BioMA – Biophysical Model Application is a modular software platform to run modeling solutions against a spatially defined database. BioMA has been developed at JRC in the last years and is currently used in studies/analysis on agriculture and climate change involving bio-physical modelling within the Monitoring Agricultural Resources Unit of the Joint Research Centre (JRC).
BioMA (Biophysical Models Applications) is a software framework designed and developed for parameterizing and running modelling solutions based on biophysical models. The goal of this framework is to rapidly bridge from prototypes to operational applications.
The BioMA framework provides to the modeller with a structure that helps them to develop their models in a modular and rigorous way. The platform also includes integrated tools to support the calibration of the models (Optimizer), to allow sensitivity analysis (LUISA) and to run the simulations at grid level and visualize the results (BioMA Spatial).
BioMA is a modular software platform to run modeling solutions against a spatially defined database.
Modeling solutions range from single models to model compositions; models can be either static or dynamic. Modeling solutions currently implemented are the generic crop simulators Wofost and CropSyst, the rice model WARM, and a modeling solution for the simulation of cropping systems derived from APES. Other modeling solutions allow simulating plant diseases and climatic indices.
The BioMA component-based architecture allows the addition of new modeling solutions independently by third parties, taking advantage of both the I/O capabilities and provided tools. Also, BioMA allows for composition of components to build modelling solutions. The components used in BioMA (models and tools) are framework-independent and can be reused in other systems without requiring the whole BioMA platform to be included.
For information about the architecture of BioMA, see IEMSS proceedings paper by Marcello Donatelli here.
As this is a modelling platform, what the models simulate is a function of the types of models implemented within the platform. Currently these models are WOFOST, CropSyst and the Agricultural Production and Externalities Simulator (APES) cropping systems models, and the rice model WARM. Refer to each model to see full details of what they simulate.
A library of biophysical models is already implemented under the BioMa framework. All the models of this library and their documentation are available online through the BioMA component portal and can be freely re-used by any modeler working with the BioMA platform.
The platform allows the use of models that have the capability to address a wide range of research issues, including climate change, seasonal forecasting, adaptive management etc.
BioMA is a software platform, hence the simulation method will be dependent on the models implentented within it. See specific models for full details of their simulation methods.
The data input requirements are specific to the models implemented within the platform.
These are determined by the models implemented within the platform. Refer to specific models for full details on the types of estimates the models use.
Models implemented within BioMA have a wide range of spatial and temporal coverage, application domains and uses.
Full documentation and support information is available here.
Modelling applications are being made available to third party through scientific collaboration or technology transfer projects (e.g. to European Food Safety Authority, World Bank, INRA Morocco, CAAS China) in projects primarily for the European Commission, but also for other customers such as EU agencies and the World Bank.
Documentation about BioMA and the models used are available here.
BiomA is a project run by the MARS unit at the Joint Research Centre
