xvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4305
EPA-823-F-01-021
June 2001
Fact Sheet
Better Assessment Science Integrating point
and Nonpoint Sources, Version 3 (BASINS 3.0)
Summary
Version 3.0 of the Better Assessment Science
Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS)
software system has been released. BASINS has three
major objectives:
• To facilitate examination of environmental
information,
• To support analysis of environmental systems,
• To provide a framework for examining
management alternatives.
Background
Originally released in 1996, with a second release in
1998, BASINS comprises a suite of interrelated
components. BASINS' databases and assessment tools
are directly integrated within an Arc View environment.
These components work together to support the user
performing various aspects of environmental analysis.
The components include (1) nationally derived
databases with Data Extraction and Project Builder
tools; (2) assessment tools (TARGET, ASSESS, and
Data Mining) that address large- and small-scale
characterization needs; (3) utilities to facilitate
importing local data and for organizing and evaluating
data; (4) Watershed Delineation tools; (5) utilities for
classifying elevation (DEM), land use, soils, and water
quality data; (6)Watershed Characterization Reports that
facilitate compilation and output of information on
selected watersheds; (7) an in- stream water quality
model; (8) two watershed loading and transport models
and (9) a simplified GIS based nonpoint annual loading
model.
BASINS 3.0 also includes many new features and
improvements.
• An automatic delineation tool that allows users to
delineate watershed based on a Digital Elevation
Model (DEM) grid formatted data..
• An enhanced manual delineation tool that allows
users additional flexibility in editing shapes and
attributes of manually delineated watersheds.
• A new Windows interface for the HSPF model that
fully supports interaction with the entire HSPF input
sequence.
• A watershed model called Soil Water Assessment
Tool (SWAT), developed by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's ARS.
• A model called PLOAD, developed by CH2M-Hill,
which uses export coefficients to estimate watershed
loading.
• A model postprocessor and scenario generator
called GenScn. Originally developed for the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS), GenScn allows users to
manage, visualize, analyze, and compare the results
of several HSPF and/or SWAT simulations.
• A time series data management utility called
WDMUtil.
• A grid projector that allows the user to project grid
data.
• An improved Permit Compliance System point
source (PCS) database with annual loadings
updated through 1999.
• DEM (grid format) data on the distribution CD
buffered to 8 digit HUC boundaries.
What's New in BASINS 3.0?
This major release includes an overhaul of the system
architecture that packages system components as
ArcView extensions and external programs. This
architecture is open and flexible. It promotes the
growth of BASINS by allowing users and developers
to write their own extensions to the system.
How to Get Additional Information
For further information about BASINS 3.0, contact:
basins@epa.gov
or the BASINS web site
http://www.epa.gov/ost/basins/
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