Comment on “Most computational hydrology is not reproducible, so is it really science?” by Christopher Hutton et al.

Let hydrologists learn the latest computer science by working with Research Software Engineers (RSEs) and not reinvent the waterwheel ourselves

Journal article (2017)

Authors

R.W. Hut Water Resources - CEG
N.C. van de Giesen Water Resources - CEG
N Drost Netherlands eScience Center
Research Group
Water Resources (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2017 R.W. Hut, N.C. van de Giesen, N Drost
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/2017WR020665
Computer science Computational hydrology Research software
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Published Date

01-05-2017

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Water Management

Research Group

Water Resources

Abstract

The suggestions by Hutton et al. might not be enough to guarantee reproducible computational hydrology. Archiving software code and research data alone will not be enough. We add to the suggestion of Hutton et al. that hydrologists not only document their (computer) work, but that hydrologists use the latest best practices in designing research software, most notably the use of containers and open interfaces. To make sure hydrologists know of these best practices, we urge close collaboration with Research Software Engineers (RSEs).