data (red) for a river modeled with EFDC.
Time Series Plots
Time Series comparison plots link observed data to predicted model values, allowing direct visual assessment of model performance. The example shown here compares observed temperature data with EFDC+ simulated temperatures.
EE automatically computes a comprehensive range of statistical metrics for each configured station — including Average Error, Relative Error, Average Absolute Error, Root Mean Square Error, and the Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient — and exports these in summary formats compatible with Excel or Word for streamlined reporting.
Calibration Statistics
The same statistical metrics described above can be output independently in summary formats for direct import into Excel or Word, reducing the effort required to compile calibration reports.
Cruise Plots
Cruise plots for San Pablo Bay.
Cruise Plots
For large water bodies such as San Francisco Bay and Delta, field data is commonly collected from a moving vessel during a single sampling event, or “cruise,” producing a dataset that varies both spatially and temporally.
EE enables direct visual comparison of cruise data against model results by allowing users to define a cruise line corresponding to the vessel’s transect. Model data are extracted along this line at the precise time and location of each measurement, enabling a spatially accurate model-data comparison.
Vertical Profile Plots
Vertical profile plots for temperature.
Vertical Profile Plots
Vertical profile plots are essential for calibrating models in stratified water bodies, where conditions vary significantly with depth. EE displays modeled and observed vertical profiles side by side, with the ability to show multiple comparisons per page — providing a clear view of how well the model captures vertical structure across the water column.
Correlation Plots
EE generates model-data correlation plots with optional display of the correlation coefficient and other statistical metrics. In the example below, observed water surface elevation values are plotted on the x-axis against model results on the y-axis.
Flux Plots
The flux comparison tool supports calibration of flow or constituent flux across user-defined cross sections. Any number of cross sections can be configured, with EE producing time series comparisons between measured and modeled fluxes — helping to ensure mass balance and flow accuracy throughout the model domain.
