University of South Florida
Center For Modeling Hydrologic and Aquatic Systems
What is USF-CMHAS?
The Center for Modeling Hydrologic and Aquatic Systems (CMHAS) is an interdisciplinary
association of faculty, staff and students with interests in water resources research from various
colleges and departments within the University of South Florida.
CMHAS is a forum for facilitating the interaction of a diverse research community, with the
University's top scientists and engineers working together to solve practical but often complex
water resource problems requiring interdisciplinary expertise. The Center is presently
supported by the Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering and the College of Engineering at USF.
CMHAS is also associated with the USF Water Institute representing a computational branch
focusing on water supply, natural systems (surface and groundwater) environmental impact
assessment and evaluation of management alternatives.
Mission:
The mission of the Center is to assist in the solution of water resource
problems for local, state and federal governmental agencies, often working
closely with or directly for private consulting firms with particularly
challenging or specialized investigations. USF Researchers associated
with the Center are constantly studying existing and emerging hydraulic,
hydrologic and water quality models and the physical processes they are
intended to represent; collecting data; and developing, testing
and applying new procedures to solve complex water resource problems.
History:
The genesis for this research institute dates back to 1969 when research
faculty at USF began to develop the first mathematical models of Tampa
Bay waterways. Originally directed by Dr. Bernard E. Ross, now Professor
Emeritus, initial funding and technical support were provided by the U.S.
Corps of Engineers. At that time, the models were used as management tools
for evaluating dredge plume impact and circulation studies of the Bay.
Later the models were advanced to include water quality simulation of shallow
estuaries which are typified by the Gulf Coastal system. Largely due to
the early (1970's) and continued service provided to local and state regulatory
agencies, and cooperation with the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council
(TBRPC), CMHAS, then called the Center for Mathematical Models (CMM), was
formally established by the State of Florida at USF in 1974. Research and
management focus has progressed over the years further inland to consider
the estuarine system to include the watershed and groundwater basin and
CMHAS research has been a leader in advancing this concept. Thirty years
and untold student and research man-hours have resulted in a comprehensive
state-of-the-art facility for developing and housing models used for engineering
design and management analysis of coastal, estuarine, inland and upland
waterways involving interdependent hydrologic, hydraulic and aquatic systems.
The CMM, and more recently, the Center for Modeling Hydrologic and Aquatic
Systems (CMHAS), has maintained its directive to provide technical assistance,
complex water resources management modeling capabilities, education and
to serve as a repository of computational models and data for local,
state and federal governmental regulatory agencies, private consultants and the general public.
Thank you for visiting USF-CMHAS.
For questions or comments go to contact information.
Last modified on Sunday October 31, 1999.
Copyright, 1999 USF-CMHAS