As the demand for water management information systems continues to increase, addressing issues such as poor generalizability, low reusability, and difficulties in updating and maintaining water resource planning cloud model service platforms becomes crucial. To achieve goals like business-oriented functionality, high availability, and reliability, this study proposes constructing a cloud model service platform for basin water resource planning based on cloud computing technology and business workflows. This study couples water cycle models with multi-objective optimization models for water resource allocation, using digital topological water networks to achieve dynamic regional water resource allocation. The cloud service platform adopts a business-oriented modeling method based on B/S development architecture. This paper takes the Weihe River Basin as an example to simulate and analyze the evolution of the water cycle pattern and optimize the annual water resources allocation plan. Results show that: (1) the water cycle model of the cloud model service platform can better describe the runoff change process in the verification period; (2) through the cloud platform service model, the water shortage rate of the Weihe River Basin in 2025 is 7.95%. The research findings provide technical references for intelligent water management and refined allocation of water resources in the Weihe River Basin.

  • A topological digital water network is introduced and implemented.

  • Bidirectionally coupled the hydrological cycle model with the water resource allocation model.

  • The water resource cloud model platform was constructed based on B/S architecture.

  • Integration of traditional water conservancy and watershed elements.

As technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence continue to mature and be applied, the technology of smart water conservancy has undergone continuous upgrades, with its management scope also expanding significantly. Countries worldwide have fully leveraged the power of new-generation information and communication technologies (such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence) to enhance water conservancy infrastructure, thereby improving capabilities in forecasting, early warning, simulation, and contingency planning (Yuan 2022). With the continuous advancement of cloud computing, deep learning, and other technologies, models will see marked improvements in data computation, deduction, and other capabilities. Additionally, information aggregation and integration, as well as resource integration and sharing, will continue to be refined, significantly accelerating the rapid development of cloud-based water resource models (Huang et al. 2017). However, current research on cloud computing and cloud models for water resource systems is still in its infancy, and the most relevant simulation numerical model software for water resource systems remains in the model programming phase (Xia et al. 2022).

With the development of information technology, several hydraulic cloud platforms have emerged in areas such as water disaster management, water information systems, water environment monitoring, hydrodynamics-based hydraulic models, hydraulic model management, water resource systems, and hydrological cloud models. For example, in the field of water disaster management, Wan et al. (2014) have developed a global flood disaster information cloud platform, He et al. (2012) have proposed a cloud platform for debris flow disaster simulation, Xu et al. (2024) have constructed a reservoir flood control and drought relief system. In the domain of water information management cloud platforms, Zhang et al. (2015) have adopted a service-oriented architecture to construct a metadata and model-driven water information-sharing platform. Li (2021) has also established a water data-sharing cloud platform based on cloud computing. In terms of water environment management cloud platforms, Xu et al. (2022) have proposed a refined management system based on watershed control units and developed a refined water environment management cloud platform for the Huangshui River Basin. Chen et al. (2023) created an integrated water environment management platform using data fusion technology and an air-land-water coupled model. In the area of hydrodynamics-based hydraulic model construction, Liu et al. (2014) developed a hydrodynamics simulation service platform (the HydroMP system) based on cloud computing. Regarding hydraulic model management cloud platforms, Xia et al. (2022) created a numerical simulation cloud service platform for hydraulic models based on standardization, Qin et al. (2024) proposed to build a unified intelligent operation and maintenance management portal based on BIM + GIS(Building Information Modeling+ Geographic Information System), cloud computing, Internet of Things technology, and operation and maintenance big data. In water resource systems, Liang et al. (2017) developed an intelligent water resource app system based on cloud computing, while Arango et al. (2014) proposed a water resource allocation model system. For hydrological cloud models, Kurtz et al. (2017) combined data assimilation technology with hydrological models in a cloud environment to establish a real-time underground forecasting and management system. Chen & Dong (2013) developed the Liuxi River model cloud service platform based on a distributed physical hydrological model for watershed flood forecasting. The aforementioned research on hydraulic application cloud platforms primarily focuses on infrastructure services such as data publication, data storage, and the provision of computing resources. There is comparatively less research on the development functions of hydraulic application software within cloud platforms. Additionally, these cloud platform systems mainly emphasize system applications and some systems have yet to fully utilize web and cloud computing technologies, with room for improvement in computational efficiency.

To overcome the limitations of traditional hydraulic application cloud platforms, this study utilizes cloud computing, topological theory, and other technologies to describe the topological structure of a digital water network (Peng 2024; Xie 2024). The aim is to establish a cloud model service platform that couples water resource allocation with hydrological cycle simulation. Considering model reuse and flexible assembly, the study uses an incidence matrix to store topological relationships, allowing graphical data and the topological water network to be stored collaboratively, with data interactions managed uniformly using a data flow model. Taking the Weihe River Basin as an example, this study constructs a water resource simulation and multi-objective allocation model based on the digital water network. Adopting a business-oriented modeling approach and using a B/S architecture, the study establishes a cloud model service platform for hydrological cycle simulation and water resource allocation. This platform enables integrated simulation of the hydrological cycle and water resource management on the cloud, providing technical reference and guidance for the construction of intelligent water conservancy systems and refined water resource allocation in the Weihe River digital basin.

The main innovations of the study include the following: (1) Distinguished from a spatial data-based digital water grid, the study introduces and systematically implements a topological digital water grid. The description of the topological water grid is carried out through the generalization of topological elements and the establishment of topological relationships. The topological relationships of the topological digital water grid are stored using a topological incidence matrix, coordinating the storage of topological water grid graphic data and topological relationships. On a comprehensive integration platform, achieve the flexible construction of the topological digital water grid. (2) With component technology at its core, the study granularizes complex calculations. It combines the process of converting water flow in the regional water resource system with the topological visualization of water resource business processes through mapping relationships. (3) The tight coupling of the water cycle model and the water resource allocation model has been established to build a cloud model service platform for watershed water resource planning. This platform achieves a dynamic configuration of regional water resources relying on a digital topological water grid.

Model construction

Construction of topological relationships in the digital water network

The foundation of basin water resources planning involves accurately characterizing the water network system within the basin. This includes both natural entities (e.g., lakes and rivers) and artificial entities (e.g., reservoirs, inter-basin water transfer projects, and water diversion and drainage canals). The characterization of natural water systems can be achieved using algorithms like TauDEM, whereas the topology of artificial water systems often requires manual definition. This study classifies the topological elements of the artificial side of the water network system into two categories: nodes and arcs. The generalized topological elements represent the smallest units of mathematical expression within the water resource system at a given computational scale and their characteristics can be described by defining attributes. The basic topological elements and their corresponding system entities are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

Correspondence table between basic topological elements and entities

Topological elementsTypeThe represented system entities
Node Engineering node Storage, diversion, and lifting hydraulic projects (including reservoirs, water diversion projects, and hydropower stations), inter-basin water transfer projects 
Catchment node The ultimate outflow of the system's water sources, such as oceans, lake tail sluices, and outlets; cross-confluence nodes of rivers and canal systems 
Control node Navigable lakes (wetlands), river or canal sections with water quantity or water quality control requirements 
Transition node Cross-diversion points of rivers and canal systems 
Water source node The aggregation topological elements of water sources mainly include groundwater and other water sources 
User node Aggregation based on two criteria: ‘livelihood, production, ecology’ and ‘rural, urban’ 
Arc River/channel Representative directional segments between nodes depicting the flow direction and relationships of water sources, such as natural river channels, water supply channels, wastewater discharge pathways, surface water, and the interaction between surface water and groundwater 
Relationship between water source flow direction and water quantity The flow direction of natural river channels, water supply channels, and wastewater discharge pathways 
Topological elementsTypeThe represented system entities
Node Engineering node Storage, diversion, and lifting hydraulic projects (including reservoirs, water diversion projects, and hydropower stations), inter-basin water transfer projects 
Catchment node The ultimate outflow of the system's water sources, such as oceans, lake tail sluices, and outlets; cross-confluence nodes of rivers and canal systems 
Control node Navigable lakes (wetlands), river or canal sections with water quantity or water quality control requirements 
Transition node Cross-diversion points of rivers and canal systems 
Water source node The aggregation topological elements of water sources mainly include groundwater and other water sources 
User node Aggregation based on two criteria: ‘livelihood, production, ecology’ and ‘rural, urban’ 
Arc River/channel Representative directional segments between nodes depicting the flow direction and relationships of water sources, such as natural river channels, water supply channels, wastewater discharge pathways, surface water, and the interaction between surface water and groundwater 
Relationship between water source flow direction and water quantity The flow direction of natural river channels, water supply channels, and wastewater discharge pathways 

The topological relationships of the water network topology layer reflect the processes of water movement and transformation within the water resource system. The hydraulic transmission of water resources is depicted through linear elements, while point elements serve as hubs for regulation and transformation. Figure 1 illustrates the basic topological relationships in composite water systems.
Figure 1

Basic topological relationships in composite water systems.

Figure 1

Basic topological relationships in composite water systems.

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The topological digital water network abstracts hydraulic connections between elements into a structure of nodes and directed arcs, with the expression of these connections being critical. This study uses an incidence matrix to describe the topological relationship structure and employs dynamic arrays for storage to depict hydraulic connections (Mehrparvar et al. 2016). The incidence matrix for the abstracted topological network structure of the digital water network consists of nodes (initial, intermediate, and terminal nodes) and directed edges (linear elements). The incidence matrix for this structure is:
(1)
where
(2)
Constructing the incidence matrix generalizes hydraulic connections between nodes and pipelines in the water network topology, describing the supply path between water sources and users. Figure 2 shows the abstracted topological network structure diagram based on the digital water network. The incidence matrix can be expressed using the following equation:
Figure 2

A meshed topology based on the digital water network.

Figure 2

A meshed topology based on the digital water network.

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(3)

For the nodes in the incidence matrix, a ‘node vector’ can represent the connection relationships between the node and the edges. For example, the node Z1 has a node vector of (0, −1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0). The 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, and 10th components are 0, indicating that directed edges 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10 are not connected to node Z1, meaning there is no hydraulic connection. The second component is −1, indicating that directed edge 2 is connected to node Z1 and that node Z1 is the starting point. The third and seventh components are 1, indicating that directed edges 3 and 7 are connected to node Z1 and that node Z1 is the endpoint. Therefore, the digital water network can be converted into an incidence matrix, which in turn can describe the relationship between the water source and the user in the digital water network.

The hydrological cycle model

The overall hydrological cycle model is improved based on the Xin'anjiang model (Zhao & Wang 1988), using the Taudem algorithm for sub-basin division and independent modeling for each sub-basin. To account for the vertical distribution effects of soil moisture, the model employs a three-layer evaporation approach to describe the evapotranspiration process. The runoff generation part uses a combined infiltration-excess and saturation-excess hybrid runoff generation model (Tain et al. 2020). For the confluence part, each sub-basin's slope confluence is first calculated independently, and then the flow processes reaching the outlet section of each sub-basin are linearly superimposed to obtain the total flow process at the basin outlet section. The slope confluence of each sub-basin uses a linear reservoir or lag algorithm, while the river channel confluence calculation uses the Muskingum segmented continuous algorithm.

The simulation of hydraulic engineering and water diversion and drainage follows relevant references (Zhai 2012; Bi et al. 2020). The water use in various socio-economic sectors is based on the results of water resource allocation, actual survey statistics, and planning data.

The multi-objective optimization allocation model for water resources

The multi-objective water resource optimization allocation model, based on the digital water network topology, includes a water cycle module, a multi-source water supply module, a water demand module, and a multi-objective allocation module. The water cycle module is used for scientific calculations of available water supply, providing data support for the multi-source water supply module. After the multi-objective allocation module calculates the water resource allocation plan, the system will filter and recommend an optimal plan, and through iterative water cycle computations, the ideal result will be achieved.

  • 1. The water supply module

Surface water supply (including external water diversion): The supply volume depends on multiple factors, including the available water volume from the water source (derived from the hydrological cycle model), the supply capacity of the water intake projects (such as diversion channels, supply pipelines, and wells), and constraints such as the total water intake control redline for the water source (including local surface water and external water diversion).

Reservoir water supply: The reservoir storage calculation is determined by the reservoir storage at the end of the previous period, the inflow from upstream during the current period, evaporation from the reservoir surface, reservoir seepage, and the reservoir's supply volume.

Groundwater supply: Analyze groundwater recharge and exploitable volume, with the extraction upper limit set by the allowable extraction volume for each region. The extraction volume can be rolled over within the year but cannot accumulate across years.

Reclaimed water supply: Currently, the utilization of unconventional water resources in China is still in its initial stages. Unconventional water resources are generally included in water resource allocation for ecological, agricultural, urban greening, and industrial uses, laying the foundation for quality-differentiated water supply (Wu et al. 2021). This paper sets the topological relationships between reclaimed water and water users, designating reclaimed water supply for industrial, urban greening, ecological, and agricultural users.

  • 2. The water demand module

To predict annual water demands for agriculture, industry, construction and services, residential life, and livestock planning, a quota method is employed. For ecological water needs within rivers, the Tennant method is used, ensuring that the minimum ecological flow in the river is no less than 10–20% of the long-term average flow. From the supply perspective, the ecological base flow within rivers is directly deducted. For reservoirs, the available water supply is adjusted by subtracting the mandatory release volume.

  • 3. The multi-objective module

This model incorporates three objectives: economic, social, and water quantity goals. The economic objective minimizes regional economic losses due to water scarcity, while the social objective minimizes food production reduction caused by water shortages. Details can be found in Zhao et al. (2023).

Constraints include: Priority allocation for domestic water use; groundwater supply should not exceed available groundwater resources; ecological protection requirements for important river ecosystems; flow limits at water transfer nodes; reservoir capacity constraints; non-negativity constraints: all decision variables in the model must be ≥0.

Coupling mechanism of hydrological cycle model and configuration model

The water resource allocation module first divides the computational units according to sub-basins nested within administrative regions. It conceptualizes the entire water resource system into a network system consisting of numerous computational nodes and transmission lines. During the computation process, the water cycle module provides runoff resource quantities (including surface runoff processes, node inflow processes, and reservoir inflow processes) to the water resource allocation module. It uses a ‘space-time aggregation’ method to provide input processes suitable for the temporal and spatial scales required by the water resource allocation module. The water resource allocation module then spatially and temporally distributes the simulated processes of supply, demand, consumption, and discharge to meet the data input requirements of the water cycle module.

Specifically, based on establishing a ‘natural-social’ topological structure of a digital river network, the water cycle module simulates natural hydrological processes to obtain daily inflow processes at various hydraulic engineering nodes and daily runoff processes for various hydrological calculation units. These units are then aggregated in time and space to provide the temporal scale (monthly or 10 days) and spatial scale (water resource allocation units) needed by the water resource allocation model.

Meanwhile, the water resource allocation module utilizes inflow information from the water cycle module, along with external demand information, to conduct long-term basin/regional water resource supply–demand balance analyses using methods such as the long-series method. This analysis yields the supply, demand, consumption, and discharge processes for each allocation computational unit and the operational processes of lakes and reservoirs and other hydraulic engineering structures. These elements are then temporally and spatially distributed, expanding monthly-scale allocation plans to daily/hourly-scale hydrological calculation units. Simultaneously, monthly scheduling processes for lakes and reservoirs (including water demand, supply, and spillage) are expanded to daily/hourly processes.

Solution algorithm

Reference point-based non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-III)
NSGA-III is a genetic algorithm specially designed for solving multi-objective optimization problems, especially in the processing of complex optimization problems containing four or more objectives, which has efficient performance, and effectively overcomes the problems of non-dominated solution proliferation and diversity evaluation difficulties faced by traditional multi-objective algorithms in ultra-high-dimensional target space (Wang et al. 2023; Hu et al. 2024). The paper uses the NSGA-III algorithm, which utilizes well-distributed reference points to effectively address multi-objective high-dimensional problems while maintaining population diversity (Nafiseh et al. 2022; Vélez et al. 2024). NSGA-III begins by generating an initial population, performing non-dominated sorting, and setting reference points to guide the selection, crossover, and mutation processes to generate new solutions. During environmental selection, the parent and offspring populations are combined, and the best solutions are retained based on their rank and distance from the reference points. After several iterations, the final Pareto front is produced, achieving multi-objective optimization. The process of solving the multi-objective optimization model in this paper using NSGA-III is illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 3

NSGA-III optimization flowchart.

Figure 3

NSGA-III optimization flowchart.

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The multi-attribute decision-making model of the population

The multi-objective optimization model for water resource allocation, solved using the NSGA-III algorithm, yields multiple sets of non-dominated solutions, each representing a water resource allocation scheme. To select a reasonable scheme from the non-dominated solution sets, this study constructs a group multi-attribute decision-making model (Zhang et al. 2021). This model employs the interactive Chebyshev method to choose a reasonable solution from the multiple sets of non-dominated solutions.

The interactive Chebyshev method is an iterative algorithm that assumes the existence of an underlying utility function, progressively clarified through interactions with multiple decision-makers. This approach evaluates several solutions step-by-step. Decision-makers express their preferences through objective weights, forming a weight space. By iteratively adjusting these weights, the weight space is narrowed down, reducing the objective space (composed of non-dominated solutions), and identifying satisfactory solutions. The Chebyshev method then generates additional solutions around these satisfactory solutions, reevaluating and selecting until the final satisfactory solution is chosen, concluding the iteration process (Shi et al. 1995). The main steps are illustrated in Figure 4.
Figure 4

Chebyshev decision process.

Figure 4

Chebyshev decision process.

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Implementation of basin water resources planning business based on digital water network

This system achieves watershed water resource planning goals by coupling a digital water network with related business component networks. The digital water network represents the topological form of physical water networks, describing the process of water quantity transformation. The business component network serves as the carrier for water resource allocation business flows, embodying the business-oriented expression of water resource simulation and allocation computing needs. The coupling relationship between these two can be established through mapping, as depicted in Figure 5. Within the water resource system, the processes of water quantity transformation and water resource business workflows are unified through business flows. The water quantity transformation processes in the digital water network align with the direction of business flows in the business component network. This interaction of business activities demonstrates the mechanisms of water quantity transformation within the water resource system.
Figure 5

Hierarchical structure of business realization ideas based on digital water networks.

Figure 5

Hierarchical structure of business realization ideas based on digital water networks.

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The digital water network is connected to the business component network through mapping relationships, as illustrated in Figure 6 with the meanings of the icons in Figure 6 explained in Table 2. The number of implicit business activities at each node can vary based on the granularity of the digital water network construction. This study generalizes the computational methods of water resource allocation operations into corresponding operational components. By establishing mappings between nodes in the digital water network and multiple business components, it facilitates water resource business applications based on the digital water network. The water quantity transformation relationships between nodes are implemented using one-way data flows. When a component of a subsequent node is triggered, data from the preceding component is transmitted through one-way workflows between components. Data flows primarily describe relationships between nodes in the water network, while data flows between business components are used for transmitting business data. The data flow model for establishing the digital water network is depicted in Figure 7.
Figure 6

Mapping relationship between digital water network and business components.

Figure 6

Mapping relationship between digital water network and business components.

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Figure 7

Data flow model of digital water network.

Figure 7

Data flow model of digital water network.

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The workflow model of the digital water network is structured as follows:

  • (1) Process control: Process control nodes are divided into two types: start/end nodes and computation control nodes.

  • (2) The common attributes of process control nodes include: Status, upper-level node address list, and result buffer, where start/end nodes also include start/end flags.

  • (3) Component node: When a component node in the control flow is triggered, the node first checks whether the state has been computed. If it has been computed, it directly displays the computation result and clears the cache thereafter. If it has not been computed, it recursively moves upward until it finds a node that has been computed or the start node. It then calls the service corresponding to the calculation address of the calling node, sends the input to the calculation server, and when the input server returns the result, the control node caches the result and stores it in the lower-level node, proceeding with iterative calculations. If an error occurs in any node during the calculation, the calculation is terminated, and the error message is displayed directly.

  • (4) Digital water network node: Define the control logic between digital water network nodes and business component nodes using logical type sets, representing the input and output logic.

From an operational perspective, data flows involve input data, output data, and internally generated data. XML is used to define input and output data, with XML Schema standardizing the external data ports of service activities in terms of data format and processing mechanisms. Figure 8 depicts the data alteration model.
Figure 8

Model of the data alternation.

Figure 8

Model of the data alternation.

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Platform architecture and process design

The study adopts a B/S architecture design pattern, with a core model library, to achieve modular modeling for constructing and configuring the basic network structure. The design follows a four-layer classical cloud computing architecture: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and the Visualization Service Layer. The deployment structure of the cloud platform is illustrated in Figure 9.
Figure 9

Model cloud platform structure deployment.

Figure 9

Model cloud platform structure deployment.

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The IaaS layer includes spatial database systems such as rainfall, spatiotemporal runoff data, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), soil, vegetation, land use types, hydrological engineering datasets, river network datasets, and sector-specific water usage data. Through data exchange services and extract-transform-load components, it provides timely spatial and temporal information services to the PaaS layer.

The PaaS layer provides a user-oriented operating and runtime environment, allowing users to make cloud calls for applications, data samples, and models, utilizing diverse model platforms and efficient data processing systems.

The SaaS layer deploys cloud-based hydrological cycle models and water resources optimization configuration models, providing multi-mode access mechanisms. (It usually refers to the multiple ways or channels through which users can access models and services deployed on the cloud platform).

The Visualization Service Layer features a visual operational interface, capable of generating visual reports and model result graphs, allowing users to directly view model results and batch output Excel reports.

The system design includes the core components at the server side: the hydrological cycle model and water resources optimization configuration model (SaaS layer), which provide computational services and encompass solution methods, numerical models, file systems, and database components. The database supports the entire system with graphic data, modeling data, computational data, hydrological data, and more. On the browser side, there are primarily two components: (1) Modeling section and flow field display: This section facilitates numerical model building, parameter setting, simulation result querying, and flow field visualization. (2) Data exchange between browser and web server: Communication occurs via HTML using Python interfaces to transmit data. Requests are sent to the server for analysis and computation using relevant models. The model computation results are then displayed within the HTML framework through the server.

When users interact through the front-end interface layer, the platform promptly receives and responds to user commands. After completing simulation and computation tasks, the platform returns result information to users via the interface layer. For detailed front-end and back-end data communication, refer to Figure 10.
Figure 10

Frontend and backend data interaction flow.

Figure 10

Frontend and backend data interaction flow.

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Cloud platform development

The front-end development utilizes mainstream web technologies within a B/S architecture, concentrating the core system functionalities on the server side to simplify development, maintenance, and usability. Users access the system via browsers without needing additional client software installations. The B/S architecture centralizes system functions on the server, making it easy to maintain and user-friendly. Logically, this architecture is divided into three layers: the browser side, server side, and middleware. This distributed structure enables relatively independent storage, processing, and utilization of data, facilitating its maintenance and updates. In the B/S architecture, the web server layer serves as the primary functional implementation part. It processes data sent from the browser side, executes corresponding programs, and returns results to the client browser. Such architecture enhances the flexibility and scalability of web applications.

The front-end interface framework is implemented in HTML, designed using CSS for styling the HTML structure, and implements transaction logic through JavaScript to add dynamic effects. The user experience is web-based and integrates with GIS, enabling complex modeling and computational simulations of hydrological cycle models and multi-objective water resource configuration models through browsers.

Backend development involves MySQL as the backend database, designed based on the data types needed, including vector data (such as hydraulic engineering, water systems, and hydrological stations), basic data (such as DEM, soil, vegetation, land use types), and model data (such as rainfall, spatiotemporal runoff data, water supply from multiple sources, and water use quotas). It calculates annual water demand levels based on industry development plans and water use quotas, sending this demand data to the server. Additionally, it calculates available water supply based on the layout of hydraulic engineering in the study area and water inflow conditions, storing the results in the server.

Backend logic uses Python to call relevant models and transfer data from the database to the front end. When users initiate requests on the front end, the Python backend code receives and processes these requests, conducting data analysis and computations using the appropriate models. The backend transfers the computed results or database data to the front-end HTML, where users can view and utilize this data or computational results, with graphical representation using Echarts. This approach ensures efficient data interaction and information delivery between the front end and back end, ensuring the system's effectiveness and practicality.

See Figure 11 for the Weihe River Basin Water Cycle Simulation and Water Resources Configuration Cloud Service Platform, comprising modeling navigation, graphical display, and display control areas.
Figure 11

Cloud service platform for water cycle simulation and water resource allocation in the Weihe River Basin.

Figure 11

Cloud service platform for water cycle simulation and water resource allocation in the Weihe River Basin.

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Overview of the study area

The Weihe River, a major tributary of the Yellow River, flows 502.4 km through Shaanxi Province, covering a basin area of 67,108 km2, which accounts for 50% of the Yellow River Basin's total area in Shaanxi. The Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin includes the Guanzhong Plain (cities like Baoji, Xianyang, Xi'an, Tongchuan, and Weinan), northern Shaanxi (Yan'an, Yulin), and southern Shaanxi (part of Shangluo), spanning 63 counties (districts). It serves as a crucial agricultural production base, supporting over 60% of Shaanxi's population, more than 70% of its irrigated area, and over 80% of its GDP. Human activities are intensive, exerting a significant influence on the evolution patterns of the watershed's hydrological cycle (Liu et al. 2017). The main topographic map and hydrological conditions of the Weihe River Basin are shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12

Weihe river watershed map.

Figure 12

Weihe river watershed map.

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The Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin is located in the arid and semi-arid regions of Northwest China, characterized by a typical continental monsoon climate and a warm semi-humid climate. Rainfall is concentrated mainly in July, August, and September, with an average annual runoff of 75.7 billion m3. The basin's terrain and geology are complex, encompassing areas such as river valley plains, rocky mountains, loess hills and gullies, and loess terraces. Due to intensified human activities, ecological problems in the Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin have become increasingly severe in recent years. Upstream areas suffer from soil erosion, while the middle reaches face water pollution issues, and the downstream areas experience significant siltation in the river channels. Consequently, the runoff in the Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin has gradually decreased (Jiang et al. 2015). The per capita water resources in this region account for 1/8 of the national average, and the per mu (Chinese unit of area) water resources for farmland are 1/6 of the national average, categorizing it as a water-deficient area (Han et al. 2016).

With the continuous and rapid development of the national economy, the conflict between water supply and demand will become increasingly prominent. At the same time, under the guidance of smart water management policies, establishing a cloud-based model service platform for water cycle simulation and water resource allocation in the Weihe River Basin, summarizing the patterns of water cycle changes in the basin, and proposing optimized regional water resource allocation solutions will provide technical support for a digital Weihe River Basin. This is of great significance in promoting the high-quality development and ecological protection of the Yellow River Basin.

Data sources

Meteorological data are sourced from the China Meteorological Data Service Center. Actual runoff data are obtained from annual hydrological yearbooks, while irrigation area, cropping structure, socioeconomic, and water use data are sourced from various relevant databases.

Table 2

The meaning expressed by each icon

Serial numberIconKnowledge element
 Unconventional water Resources 
 Groundwater 
 Irrigated area 
 Reservoir 
Serial numberIconKnowledge element
 Unconventional water Resources 
 Groundwater 
 Irrigated area 
 Reservoir 

The main parameter values for the hydrological cycle model in the Weihe River basin were referenced from existing research results (Tain et al. 2020; Li et al. 2021), as detailed in Table 3.

Table 3

Calibration results of main parameters in the Weihe River Basin

VariableMeaningValueVariableMeaningValue
KC Evapotranspiration capacity conversion coefficient 0.98 KU Unsaturated lateral outflow coefficient 0.001 
WUM Upper tension water storage capacity 80 KI Interflow coefficient 0.45 
WLM Lower tension water storage capacity 100 CS Surface runoff recession coefficient 0.5 
KE Muskingum method calculus parameters 0.083 CI Soil runoff recession coefficient 0.8 
XE Muskingum method calculus parameters 0.2 CU Unsaturated lateral flow recession coefficient 0.9 
CG Underground runoff regression coefficient 0.99    
VariableMeaningValueVariableMeaningValue
KC Evapotranspiration capacity conversion coefficient 0.98 KU Unsaturated lateral outflow coefficient 0.001 
WUM Upper tension water storage capacity 80 KI Interflow coefficient 0.45 
WLM Lower tension water storage capacity 100 CS Surface runoff recession coefficient 0.5 
KE Muskingum method calculus parameters 0.083 CI Soil runoff recession coefficient 0.8 
XE Muskingum method calculus parameters 0.2 CU Unsaturated lateral flow recession coefficient 0.9 
CG Underground runoff regression coefficient 0.99    

The water sensitivity coefficient values for different crops in the Jensen model are referenced from existing research (Xiao et al. 2008), as expressed in Table 4.

Table 4

Different crop water sensitivity coefficients

Growth stageWheatMaize
Seedling stage 0.123 0.106 
Jointing stage 0.142 0.167 
Heading stage 0.192 0.261 
Maturity stage 0.177 0.246 
Growth stageWheatMaize
Seedling stage 0.123 0.106 
Jointing stage 0.142 0.167 
Heading stage 0.192 0.261 
Maturity stage 0.177 0.246 

Parameter values for solving the target model: in the NSGA-III algorithm, the preset population size is 130; the number of iterations is 500; the crossover probability is 1; the mutation probability is 1/(Max-Size), where Max is the maximum fitness value in the population and Size is the average fitness value in the population. Additionally, the simulated binary crossover parameter is 20, and the polynomial mutation parameter is also set to 20.

Parameter calibration and validation

This study utilizes monthly runoff data from stations such as Zhuangtou and Linjiacun to perform parameter calibration and validation. The calibration period spans from 1956 to 1998, and the validation period covers 1999–2009. The calibration and validation results for monthly average runoff at Zhuangtou and Linjiacun–Xianyang are presented in Figure 13. During the calibration and validation periods at Zhuangtou, the relative errors are −1.62 and −4.32%, and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients for monthly average runoff are 0.82 and 0.80, respectively. For Linjiacun–Xianyang, the relative errors during the calibration and validation periods are −1.71 and −4.96%, with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients for monthly average runoff of 0.81 and 0.79, respectively. These results indicate that the model effectively captured the runoff variations during both calibration and validation periods, demonstrating its suitability for water resource allocation and assessment purposes.
Figure 13

Runoff calibration results. (a) Above Zhuangtou, (b) Linjia Village – Xianyang.

Figure 13

Runoff calibration results. (a) Above Zhuangtou, (b) Linjia Village – Xianyang.

Close modal

Water supply and demand forecasting

Based on the characteristics of the study area in the Shaanxi segment of the Weihe River Basin, nine water resource zones are designated as calculation units. This includes prioritizing five key cities or districts (Xi'an, Baoji, Xianyang, Weinan, and Yangling) and ten medium-sized cities. The area is home to six large and 53 medium-sized reservoirs, with a combined designed capacity approaching 4 billion m3. This study considers large and medium-sized reservoirs, water intake points, and water diversion projects as the fundamental engineering nodes of the digital water network. By integrating the distribution characteristics of the water system in the study area, actual water supply and usage conditions, and the spatial distribution of hydraulic projects such as reservoirs, water diversion projects, and canal systems (rivers), a mapping relationship between the digital water network and the operational network for water resource allocation components was established. This mapping relationship is shown in Figure 14. Based on the output of the hydrological model and considering various planning documents including the ‘Yellow River Basin Comprehensive Water Resources Planning,’ ‘Comprehensive Water Resources Planning of Shaanxi Province,’ ‘Shaanxi Province's 14th Five-Year Plan for Water Resources Development,’ and ‘Water Resources Protection Plan of Shaanxi Province,’ the average annual available water supply in the study area for the year 2025 is estimated at 5.83 billion m3. Among them, the Hanjiang-Weihe Project has a water transfer scale of approximately 1.50 billion m3, groundwater extraction amounts to 2.369 billion m3, rainwater storage capacity and recycled water recycling amount is about 0.6 billion m3. The available water supply is detailed in Table 5. The proportions of surface water, groundwater, and unconventional water sources in the water supply are approximately 49.21, 40.53, and 10.26%, respectively.
Table 5

Available water supply in the study area in 2025 (104m3)

AreaSurface water available water supplyGroundwater available water supplyReuse of reclaimed water and other available water sources
North of Luo River, above Nan Chengli 8,500 4,400 1,700 
Upstream of Baiyu Mountain, Jing River 1,000 300 
Upstream of Jing River,Zhangiia Mountain 11,564 900 1,195 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe north District 785 150 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe south District 120 80 
North bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 98,115 67,320 18,490 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 24,135 39,500 4,750 
North bank from Xianyang to Tongguan 94,054 63,400 9,145 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Tongguan 47,802 60,870 24,710 
AreaSurface water available water supplyGroundwater available water supplyReuse of reclaimed water and other available water sources
North of Luo River, above Nan Chengli 8,500 4,400 1,700 
Upstream of Baiyu Mountain, Jing River 1,000 300 
Upstream of Jing River,Zhangiia Mountain 11,564 900 1,195 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe north District 785 150 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe south District 120 80 
North bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 98,115 67,320 18,490 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 24,135 39,500 4,750 
North bank from Xianyang to Tongguan 94,054 63,400 9,145 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Tongguan 47,802 60,870 24,710 
Figure 14

The mapping between digital water network and business components of multi-objective optimal allocation for water resources.

Figure 14

The mapping between digital water network and business components of multi-objective optimal allocation for water resources.

Close modal

Based on the economic and social development plans of various cities (districts) in the Weihe River Basin of Shaanxi Province, and considering urban master plans, the projected water demand for different industries in the study area for the year 2025 is forecasted using the quota method, as shown in Table 6. The water demand is predominantly concentrated in three allocation units: Baoji to Xianyang North, Xianyang to Tongguan North, and Xianyang to Tongguan South, accounting for 30.60, 27.49, and 28.74% of the total water demand in the study area, respectively. Agricultural water use constitutes 51.46% of the total water demand in the study area, followed by industrial use at 32.34%. Specifically, in Xianyang to Tongguan North, agriculture dominates with a proportion of 68.37% of the water demand, whereas in Xianyang to Tongguan South, industrial water use predominates with 48.04% of the total demand.

Table 6

Water demand for different industries in 2025 (104m3)

AreaAgricultural water demandResidential water demand
Industrial water demand (including secondary and tertiary industries)Urban ecological environment water demandTotal
TownsVillages
North of Luo River,above Nan Chengli 4,930 2,045 909 2,957 170 11,011 
Upstream of Baiyu Mountain, Jing River 692 177 109 91 85 1,153 
Upstream of Jing River,Zhangiia Mountain 4,788 2,168 1,006 8,179 463.25 16,605 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe north District 102 31 27 123 7.65 291 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe south District 466 167 118 705 40.8 1,497 
North bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 29,774 5,857 1,851 13,677 1,715.3 52,873 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 110,839 15,482 4,640 58,391 4,486.3 193,838 
North bank from Xianyang to Tongguan 119,074 16,802 1,876 33,289 3,120.35 174,161 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Tongguan 55,368 27,585 2,290 87,473 9,353.4 182,070 
AreaAgricultural water demandResidential water demand
Industrial water demand (including secondary and tertiary industries)Urban ecological environment water demandTotal
TownsVillages
North of Luo River,above Nan Chengli 4,930 2,045 909 2,957 170 11,011 
Upstream of Baiyu Mountain, Jing River 692 177 109 91 85 1,153 
Upstream of Jing River,Zhangiia Mountain 4,788 2,168 1,006 8,179 463.25 16,605 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe north District 102 31 27 123 7.65 291 
Baoji Gorge above Weihe south District 466 167 118 705 40.8 1,497 
North bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 29,774 5,857 1,851 13,677 1,715.3 52,873 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang 110,839 15,482 4,640 58,391 4,486.3 193,838 
North bank from Xianyang to Tongguan 119,074 16,802 1,876 33,289 3,120.35 174,161 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Tongguan 55,368 27,585 2,290 87,473 9,353.4 182,070 

Water circulation transformation characteristics in the Weihe River basin

Using the hydrological cycle model on the cloud model service platform, we simulated the characteristics of water cycle elements in the Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin. The simulation results indicate that under the multi-year average inflow frequency in 2025, the study area will receive a total rainfall of 21.78 billion m3, with a total evapotranspiration of 17.97 billion m3. The multi-year average runoff depth is 121.8 mm, yielding a runoff volume of 5.63 billion m3. The study area receives an inflow of 3.39 billion m3 and has an outflow of 7.2 billion m3. The total water extraction for economic and social use in the study area is 5.1 billion m3, with total surface water extraction amounting to 2.767 billion m3, shallow groundwater extraction at 2.369 billion m3, and deep groundwater extraction at 0.4 billion m3. The main water expenditure items in the Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin are evapotranspiration and socio-economic water usage, accounting for 77.89 and 22.11%, respectively. The water cycle transformation relationships are shown in Figure 15.
Figure 15

Water cycle transformation diagram for the study area in 2025.

Figure 15

Water cycle transformation diagram for the study area in 2025.

Close modal
From the perspective of time, the study observes a decreasing trend in overall precipitation and a non-significant increase in evaporation, see Figure 16. Flow rates at major hydrological stations in the Weihe River Basin show a significant decrease, consistent with previous studies (Ren et al. 2016). The distribution of runoff depth primarily depends on rainfall distribution, and the variation trend of runoff closely follows that of precipitation throughout the year, indicating rainfall as the primary source of runoff replenishment.
Figure 16

Interannual variation of precipitation and evaporation from 1960 to 2010: (a) precipitation and (b) evaporation.

Figure 16

Interannual variation of precipitation and evaporation from 1960 to 2010: (a) precipitation and (b) evaporation.

Close modal

Water resource allocation plan for the Weihe River Basin

To apply NSGA-III for solving a multi-objective model and perform interactive Chebyshev decision-making involving five decision-makers (DM1–DM5) with specific goal weight values in a water resources allocation zone, refer to Table 7 for the target weight values set by each decision-maker.

Table 7

Decision-maker's weight setting for objective function decision attributes

Decision-makerMinimize economic lossesMinimize grain yield reductionMinimize water shortage
DM1 0.23 0.11 0.23 
DM2 0.23 0.22 0.12 
DM3 0.1 0.41 0.17 
DM4 0.35 0.18 0.28 
DM5 0.23 0.21 0.17 
Decision-makerMinimize economic lossesMinimize grain yield reductionMinimize water shortage
DM1 0.23 0.11 0.23 
DM2 0.23 0.22 0.12 
DM3 0.1 0.41 0.17 
DM4 0.35 0.18 0.28 
DM5 0.23 0.21 0.17 

Taking the first round of optimization as an example, there are a total of 414 non-dominated solution points on the Pareto frontier, which can be considered as 414 non-inferior schemes for the rational allocation of water resources. Before applying the interactive Chebyshev method, the scheme values were normalized to form a normalized scheme value matrix, as shown in the following equation.
(4)
Assuming that no subjective weight information is given, and the group multi-attribute decision-making process only considers the objective weights of the decision-makers, then :
(5)
By using the Lagrange multiplier method to solve the optimization model for decision-maker weight vectors, the normalized decision-maker objective weight vector and the optimal decision-maker weight vector can be obtained after normalization:
(6)

After multiple iterations, the benefit gaps between water resource allocation schemes become increasingly smaller, allowing the calculation to be terminated and a reasonable water resource allocation scheme to be selected, as shown in Table 8. In 2025, the study area requires 6.335 billion m3 of water, with a supply of 5.835 billion m3, resulting in a shortage of 0.503 billion m3. The water shortage is mainly concentrated in the areas of South Bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang, North Bank from Xianyang to Tongguan, and South Bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Tongguan, with shortages of 0.148 billion m3, 0.156 billion m3, and 0.142 billion m3, respectively, accounting for 89.92% of the total shortage. Agricultural water shortages amount to 0.438 billion m3, accounting for 87.04% of the total shortage, while industrial water shortages amount to 0.060 billion m3, accounting for 11.89% of the total shortage.

Table 8

Water resources allocation plan for the Shaanxi section of the Weihe River Basin in the 2025 (104m3)

AreaCategoryAgricultureLifeIndustryEcologyTotal
North of Luo River, above Nan Chengli Water demand 4,930 2,954 2,957 170 11,011 
Water supply 4,930 2,954 2,957 170 11,011 
Water deficit 
Upstream of Baiyu Mountain, Jing River Water demand 692 286 91 85 1,153 
Water supply 692 285 91 85 1,152 
Water deficit 
Upstream of Jing River, Zhangiia Mountain Water demand 4,788 3,175 8,179 463 16,605 
Water supply 3,988 3,175 7,589 463 15,215 
Water deficit 800 590 1,390 
South of the Weihe River, above Linjia Village Water demand 102 58 123 291 
Water supply 89 58 123 278 
Water deficit 13 13 
North of the Weihe River, above Linjia Village Water demand 466 286 705 41 1,497 
Water supply 366 336 535 48 1,285 
Water deficit 100 100 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Water demand 29,774 7,707 13,677 1,715 52,873 
Water supply 26,565 7,707 12,862 1,674 48,808 
Water deficit 3,209 815 41 4,065 
North·bank from·Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Water demand 110,839 20,122 58,391 4,486 193,838 
Water supply 98,019 20,122 56,560 4,299 179,000 
Water deficit 12,820 1,831 187 14,838 
South bank from Xianyang to Tongguan Water demand 119,074 18,677 33,289 3,120 174,161 
Water supply 103,559 18,677 33,227 3,092 158,556 
Water deficit 15,515 62 28 15,605 
North bank from Xianyang to Tongguan Water demand 55,368 29,876 87,473 9,353 182,070 
Water supply 44,075 29,876 84,794 9,071 167,816 
Water deficit 11,293 2,679 282 14,254 
Weihe River Basin Water demand 326,032 83,140 204,884 19,442 633,498 
Water supply 282,282 83,189 198,738 18,911 583,120 
Water deficit 43,750 5,977 538 50,266 
AreaCategoryAgricultureLifeIndustryEcologyTotal
North of Luo River, above Nan Chengli Water demand 4,930 2,954 2,957 170 11,011 
Water supply 4,930 2,954 2,957 170 11,011 
Water deficit 
Upstream of Baiyu Mountain, Jing River Water demand 692 286 91 85 1,153 
Water supply 692 285 91 85 1,152 
Water deficit 
Upstream of Jing River, Zhangiia Mountain Water demand 4,788 3,175 8,179 463 16,605 
Water supply 3,988 3,175 7,589 463 15,215 
Water deficit 800 590 1,390 
South of the Weihe River, above Linjia Village Water demand 102 58 123 291 
Water supply 89 58 123 278 
Water deficit 13 13 
North of the Weihe River, above Linjia Village Water demand 466 286 705 41 1,497 
Water supply 366 336 535 48 1,285 
Water deficit 100 100 
South bank from Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Water demand 29,774 7,707 13,677 1,715 52,873 
Water supply 26,565 7,707 12,862 1,674 48,808 
Water deficit 3,209 815 41 4,065 
North·bank from·Baoji Gorge to Xianyang Water demand 110,839 20,122 58,391 4,486 193,838 
Water supply 98,019 20,122 56,560 4,299 179,000 
Water deficit 12,820 1,831 187 14,838 
South bank from Xianyang to Tongguan Water demand 119,074 18,677 33,289 3,120 174,161 
Water supply 103,559 18,677 33,227 3,092 158,556 
Water deficit 15,515 62 28 15,605 
North bank from Xianyang to Tongguan Water demand 55,368 29,876 87,473 9,353 182,070 
Water supply 44,075 29,876 84,794 9,071 167,816 
Water deficit 11,293 2,679 282 14,254 
Weihe River Basin Water demand 326,032 83,140 204,884 19,442 633,498 
Water supply 282,282 83,189 198,738 18,911 583,120 
Water deficit 43,750 5,977 538 50,266 

In the study area, the water shortage rate is 7.95%. In the North Luo River area above Nanchengli and the upper reaches of the Baiyunshan Jing River, there is a basic balance between supply and demand. However, in the Jing River area above Zhangjiashan, the southern area of the Weihe River, and the northern area of the Weihe River above Linjiacun, the water shortage rates are as high as 8.37, 4.47, and 6.68%, respectively. In these regions, local water resources are insufficient to meet the growing demand. The water shortage rates in Baoji Gorge to Xianyang South, Baoji Gorge to Xianyang North, Xianyang to Tongguan South, and Xianyang to Tongguan North are 7.69, 7.65, 5.20, and 8.83%, respectively. This will have a certain impact on grain yield and GDP. In terms of water distribution, priority is given to ensuring nonagricultural water supply. The water shortage rate for domestic use is minimal, the industrial water shortage rate is 2.92%, and the agricultural water shortage rate is 13.42%, with the majority of the water shortage concentrated in agriculture. This allocation plan results in a 1.23% reduction in grain yield due to agricultural water shortages, coupled with a 0.15% decrease in GDP due to water shortages in other industries.

Discussion

Models, such as Mike Basin, GWAS, and WEAP, have long served as industry benchmarks due to their proven capabilities in areas such as optimal water resource allocation, water quality simulation, and supply–demand balance forecasting. These traditional models, whose detailed features are outlined in Table 9, are typically built on a Client/Server (C/S) architecture. While offering robust functionality, these models often require users to install complex software environments on local machines, which can be cumbersome and resource-intensive.

Table 9

Comparison of models

ReferenceModelSoftware architectureFeature
 CMICP (this article) B/S The CMICP model leverages technologies such as cloud computing and topology theory, adopts a business-oriented modeling approach, and is built upon the B/S architecture to establish a cloud model service platform for water cycle simulation and water resources allocation. This platform enables the integration of water cycle simulation and water resources allocation simulation functions to be completed on the cloud 
Sang et al. (2018)  GWAS C/S GWAS Model is comprehensive software that integrates functionalities such as water resources simulation, assessment, allocation, and reporting. Rooted in the ‘nature-society’ dual water cycle theory, it enables the simulation of both water quantity and quality within regional or watershed scales, as well as the optimized allocation and dynamic change analysis of water resources. 
DHI Warer&Environment (2003), Jha & Das (2003)  Mike Basin C/S The Mike Basin model, developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute, is an advanced water resources management tool that integrates capabilities for optimal water resources allocation, reservoir operation and management, water quality and groundwater simulation, spatiotemporal visualization, and data integration and processing. This model is widely applied in the field of water resources engineering for purposes such as water resources planning, scheduling, management, and protection 
Yates et al. (2005)  WEAP C/S The WEAP model is developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute. By establishing connections between supply and demand nodes, the WEAP model is capable of simulating the water balance of a region, effectively predicting the impacts of future climate change on water resource availability. It offers a robust framework for analyzing and managing water resources under various scenarios 
ReferenceModelSoftware architectureFeature
 CMICP (this article) B/S The CMICP model leverages technologies such as cloud computing and topology theory, adopts a business-oriented modeling approach, and is built upon the B/S architecture to establish a cloud model service platform for water cycle simulation and water resources allocation. This platform enables the integration of water cycle simulation and water resources allocation simulation functions to be completed on the cloud 
Sang et al. (2018)  GWAS C/S GWAS Model is comprehensive software that integrates functionalities such as water resources simulation, assessment, allocation, and reporting. Rooted in the ‘nature-society’ dual water cycle theory, it enables the simulation of both water quantity and quality within regional or watershed scales, as well as the optimized allocation and dynamic change analysis of water resources. 
DHI Warer&Environment (2003), Jha & Das (2003)  Mike Basin C/S The Mike Basin model, developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute, is an advanced water resources management tool that integrates capabilities for optimal water resources allocation, reservoir operation and management, water quality and groundwater simulation, spatiotemporal visualization, and data integration and processing. This model is widely applied in the field of water resources engineering for purposes such as water resources planning, scheduling, management, and protection 
Yates et al. (2005)  WEAP C/S The WEAP model is developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute. By establishing connections between supply and demand nodes, the WEAP model is capable of simulating the water balance of a region, effectively predicting the impacts of future climate change on water resource availability. It offers a robust framework for analyzing and managing water resources under various scenarios 

However, with the rapid evolution of technology, particularly cloud computing, a paradigm shift in water resource modeling has emerged. The limitations of traditional models, such as the need for local installations and intricate configurations, are being addressed through the development of more agile, cloud-based solutions. In this paper, we present the CMICP model, which integrates cloud computing and adopts a B/S architecture. This approach eliminates the need for local software setup, allowing users to access the full functionality of the CMICP model through a simple web browser. By transitioning to a cloud-as-a-service model, CMICP offers a more flexible and user-friendly platform, overcoming the constraints of traditional C/S-based models and enhancing accessibility and ease of use.

This shift to cloud-based modeling marks a significant step forward in the field of water resource management, as it not only reduces the technical burden on users but also leverages the scalability and efficiency of cloud computing to improve the performance and accessibility of water resource optimization tools.

Conclusion

In this study, on the basis of constructing a watershed digital water network, the coupling of the hydrological cycle model with a multi-objective water resources optimization model is achieved. Leveraging the digital topological water network, the dynamic allocation of regional water resources is facilitated, establishing the Weihe River Basin in Shaanxi Province Water Cycle Simulation and Water Resources Configuration Cloud Model Service Platform. This cloud service platform adopts a business modeling approach integrated with B/S architecture, enabling integrated simulation of the water cycle and resource allocation at the cloud end.

The hydrological cycle model simulation results show relative errors of −1.665 and −4.63% for the calibration and validation periods of monthly average runoff, with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients of 0.815 and 0.795, respectively, effectively capturing runoff variations during these periods. The study area experiences an annual rainfall of 217.80 billion m3, evapotranspiration of 179.70 billion m3, and an average annual runoff of 56.30 billion m3. Inflows are measured at 33.90 billion m3, while outflows amount to 72.00 billion m3. The total economic and social water intake is 51.00 billion m3. The spatial distribution of runoff depth primarily depends on rainfall distribution, with significant reductions observed at various hydrological stations.

Using the cloud service platform for the Weihe River Basin in Shaanxi Province, a multi-objective optimization of water resource allocation is conducted involving 5 decision-makers. Through a group multi-attribute decision-making model, a water resource allocation plan for 2025 is selected. The plan indicates a regional water shortage rate of 7.95%, a 1.23% reduction in grain production, and a 0.15% decrease in GDP. Agricultural water shortage amounts to 4.38 billion m3, representing 87.04% of the total water deficit. Water scarcity is particularly concentrated in Baoji Gorge to Xianyang North, Xianyang to Tongguan South, and Xianyang to Tongguan North.

Research limitations

The hydrological cycle in this model is based on the Xin'anjiang model. However, due to the complex topography and climatic conditions of the Weihe River Basin, the model exhibits inadequacies in handling spatial heterogeneity and has limited consideration of the impacts of groundwater and human activities. As a result, the accuracy of the simulation results may be affected.

Prospect

In the context of the rapid development of smart water management, cloud platform construction is advancing quickly and gradually becoming an essential tool for water resources management. As computer technology continues to mature, the functionality and performance of cloud models will also see further enhancement and optimization. However, there are still some shortcomings in the current cloud-based platforms for water cycle simulation and water resource allocation, particularly in the consideration of water quality issues. Since water quality is one of the key factors affecting the sustainable utilization of water resources, it is crucial to incorporate it into the simulation and analysis within cloud models. Therefore, future efforts will focus on expanding the capabilities of existing cloud platforms to fully integrate water quality parameters, providing more accurate and comprehensive decision support for water resources management.

The authors acknowledge the support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFC3206802) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42307114).

T.W. is the machine learning expert, contributed to the investigation, developed the methodology, supervised the study, developed the communication, resources, and rendered support in data curation. T.W., J.D., Jiq.Z., J.Z. contributed to the original draft preparation, rendered support in data collection formal data analysis, investigated the whole process, contributed to the critical review, and final revisions. Y. G., F. G., L. Z., Y. Z. contributed to supervision, validation, revision, discussion, resources, improvement, and advice. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

All relevant data are included in the paper or its Supplementary Information.

The authors declare there is no conflict.

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