[GRASS5] Module differences: r.flow/r.flowmd

[Rich Shepard]

On Sun, 17 Jun 2001, Helena wrote:

> There are quite a few differences between these two programs - the method
> is generaly the same (vector-grid) but the implementation differs as well
> as capabilities. Also the results differ slightly.

Helena,

  Thank you _very_ much for the explanation.

> If there are any volunteers interested in merging those two programs both
> Jaro Hofierka and I will be happy to help.

> Jaro will be contributing s.flow program to GRASS5.1 (it generates
> flowlines from the given site data) and I can talk to him about the
> possibilities to merge the two r.flow programs, but it is not as trivial
> as it appears to be.

  Permit me to suggest that the two of you are much better qualified to
merge the two because of your intimate familiarity with them. I can
understand how two slightly different versions came to be written rather
than one. But, if I understand correctly, the best features of each should
be retained in a single program. It would certainly make life easier for the
rest of us.

> In conclusion, r.flowmd produces nicer results but is slower and it does
> not support as large data sets as r.flow.

  This in itself argues for a single version. Big, fast and pretty. :-)

  BTW, when I offer suggestions, I intend no slights or offense. My
background includes using GIS (ARC/Info, Idrisi, and MapInfo) since 1987
even though I only now developing projects using GRASS. I will look at
things from the perspectives of the non-technical end user because much of
my time is spent translating complex technical issues to the decision-makers
who have the technical background of a banana slug (no offense to banana
slugs, for they are the state animal of Oregon).

Rich

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