Section 4 Visualisation and Model Development Tools

4.1 XMDF and NetCDF File Locking (HDF5 Compatibility Issues)

This is an important note concerning the use of recent builds of QGIS, Python or other viewers/libraries that utilise HDF5 1.12 and later to view NetCDF or XMDF result output. This note applies to all TUFLOW FV versions, not only the latest release.

HDF5 is a data model, library and file format for storing and managing large data files. Both the Aquaveo XMDF and Unidata NetCDF map output types offered by TUFLOW FV are built on HDF5 components for data storage, compression and management.

HDF5 Version 1.12 and later includes new default file locking behaviour that can result in TUFLOW FV model crashes if XMDF or NetCDF results are opened whilst TUFLOW FV is running, regardless if in read only or write modes. Console output will typically display the following errors for NetCDF and XMDF respectively.

Figure 4.1: NetCDF File Lock Error

Figure 4.2: XMDF File Lock Error

Therefore, to avoid a model exiting prematurely it is not recommended to open XMDF or NetCDF if the viewer utilises HDF5 1.12 or later whilst a model is running. The current work-around is to make a copy of results and view the copy, or to wait until the simulation has completed. This issue is temporary, and we are currently working towards a solution which includes upgrading the HDF5, NetCDF and XMDF libraries when suitable updates become available.

4.2 TUFLOW FV Boundary Condition Tools

A fix has been made to the Get Atmos boundary condition generation tool that affected datasets downloaded over the prime meridian (longitude = 0.). To guide users, the Get Atmos Wiki has been updated to include several examples of longitude input.