Why HydroMT?

Purpose and Scope

HydroMT (Hydro Model Tools) is an open-source Python package that facilitates the process of building and analyzing spatial geoscientific models with a focus on water system models. It automates the workflow to go from raw data to complete model instances that are ready to run, making the model building process fast, modular, reproducible, and model-agnostic.

The framework addresses the challenge of setting up spatial geoscientific models, which typically requires many manual steps to process input data and can be time-consuming and hard to reproduce. HydroMT solves this by configuring the entire model building process from a single YAML configuration file through a common model and data interface.

The framework can be used both as a command line interface (CLI) providing commands to build, update, and analyze models, and from Python to exploit its rich programmatic interface.

Key features and Benefits

HydroMT provides several core capabilities that distinguish it from traditional model building approaches:

Feature	Description	Benefit
Automated Workflows	Automates data processing and model setup from raw geo-spatial datasets	Saves time and reduces manual effort in model preparation
Modular Configuration	Single YAML configuration drives entire model building process	Enables easy adjustments and customization of the model setup
Model-Agnostic Interface	Common interface for various water system models	Consistent workflow regardless of target model
Plugin Architecture	Extensible system for model-specific implementations	Easy integration of new models and data sources
Reproducible Builds	Version-controlled configuration and data catalogs	Ensures consistent model builds across environments
Rich Data Ecosystem	Built-in support for global and local geo-spatial datasets via data catalogs	Simplifies access to high-quality input data without manual processing