QKH Assessment of tasks that standards should facilitate

[QHarpham]

Tasks that standards should facilitate should include (but are not necessarily limited to):

Building a coupled model from process-oriented software components (models or model elements) ADVANCED
Building “system of systems” models by assembling sub-models of particular systems (for example, a “lake system” model integrated with a “watershed system”) ADVANCED
Operating models/components in multiple different frameworks ADVANCED
Operating models and data inputs/outputs efficiently as part of a sequence of tasks (approach: use/encourage file formats that are both standardized and open) DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND. ADVANCED?
Swapping input data sources (for example, comparing behavior of a model with two different satellite-based inputs of land cover, as opposed to having the model hard-wired to one particular source) ESSENTIAL BUT ADVANCED!
Controlling parameter values and behavior without recompiling BASIC
Operating a model on multiple platforms NEVER ENDING TASK...
Retrieving information about a model’s current state (including state variables) (implementation question: direct memory exchange vs. file-based exchange vs. web API) INTERMEDIATE
Pausing and continuing model execution INTERMEDIATE
Adjusting model variables and/or control parameters during a run (for example, to support data assimilation) ADVANCED
Computing derivatives where applicable, to facilitate operations such as sensitivity analysis, optimization, and inference (note: different views among participants about whether this should be included in a standard, a “best practice” guideline, or not at all) DON'T UNDERSTAND
Metadata and documentation related to interoperability
Clarity and precision in definitions of parameters and variables (ontology) ESSENTIAL, BUT PRETTY ADVANCED
Data items to include in metadata: scale (space and time), typical run time, limits (e.g., range of calibration data) SOME AVAILABLE, BUT ADVANCED