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NCSA releases PEcAn 1.4.2


The Predictive Ecosystem Analyzer (PEcAn) is an integrated ecological bioinformatics toolbox (LeBauer et al, 2013) which consists of: 1) a scientific workflow system to manage the immense amounts of publicly-available environmental data and 2) a Bayesian data assimilation system to synthesize this information within state-of-the-art ecosystems models. This project is motivated by the fact that many of the most pressing questions about global change are not necessarily limited by the need to collect new data as much as by our ability to synthesize existing data. This project seeks to improve this ability by developing a framework for integrating multiple data sources in a sensible manner.

Improvements to PEcAn

  • Run any model at any location in North America! This version allows for the automated conversion and extraction of NARR and Ameriflux met data on both local and remote (high-performance computing) servers. Processed meteorology is now saved to database for later reuse.
  • This version of PEcAn now can use BrownDog, which helps with the conversion of data from input files to model specific files using cloud-based web-services.

Improvements to PEcAn WEB

  • allow the user to search/filter Google Map of sites
  • ability to use BrownDog if ‘use BrownDog’ enabled
  • data use agreements displayed for Ameriflux and NARR
  • ability to run ‘bare ground’ ED without vegetation initial conditions (PSS/CSS/Site)
  • ability to run parameter data assimilation (MCMC) via advanced edit
  • ‘Conversion’ toggles Google Map between sites with a full set of inputs already in the database vs. sites where inputs can be processed automatically using workflows.
  • allow to download input files (even if run has failed)

Improvements to PEcAn Modules

  • RTM module now support Bayesian inversion of PROSPECT leaf-level spectral model
  • Allometry module now has a ‘predict’ function

For release notes see https://github.com/PecanProject/pecan/releases/tag/v1.4.2. To download a VM with everything preinstalled see https://opensource.ncsa.illinois.edu/projects/artifacts.php?key=PECAN.

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