The software’s evolution took a major leap forward when it attracted the attention of the (COE). The COE funded the development heavily to create a standardized hydrologic modeling tool for defense and civil works.
In , WMS was put to the ultimate test in a real-world theater of operation. The Army Corps of Engineers used the software to model runoff and river behaviors in the Sava River basin in Bosnia to help stabilize infrastructure and predict flooding risks following regional conflict. 🏂 Defending the Olympics watershed-modeling-system
The story of the Watershed Modeling System began in the late 20th century at (BYU). The software was originally developed by BYU's Environmental Modeling Research Laboratory (EMRL). The vision was to create a tool that could take complex digital terrain data and turn it into highly accurate, scannable maps that predict how water moves across land after heavy rainfall. 🪖 Military Funding and The Balkans The software’s evolution took a major leap forward
The history of WMS is a fascinating story of academic innovation intersecting with military and civil defense needs. 🎓 The Birth at BYU The Army Corps of Engineers used the software
Perhaps the most dramatic chapter in the WMS story happened in in Salt Lake City, Utah. During the planning of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games , there were immense concerns about domestic security and infrastructure protection. Security planners utilized WMS software to simulate a nightmare scenario: a terrorist attack on local water infrastructure, specifically targeting the Jordanelle Reservoir . By modeling a potential dam breach or contamination event, officials were able to formulate emergency response plans that kept the athletes and the public safe. 💻 Transition to Aquaveo
As the software became the gold standard for watershed analysis, the development team at BYU realized the system needed to grow beyond a university research lab. In , the core development team at EMRL officially spun off and incorporated as a private company called Aquaveo . To this day, Aquaveo continues to develop WMS in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, while paying royalties back to the engineering department at BYU.
💡 Today, WMS is used globally to help engineers size culverts so roads don't wash out, map flood zones to protect homeowners, and manage precious water resources. Department of Defense Watershed Modeling System
