Pratik Singh Thakuri,
Corresponding author: UNESCO-Madanjeet Center for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM), Sri Lanka,
Center of Research for Environment, Energy and Water (CREEW), Nepal,
Email: thakuripratiksingh@gmail.com, pratik@creew.org.np
NT Sohan Wijesekera
UNESCO-Madanjeet Center for South Asia Water Management (UMCSAWM), Sri Lanka,
Email: sohanw2@gmail.com
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47884/jweam.v2i1pp22-36
ABSTRACT
Selection of a fitting up-to-date hydrological model using an evaluation of the functionality, modeler’srequirements, and modeling experiences are very important for water resources management in ruralwatersheds. Similarly, the selection of appropriate objective function is equally crucial in hydrological modelingprocesses. Accordingly, A review study was carried to select an appropriate model and objective function forwater resources modeling in the predominantly rural watershed. Hydrological models namely HEC-HMS,MIKE SHE, SWAT, TOPMODEL, and SWMM, and objective functions namely NSE, RMSE, MRAE, andRAEM were reviewed. Hydrological models were reviewed under several criteria viz. temporal scale, spatialscale, hydrological processes, documentation, resources requirement, user interface and, model acquisition cost.Whereas, criteria for the review of objective functions were mathematical implication, flow regime, andmodeling purpose. Each of the review criteria was comprised of several factors. The criteria-based evaluationwas done to quantify the review outcome of the hydrological model and objective function. SWMM was foundto be the most suitable model for simulating rural watersheds for water resources management purposeswhereas, MRAE was found to be the most appropriate objective function to evaluate the performance of themodel selected for rural watershed modeling.
Keywords: Hydrological model; Objective function; Rural watershed, Criteria-based evaluation