Patent ID: 8768663

Claim:
A computer method for predicting tidal heights and currents using an automated forecast model including: receiving, by a specially programmed computer, processing options; automatically creating, by the specially programmed computer, directories and preparing/updating input files based on the processing options; automatically calculating, by the specially programmed computer, water cells and river discharge data based on the input files, the river discharge data being determined for the water cells, including: determining a data structure associated with a domain of the forecast; if a river is located within the domain, automatically locating the water cells in the data structure coincident with the river, if possible, or automatically locating the water cells in the data structure, the water cells having predetermined water depths and being near the river; determining river discharge flow rates of the water cells; and converting the flow rates into the river discharge data; automatically optimizing, by the specially programmed computer, the input files for forecast model execution; automatically preparing, by the specially programmed computer, reliability and stability information based on the forecast model; automatically preparing, by the specially programmed computer, the water cells, river discharge data, optimized input files, and reliability and stability information as prepared input to the forecast model; automatically providing, by the specially programmed computer, the prepared input to the forecast model; automatically receiving, by the specially programmed computer, a forecast from the forecast model, the forecast based on the prepared data; and automatically providing, by the specially programmed computer, the forecast to a computer readable medium.