Project Title
APSIM Development and Support
Project Leader
APSRU Management Committee
Organisation
CSIRO & DPI
Funding Body
CSIRO & DPI
Administration Contact
Lisette Ackhurst
Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit
Ph: 07 4688 1393 Fax: 07 4688 1193
Commencement Date
1 July 1995
Completion Date
31 December 1998
Research Proposal Summary
APSIM is a software environment to facilitate the development, testing and application of models that simulate the performance of complex systems. While the nature of the system and the aspects of performance to be simulated are limited largely by the user’s ability to create modules of system components/processes, the primary focus to date has been the simulation of physical and biological elements of points in space of agricultural productions systems.
APSIM is first and foremost a tool to make agricultural research more effective and efficient, by providing a means of addressing complex interactions between plants, soil, weather and management and spatial and temporal variability that cannot be cost-effectively addressed by direct experimentation. Hence, researchers are the primary client. These researchers in turn will have a diverse range of clients covering the full range from individual producers, through extension/advisers/consultants, on to resource management agencies, financial institutions, input suppliers, output marketers and policy formulators. In addition, APSIM, or some customised derivative, may have a role directly in the hands of advisers, consultants or policy formulation groups.
Aims
This project is aimed at delivering a capability to simulate agricultural systems that meets the quality expectations of the research community.
Potential Outcomes
A “commercial quality” APSIM that has the following characteristics:
For users
§ “User friendly” interfaces
§ Run time graphics
§ Leading edge science in modules
§ Robust predictive capabilities
§ Well developed user support procedures
§ Compatible with contemporary computing environment
§ Modules documented
§ Built in help and error reporting facilities
For developers
§ Code that can be easily maintained
§ Quality assurance procedures in place
Development tools that meet prototyper needs and quality assurance procedures
Milestones
§ New APSIM project staff in place
§ APSIM development, support, version control and quality control procedures using best software engineering practice planned and implemented.
§ Update of version 1 modules distributed to APSIM users
§ Version of user-friendly interface available for beta-testing (eg. in FARMSCAPE project). Concept prototypes of alternative interfaces developed.
§ Last planned routine update of Version 1 of APSIM (maintenance to continue beyond this date).
§ User-friendly interfaces for version 1 complete and released.
§ Prototype studies done for version 2. (Note: Version 2 will have a generic engine/module communication system that will be provided compatibility with modules developed by other groups in Australia and overseas)
§ Version 2 of APSIM released on a beta test basis
§ Last release of version 1 (including only essential upgrades)
§ Some modules converted to run under version 2 for beta testing.
§ Results of beta testing used to define remaining development needs.
§ Remainder of modules running under version 2
§ Major upgrade of version 2
§ User-friendly interfaces available for version 2
§ “Commercial Quality” version of APSIM available
Budget
Still under development. Will consist largely of the in-kind salary contributions from the parties.
Resource Requirements & Contributions
Prior Provision of IP & Rights of Ownership
In accordance with the MOA that established APSRU in 1991, the relative ownership of intellectual property contained within the APSIM project on 1 July 1995 is defined as 50:50 between CSIRO-TCP and DPI.
Intellectual property rights to certain components of APSIM that have been accessed by arrangement with other groups, outside the Phase 1 APSRU MOA, are retained by those groups. These arrangements include:
APSIM-SWIM CSIRO Division of Soils
SUGAR CSIRO Tropical Crops and Pastures
GRASP DPI
GRAZPLAN CSIRO Plant Industry
OZCOT CSIRO Plant Industry
Ownership, equity in and use of IP to be developed
Investment in the APSIM project by the respective parties will be reflected in equity during Phase II of APSIM development according to the following formula: Starting equity at 1 July 1995 = 50:50. Annual depreciation of total equity = 10%. Annual allocation of new equity:
APSIM Engineering:30%
APSIM Science:30%
APSIM Support & Training:30%
APSIM Management:10%
Rights of Publication
C
Definition of Research Field
050302
Relevance to Strategic Plan
Contributes to goal number 4