LaharFlow
Documentation
Output data formats

This guide provides details of the format of the data files produced by LaharFlow.

The following files can be exported from LaharFlow on the Data export tab:

• 000xxx.txt – comma separated data at 100 time steps;
• MaxHeights.txt – comma separated data of the maximum flow depths;
• MaxSpeeds.txt – comma separated data of the maximum flow speeds;
• MaxHeights.kml – KML encoded data of the maximum flow depths;
• MaxSpeeds.kml – KML encoded data of the maximum flow speeds;
• Volume.txt – comma separated data for the time series of volume and mass of the flow;
• RunInfo.txt – text file with information regarding the simulation settings;
• OutputReadme.txt – text file with information regarding the format of output files.
Results at output time steps

Data at each output time step of the simulation are written to files called 000xxx.txt, with xxx ranging from 000 to 100. These files contain the detailed results of the simulation and are likely to be used in post-processing. The data are presented as ascii plain text, comma separated values with a header line giving a descriptive label. To facilitate import of the data into arcGIS, the labels are concise.

The data files are created when the simulation reaches an output time step, with an interval of 1/100 of the simulation time. The files can be downloaded as they are created through the 'Plain text file' option on the Data export tab, and all the available files are included in the zip file created if the 'zipped numerical results' option is selected.

Futher details of the formatting of the files is given in the file OutputReadme.txt and in the table below. (Note SI units are adopted, with distances measured in metres (m), time in seconds (s) and mass in kilograms (kg).)

ColumnLabelDescriptionSymbolUnitData type
1tiletile iddimensionlessinteger
2x_distanceEasting distance from origin at the domain centre$$x$$mreal
3y_distanceNorthing distance from origin at the domain centre$$y$$mreal
4latitudeLatitude in WGS84 coordinatesdecimal degreesreal
5longitudeLongitude in WGS84 coordinatesdecimal degreesreal
6flow_depthDepth of lahar$$h$$mreal
7flow_speedSpeed of lahar$$\sqrt{u^2+v^2}$$m/sreal
8mass_per_unit_areaMass of lahar per unit area$$\rho h$$kg/m^2real
9x_fluxMass flux in the easting per unit length$$\rho h u$$kg/m/sreal
10y_fluxMass flux in the northing per unit length$$\rho h v$$kg/m/sreal
11mass_of_solidsMass of solids per unit area$$\rho h c$$kg/m^2real
12base_elevationBase topographic elevation$$b_0$$m (a.s.l.)real
13base_x_slopeSlope of base topography in Easting$$\partial b_0/ \partial x$$dimensionlessreal
14base_y_slopeSlope of base topography in Northing$$\partial b_0/ \partial y$$dimensionlessreal
15elevation_changeChange in topographic elevation$$b_t$$m (a.s.l.)real
16change_in_x_slopeChange in x-slope of topography$$\partial b_t/ \partial x$$dimensionlessreal
17change_in_y_slopeChange in y-slope of topography$$\partial b_t/ \partial y$$dimensionlessreal

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Maximum flow depths

Data for the maximum flow depth in each cell in the flow domain are available in the file called MaxHeights.txt. This file is updated during the simulation. The file contains ascii plain text data as comma separated values with a header line giving a descriptive label. To facilitate import of the data into arcGIS, the labels are concise.

The MaxHeights.txt file is available as part of the zip file created if the 'zipped numerical results' option is selected on the Data export tab.

Futher details of the formatting of the files is given in the file OutputReadme.txt and in the table below. (Note SI units are adopted, with distances measured in metres (m), time in seconds (s) and mass in kilograms (kg).)

ColumnLabelDescriptionSymbolUnitData type
1tiletile iddimensionlessinteger
2x_distanceEasting distance from origin at the domain centre$$x$$mreal
3y_distanceNorthing distance from origin at the domain centre$$y$$mreal
4latitudeLatitude in WGS84 coordinatesdecimal degreesreal
5longitudeLongitude in WGS84 coordinatesdecimal degreesreal
6maximum_depthMaximum depth of lahar$$\max{h}$$mreal
7time_of_maximumTime of the maximum depth$$t_{\max h}$$sreal

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Maximum flow speeds

Data for the maximum flow speeds in each cell in the flow domain are available in the file called MaxSpeeds.txt. This file is updated during the simulation. The file contains ascii plain text data as comma separated values with a header line giving a descriptive label. To facilitate import of the data into arcGIS, the labels are concise.

The MaxSpeeds.txt file is available as part of the zip file created if the 'zipped numerical results' option is selected on the Data export tab.

Futher details of the formatting of the files is given in the file OutputReadme.txt and in the table below. (Note SI units are adopted, with distances measured in metres (m), time in seconds (s) and mass in kilograms (kg).)

ColumnLabelDescriptionSymbolUnitData type
1tiletile iddimensionlessinteger
2x_distanceEasting distance from origin at the domain centre$$x$$mreal
3y_distanceNorthing distance from origin at the domain centre$$y$$mreal
4latitudeLatitude in WGS84 coordinatesdecimal degreesreal
5longitudeLongitude in WGS84 coordinatesdecimal degreesreal
6maximum_speedMaximum speed of lahar$$\max{spd}$$m/sreal
7time_of_maximumTime of the maximum speed$$t_{\max spd}$$sreal

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Maximum flow depths KML file

Data for the maximum flow depth in each cell in the flow domain are available in a KML encoded file called MaxHeights.kml. The file can be loaded directly into Google Earth which displays the data in three-dimensions as geolocated extruded polygons. KML files can also be loaded easily in some GIS software, although the extruded third-dimensions may not be supported, in which case a outline of the flow extent is displayed. The KML only shows flow depths that exceed 0.1 m.

The MaxHeights.kml file is updated during the simulation. It is available to download from the Data export tab by selecting 'KML file' and is included in the zip file that is created if the 'zipped numerical results' option is selected.

Maximum flow speeds KML file

Data for the maximum flow speed in each cell in the flow domain are available in a KML encoded file called MaxSpeeds.kml. The file can be loaded directly into Google Earth which displays the data in three-dimensions as geolocated extruded polygons. KML files can also be loaded easily in some GIS software, although the extruded third-dimensions may not be supported, in which case a outline of the flow extent is displayed. The KML only shows flow speeds at locations where the flow depths that exceed 0.1 m.

The MaxSpeeds.kml file is updated during the simulation. It is available to download from the Data export tab as part of the zip file that is created if the 'zipped numerical results' option is selected.

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Flow volume and mass

Data for the temporal variation of the volume and mass of the flow are available in the file called volume.txt. This file is updated during the simulation. The file contains ascii plain text data as comma separated values with a header line giving a concise descriptive label.

The Volume.txt file is available as part of the zip file created if the 'zipped numerical results' option is selected on the Data export tab.

Futher details of the formatting of the files is given in the file OutputReadme.txt and in the table below. (Note SI units are adopted, with distances measured in metres (m), time in seconds (s) and mass in kilograms (kg).)

ColumnLabelDescriptionSymbolUnitData type
1timeTime$$t$$sreal
2volumeVolume of the flowing material$$V$$m$$^3$$real
3massMass of the flowing material$$M$$kgreal

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Run information

Detailed information on the simulation inputs and settings are provided in the file RunInfo.txt. This is a plain text ascii file and is included in the zip file that is created if the 'zipped numerical results' option is selected on the Data export tab. This file is updated during the simulation.

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