Build your own SPHY-model

A SPHY model preprocessor has been developed that enables the user to automatically generate SPHY model input data for a selected area of interest. This preprocessor has been developed as a plugin for QGIS, and generates the input data using a database that can be selected by the user. Currently, only one database can be used by the preprocessor: the “Hindu Kush-Himalaya” database (xmin: 65, xmax: 100, ymin: 20, ymax: 40). The name of the SPHY model preprocessor is “SphyPreProcess” (v1.0), and is described together with the SPHY model plugin in the SPHY GUIs manual (Terink et al., 2015b).

If your area of interest is not covered by the extent of the database, then you can choose to create your model input data manually (as is done in the Pungwe case-study (Terink et al., 2015a). You will need the PCRaster command line functions and GIS software, like the open source QGIS. The steps that are required to do this are described in the sections below.