By Richard M. Shane, Edith A. Zagona, Dave McIntosh, Terrance J. Fulp, and H. Morgan Goranflo. Published in Civil Engineering, 1996.
Abstract: Modeling and managing water systems is a notoriously difficult task, one made simpler by PRSYM, a new object-oriented software package created by a consortium of public utilities, government agencies and research institutions. Over the next few years a new method of computer programming called object-oriented programming will produce software that is easier to use across platforms and can be specially tailored for the user’s specific needs. By creating electronic equivalents of real world objects in computer languages like C++, software makers and water resources researchers at the University of Colorado are in the process of creating extensive libraries of multi-purpose objects that can model any feature on any river system. The Power and Reservoir System Model (PRSYM), a river, reservoir, and hydropower modeling framework written in object oriented C++ code, provides a convenient modeling structure to plan for optimal hydroenergy production from reservoir systems with constantly changing nonpower objectives and environmental constraints. Object libraries provided with PRSYM contain many modeling methods suitable for general use. A model can be customized, however, by adding a user specific object library that contains methods unique to the system being modeled. Model building, modeling solution technique, run control, and selection of output analysis methods can all be accomplished graphically by a user with no knowledge of C++ computer code. In development since 1993, a commercial version should be ready for market by spring 1996.