Technical news

You can find in this section new main features developed in the latest version of VSoil software suite. To see a more detailed information, you can take a look at the changelog file.

What's new in VSoil 20241018 (version from 18 October 2024)

• A large amount of "no input" modules have been translated to C++ language. This facilitates usage of VSoil in a multi-instance context. For example, when used by an external model.
• Windows version now uses the WSL system (Windows Subsystem for Linux). This signifies the capacity to use statistical functions on models and other cool stuffs, previously only accessible by Linux users. Notice, there should be some inconveniences due to this change on the graphical interface and the user file access from/to VSoil software. Do not hesitate to report problems, even minor.
• A new import system has been developed. It is more user friendly, easier to use. In particular, it avoids conflicts.
• When creating a new term for in-outs names, forbid it if the term already exists in a singular/plural form or if it has synonyms.
• A new module has been introduced to synchronise times with calendar dates changes. When creating a model with calendar dates outputs, it is automatically added (but it is optional).
• If a model needs to be synchronised with calendar dates, set the concerned time duration checkboxes in initialisation tab.
• During initialisation of model, concerned calendar dates synchronisation are automatically activated.
• Modules and models can now be associated with a scientist to contact.
• Module have access to time arguments: current hour of day, days in year, days since ref and leap year.

What's new in VSoil 20240206 (version from 6 February 2024)

• On Linux only:
  • a button is now available in common introduction dialog box if a new version of VSoil is available;
  • user can choose VSoil repository branch (stable or testing version of VSoil).
• Improve the support for Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) environment.
• In vsoil-modules software:
  • add functions to define internode distances and compartment  sizes when using a dynamic mesh;
  • user source files can now be opened when using an external code editor.
• Improve syntax highlighting in code editor for all languages (C++, Fortran, R).
• User can choose different Singularity containers (remotely or locally).

What's new in VSoil 20230607 (version from 7 June 2023)

• In the context of modules: molar masses are now calculated using a dedicated function available in the "utility" section of the code editor; a document template (LaTeX format) is available in the "auxiliary user documentation" section.
• In the context of model execution: management of processor load and parallel computing has been improved on cluster; outputs can be saved after a change of day or year; geographical coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude and time zone) can be specified.
• In the context of statistical calculation: an "average run" option has been created; a level of log messages specific to R scripts has been added.

What's new in VSoil 20220810 (version from 10 August 2022)

• Make official pesticide fate process.
• Make official several modules: balance_batch_pest, CDE_OM_crop, CDE_PEST, etr_from_file, MIM_column, mulch_dyn_first_order, mulch_heat_bi, mulch_water_bi, pest_soil_two_sites and physico_equil_forced.
• Make official batch_pesti_two_sites model which simulates batch laboratory experiments for pesticides fate.
• Make official Rich_Clim model which simulates water flow with Richards equation.
• Make official Rich_Clim_Heat_CD_OM model wich simulates water balance with the Richards equation, transport of dissolved species with the Convection-Dispersion Equation (CDE), soil temperature and organic matter transformations with the CANTIS module.
• Make official Rich_Clim_Heat_CD_OM_crop model which simulates water balance with the Richards equation, transport of dissolved species with the Convection-Dispersion Equation (CDE), soil temperature, organic matter transformations with the CANTIS module, crop water uptake (Feddes), solute uptake by roots (Michaelis-Menten formulation) and crop development is imposed.
• Make official pest_fate_in_column model which simulates the fate of pesticides molecules in a laboratory column.
• In in-out tab from vsoil-processes, remove the "none-vector" location in profit of "none" and "single_or_array" attribute (which replaces the "vector" attribute).
• In parameters tab from vsoil-modules, add a "conditional disabled" parameters mechanism.
• Replace subroutine_succeeded variable by stop_simulation in "initialization", "compute", "interpolate outputs", "validate" and "end" sections of the code editor (default value is false).
• Add a tool allowing to identify graphically differences between outputs of models.
• Add the Sobol sensitivity method from R sensitivity package.
• Add a free section to add the R source code of the user.
• Add the normal distribution and the multisimulation option for the DreamZS parameter estimation method.

What's new in VSoil 20220127 (version from 27 January 2022)

• Make official Rich_Clim_Heat_CD model which simulates water balance with the Richards equation, transport of dissolved species with the convection-dispersion equation (CDE) and soil temperature (no crop is taken into account).
• Make official root_solute_uptake_Michaelis module which simulates solutes uptake by a root system according to a Michaels Menten kinetic.
• Make official soil_structure_forced_v2 module which calculates the bulk density or the porosity.
• Add the "none vector" location for in-outs (1D fixed size).
• Replace subroutine_succedeed variable by reduce_dt in compute section of modules. Notice: the usage is inverted. The default value is now false and should be set to true to indicate that module wants to reduce time step dt.
• Modules can now use external libraries Blas and Lapack on Windows.
• Introduce "stop and resume" capability for models (beta version) which allows to stop a simulation and then restart it (output variables have been automatically saved at stop simulation time).
• Add SCE-UA (Shuffle Complex Evolution) parameter optimization method (rtop package from R).
• Add DreamZS parameter optimization method (BayesianTools package from R).
• Enable parallel run for Morris method (sensitivity analysis).

What's new in VSoil 20210527 (version from 27 May 2021)

• Make official several modules (CDE, CDE_kinb_sorp, CDE_OM, ...).
• Make official example_for_modules_iterations model which is an example of using the iterations between modules feature.
• Make official Python_example module which is an example of a C++ module running a Python script with an embedded Python interpreter.
• Add the possibility to duplicate inputs/outputs.
• Add physical subroutines to be used in Fortran modules.
• Add an utility function calculating the 1D integral of the product of two functions (Fortran only).

What's new in VSoil 20210115 (version from 15 January 2021)

• Make official batch_OM_NRM2001 model with its main module OM_NRM_2001_basic. It implements the organic matter transformation model described in the article "Nicolardot, B ., Recous, S., Mary B. 2001 Simulation of C and N mineralization during crop residue decomposition : A simple dynamic model based on the C:N ratio of the residues. Plant and Soil, 228: 83-103".
• Make official PAH_fate_in_column model. It simulates the fate of PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in a soil column with steady state flow. PAH species transport uses the convection-dispersion equation (CDE) coupled with the modules simulating the sorption, the degradation and the release of PAH from organic matter.
• Introduce an external diff tool (Linux only) to compare modules source codes. The aim is to help comparing modules changes.
• Add 3 biological functions (Andren, q10 and Vanthoff) available from modules (Fortran only).
• Manage iterations between modules within a time step. The aim is to allow iterations between modules when they are strongly coupled by their inputs and outputs.

What's new in VSoil 20200907 (version from 7 September 2020)

• Make official CDE_column model. It simulates solute transport in a soil column with a steady water flow. It can transport several species at a time. Sorption can only be simulated with the Local Equilibrium Assumption.
• Make official PAH_fate_in_batch model. It simulates the fate of one PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in a batch system.
• Make official several modules: balance_batch_PAH, CD_LEA, mulch_dyn_CANTIS, OM_compost, organic_fert_compost, PAH_compost, PAH_DOC_degradation, PAH_sorption, sprink_solutes_file.

What's new in VSoil 20200609 (version from 9 June 2020)

• Make official PolDoc model which simulates the transport of DOC and TOC in an unsaturated soil column.
• Make official batch_OM_CANTIS model. It is dedicated to use the CANTIS module in batch controled conditions.
• Introduce a new remote connection to Meso@LRcluster in Montpellier.

What's new in VSoil 20200330 (version from 30 Mars 2020)

• Make official bioturbation_CD and root_water_uptake_alpha modules.
• Update some modules to manage grid change (interpolate of profile outputs).
• Rename module forced_geochemistry to geochemistry_neutral.
• The new save frequency "after nb iterations" replaces "save each validate".
• Improve runtime performance of some modules and vsoil utility functions.
• Introduce "-O3" and "-03 -march=native" compiler profiles (vectorization).
• Introduce a new CPU management for parallel run to improve multiple concurrent jobs on the same computer.