# **Procedures for using and accessing simulation codes submitted to the**

# **Community Coordinated Modeling Center**

The CCMC's mission is to assist model developers in the evolution,
testing, and validation of state-of-the-art research codes for space
physics simulations. The CCMC makes the output of these models broadly
available to the global scientific community, and supports the
transition of validated and verified simulation codes to federal program
offices, to US operational space weather forecasting agencies in the
Department of Defense and NOAA, and to authorized government
contractors. The following policies provide guidance for model
developers, as well as for CCMC management, staff, and advisory bodies,
in order to accomplishing this mission.

[1. Code acceptance and public access]{.underline}

As the primary and preferred method of acceptance, the CCMC Science and
Operations Working Groups will review and recommend candidate codes
based on their technical quality and relevance to the CCMC mission.
However, considering the CCMC's broad mandate, codes may occasionally be
submitted directly by model developers to the CCMC without additional
coordination, and accepted at the CCMC Steering Committee's discretion.
While this will rarely occur, the CCMC Steering Committee reserves the
right to consider all available codes from any source.

Model developers who consent to review and assessment by the CCMC
Working Groups, as well as to open and free public access to their
models' output after acceptance, will always have priority for
acceptance over those that do not consent to such review and access. In
any case, public access to a model's output will not be provided until
the CCMC Steering Committee has formally accepted the code, CCMC staff
members have successfully adapted the code to CCMC hardware, and the
owner has verified proper installation at the CCMC.

Model developers must understand that:

\- submission of a model to the CCMC constitutes explicit permission by
the model developer for public access to CCMC-supervised model runs and
output, and

\- simulation results (including metrics and validation studies)
obtained with models residing at the CCMC will be made routinely
available to the scientific and operational communities as an ongoing
activity, until or unless the model developer explicitly revokes such
permission in writing.

[2. Code modifications]{.underline}

The CCMC staff will be permitted to modify model codes **ONLY** for the
following purposes:

\- adapting models to CCMC-specific hardware;

\- converting model output formats to CCMC-specific formats; and

\- converting model input formats to CCMC-specific formats.

Such modifications are construed to be necessary for routine
installation purposes only. By default, submitting a model constitutes
consent by the developer for minor code modifications to be made on site
by CCMC staff for these purposes, in consultation with the developer and
in accordance with the CCMC mission. These modifications will be
carefully documented and the information provided to model owners. Any
other code modification, for any other purpose, is forbidden without
prior approval from the model owners.

[3. Code validation and verification]{.underline}

In collaboration with model owners, the CCMC staff will perform
validation and verification studies with the models residing at the
CCMC. These studies may be science-based validations or metrics-based
analyses, and results may be disseminated as stated in Paragraph 1.

[4. Source code dissemination]{.underline}

All codes resident at CCMC are protected from unauthorized access or
unintentional dissemination. By default, CCMC may **NOT** distribute
source code to **ANY** entity. Exceptions to this non-distribution
policy will be made only at the model owner's explicit request, and must
be consistent with the CCMC's resources and mission. If such model
distributions occur, preference will be given to disseminating those
models that the model owner agrees can be transferred to US federal
agencies and their contractors, in addition to any other entity
requested by the owner.

[5. Termination of model support]{.underline}

The CCMC can discontinue support and public access to a model, based on
availability of resources and mission priorities as determined by the
CCMC Steering Committee, taking into account CCMC Working Group
recommendations. Model owners will be notified at least six months prior
to any such termination of model support at the CCMC.

[6. Community research]{.underline}

The CCMC provides the global science community with free access to
results of state-of-the-art space science and space environment
simulations, and by doing so, enables broad collaborations with benefits
for all. As members of the science community, CCMC staff will also have
access to model results, governed by the same rules that apply to all
users.

The science community is presumed to police itself through peer review
on matters of intellectual honesty and scientific integrity. However,
the CCMC requests that users notify the CCMC and model owners before
using any model results for publication or submitting proposals. The
CCMC also requests that model owners be properly acknowledged in all
public presentations and publications. A model owner may provide a
preferred attribution or reference statement that should be cited by all
CCMC users of a specific model. These statements will be posted
conspicuously on the CCMC web site.

[7. Other agreements between model owners and the CCMC]{.underline}

The set of policies and procedures established in Paragraphs 1-6 above
is meant to evolve to satisfy future requirements. Past experience has
shown that the CCMC staff, in close collaboration with model developers,
can help advance the capabilities of models resident at the CCMC. The
qualitative and quantitative nature of such future interactions is
unpredictable. As necessary, therefore, and prior to the acceptance of
any model, the CCMC may discuss with model developers additional
policies that may interest either party. At the request of the model
owner, additional agreements may be executed in writing. The CCMC staff
will adhere to any such agreement during the entire period of a model's
residence at the CCMC.

Flexibility and discretion in interpreting evolving needs will be an
underlying principle of this document. In close coordination with the
model developers, the CCMC Working Groups, and the broader science
community, the CCMC Steering Committee may change and adapt these
policies over time as required, in order to accomplish the CCMC's
mission.