| Abstract: | ABSTRACT: A novel approach has been developed by applying queueing theory to hydrologic modeling. A queueing situation is characterized by a flow of customers arriving randomly at one or more service facilities. In this case, the customers are represented by water and the service time is the time it takes to move through the soil and over the land. This approach has the potential to be simpler and more efficient than some previously developed models. Another important attribute of queueing theory is its ability to model almost unlimited detail. Many simulation languages based on queueing theory have been developed and tested and are available. Applications of the languages include manufacturing operations, transportation systems, computer systems, financial planning, and health care systems. A model was developed, using a simulation language, to predict runoff hydrographs from storms occurring on small homogeneous watersheds. With continued development, queueing theory could provide an effident, detailed approach to simulating many natural processes. |
