Overview of the ESP-r interface, databases
and model directories

Aim

To become familiar with the directory structure used by ESP-r to store support databases and models and to browse through a selection of pre-constructed databases.

Learning
Outcome

+ Working familiarity with the location of the standard databases and the data file types comprising a model.
+ An understanding of the data types contained within the ESP-r support databases and how these data may be used to construct models.

 

Task

Instructions
1. Explore the directory structure used by ESP-r to organise a distribution. Type the command cd /usr/esru/esp-r and examine the contents of the sub-directories found there. These contain the system software, libraries and tutorials etc. When you use ESP-r modules or facilities the operating system will look here for the relevant resource. Note however that you are not allowed to write to these sub-directories. This means that you cannot change the contents of the standard databases: you would need to copy them to your own directory and change them there.
2. Consider the directory structure used by ESP-r to organise its model files. ESP-r generates many files per model. By convention, these files are held in a directory named by you with files of a given type held in standard sub-directories with names like cfg, ctl, nets, zones etc. For a specific example, examine the contents of one of the in-built example models by browsing the directory /usr/esru/esp-r/training/basic.
3. Create a model directory and navigate between its sub-directories. Change back to your home folder.Start up ESP-r and select new model from the menu. You will be asked a few questions, such as a root name for the new model. The Project Manager will then create a set of standard folders to hold your new model. In a separate shell (window) note the new directory and its contents as created by the Project Manager to hold the model files. You can use the normal Unix commands - such as cd, ls and more - to visit these sub-directories and, when files appear, examine their contents. (Type man <command> to learn more about the use of these commands).

4. Explore the ESP-r interface.

Resize the text and graphics windows (using the button) and modify the menu font size (via the window button).

5. Explore the in-built databases and examine the contents of the materials and composites databases.

Select database maintenance from the Entry Level menu. You will be presented with databases related to climate, pressure distributions, materials, construction composites, plant components, event profiles, optical properties and mould species. Find out more about these databases by selecting ?help.

Next, select the materials database and examine its contents by selecting browse or edit this file. There are a number of classes of materials (Brick, Concrete etc) with specific material entries under each.

Use the !List option to examine the contents of a database. You will be offered the choice of sending the report to the text feedback area or to a summary file (which can then be processed later by another application). The dialogue also includes cancel and ? choices. The latter offers context help for the dialogue. If you choose text feedback then the report will display on the screen.

Select the !List classification and look at the contents and the units of each material attribute. Exit from the materials database. Now, select the constructions database and browse its contents. The entries in this database make use of the materials database to build up a layer by layer description of composite materials.

6. Browse the climate sets. Select climate from the Database menu. Choose select another file and then select one of the climate sets offered after looking at its documentation. This action will cause the climate analysis module to start up with the selected climate file loaded. You are offered a number of facilities - synoptic analysis, graphical analysis and a tabular analysis. Use the period menu command to define a month and then select the Graphical analysis option to graph selected weather data.
7. Browse the other databases.

List their contents in turn and consider how the data might be used in a modelling and simulation exercise (engage your tutor in discussion if necessary).
Note that each database has options to make a project copy of a standard database, create a new database, and optionally to convert a database from binary format to ASCII format.


Assignment
4
+ Describe the contents of the model directory you created in Task 3 and state the path to the standard databases in the ESP-r distribution.
+ Select three of the databases you examined and elaborate their contents and how the data are used in an ESP-r modelling exercise.

 

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