GeoAPEXOL, a web GIS interface for the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) model enabling both field and small watershed simulation

• Published in: Environmental modelling & software : with environment data news 2020-01, Vol.123, p.104569, Article 104569
• Main Authors: Feng, Qingyu, Flanagan, Dennis C., Engel, Bernard A., Yang, Lei, Chen, Liding
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural management; Agricultural policy; APEX model; climate; Computer simulation; Field and watershed simulation; GeoAPEXOL; geographic information systems; land use; Nonpoint source pollution; Open source software; Pollution; Pollution sources; soil; Soil management; Soil pollution; Watersheds; Web GIS
• ISSN: 1364-8152; 1873-6726
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2019.104569

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is a common problem faced in many places around the world. On-site evaluation of NPS pollution is helpful in deciding how serious the pollution is and where a controlling practice can potentially be implemented with the best effectiveness. In this study, a web GIS interface for the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) model named GeoAPEXOL was developed. The interface serves as a tool to automatically setup the APEX model for a watershed or field and conduct a rapid evaluation of the NPS pollution. A background database including DEM, landuse, soil, climate, and agricultural management was prepared for automating the process of model setup. One important feature of the interface is that NPS pollution can be evaluated for a field boundary considering contribution from upstream areas, which may be located outside the field boundary and is generally ignored by traditional NPS evaluation methods at the field scale. •A web GIS interface for the APEX model was developed.•The interface enables both small watershed and field simulations.•The field simulation combines a field boundary and watershed boundary.•The interface script is modular and can easily be maintained and expanded.