2019-09 Minutes

[sarahcleary]

2019-09 Minutes

Date

Friday 6/9/19; 9:30AM AEST

Agenda Item

1.1 Welcome/Apologies

Welcome from @Keith-Pembleton.
@kchenu – joined at 9:40

Members

@Keith-Pembleton; @LouisAK; @sarahcleary; @yashvirchauhan, @hol353; @HamishBrownPFR; @sno036; @EnliWang; @JulianneLilley; @jbrider; @sarchontoulis; @kchenu

Apologies/Not in attendance

@MarkLieffering; @peter-devoil;

1.2 Review Minutes and Actions

Attached - 2019-08 Minutes
Taken as read and correct

Complete actions reviewed. Actions - No further comment on these actions.
All open ones linked in the Agenda.

2. Science/Software

2.1 Check for new APSIM Major Improvements

GitHub MAJOR science issues

@Keith-Pembleton call for comments

Discussion around the development on:

• Red Clover - RP approved the incorporation into release. ACTION: @sarahcleary to follow up with @rcichota.

• Agroforestry Model - @hol353 provided an update. WIP. Lack of time to progress at the moment

• Peanut Model - update provided. Discussion initiated between @yashvirchauhan, @hut104 and DAF developer, Brendan Power

• Improve maize leaf expansion functions - agreed to remove from "major" ACTION: @EnliWang and @HamishBrownPFR to discuss

• Port the old apsim SoilTemp2 model - ACTION: @sarchontoulis to provide Validation data; @sno036 to be tagged for watching brief; @yashvirchauhan to provide comment.

• Development of new APSIM Chickpea model for APSIMx - @hol353 provided update. Should be completed within the next 3-6 months.

• New Sorghum model in PMF - @jbrider provided an update. Identified a few errors/issues with the old model. Awaiting Graeme and Greg to revise. Then should be able to progress.

GitHub ALL science issues

No updates on others

2.2 Updates from RP reviews

Models currently under review

• AgPasture - ACTION: @sno036 to review comments and provide feedback. @sno036 hopes to provide a response prior to next RP meeting

• Creating of New Soil Nutrient Model - @sarahcleary to progress review with @sno036 and @Keith-Pembleton.

Models/Updates in release since last RP meeting
None

3 Software

APSIM Classic - process for continuous release
@hol353 provided an update. Noted issue related to Bootleg versions - @hol353 and @peter-devoil to action the 'non-validated" category/tool box.
@jbrider raised a case where he needs to provide code for an older version of APSIM due to it being used in a paper. Agreed solution is for the code to be put into github - won't be incorporated into the Bootleg version.

4 Outstanding Actions

Outstanding Actions from AI SC Meeting on 2 August

• Actions discussed:
• Paper on GitHub process and RP meeting structure and changes - Paper on GitHub process and RP meeting structure and changes #10: ACTION- @APSIMInitiative/reference-panel to provide feedback to @Keith-Pembleton via email, phone etc..
• AI SC Report - AI funded software position - AI SC Report - AI funded software position #9: Discussion around the AI SC's request for long-term requirements ACTION- @sarahcleary to discussion with @sno036 to decide best way of progressing.
• Communications - APSIM Website and ResearchGate Updates - Communications - APSIM Website and ResearchGate Updates #16 ACTION- Continue to provide any updates and news articles
• AI-PFR Potential Opportunities - AI-PFR Potential Opportunities #13 – still awaiting feedback from DAF and USQ ACTION- Close issue as all feedback has been received.
• 19/20 APSIM Development Plan - 19/20 APSIM Development Plan #36 ACTION- @sarahcleary to add Development plan to Google Sheets to facilitate input. Once updated; provide URL in news article asking 3rd parties to provide input via email.
• Improved GitHub Communication - Improved GitHub Communication #37 - @HamishBrownPFR provided update/demonstration on DevHub. Useful but possibly a little complex for everyone to use. Discussion on use of labels to categorise key areas of interest. Easier for people new to GitHub to navigate, including scientists/non-software developers. ACTION: Commence GitHub issue for key words: winter cereals; Summer cereals; legumes; soils; livestock

Outstanding Actions from AI RP Strategy Meeting in Feb

Worked through the individual actions and noted updates on each issue.

• Discussion on leveraging resources between members - Discussion on leveraging resources between members #21 - ACTION: Feedback discussion to AI SC committee. @sarahcleary to add it to an agenda item for the SC meeting.
• Workshop on Carbon decomposition and nitrogen mineralisation - Workshop on Carbon decomposition and nitrogen mineralisation #22 - ACTION: @EnliWang to discuss with @hut104
• Discussion on Nitrogen leaching - Discussion on Nitrogen leaching #23 - Discussed ways to take this forward - ACTION: @Keith-Pembleton to draft an outline for a PhD project which could be advertised across the AI universities.
• Discussion on Root System development - Discussion on Root System developement #24 - Noted that Enli has a student working on this ACTION: @EnliWang, @kchenu and @sarchontoulis to discuss.
• Discussion on Maize and Soybean – microclimate development - Discussion on Maize and Soybean – microclimate development #25 - ACTION: Close issue as @HamishBrownPFR to commence major issue for review of microclimate improvements

Other actions

• Next Gen Documentation - Improving Next Gen Documentation to include summary page #12 - @HamishBrownPFR provided a short update
• APSIM Infrastructure - APSIM Infrastructure running on high performance computers #14 - ACTION: Close issue
• APSIM Classic - process for continuous release - APSIM Classic - process for continuous release #15 - discussed above

5 Training

Update on APSIM Week

@sarchontoulis provided an updated on the recent ISU training workshop. Key points:

• 35 participants from 10 states; 3 full days.

• Same format as previous years, working well

• focus on corn/soybean/soilwater

• Reviewing which version to use in future workshops. If change to NextGen would need to prepare new exercises

• @hol353 likes the competition aspect of the workshop. This worked well.

ACTION: @sarahcleary to share ISU training evaluation with @APSIMInitiative/reference-panel

@Keith-Pembleton provided an update on the Training Videos - first three are now on YouTube. Has completed another one and hoping to finish another one or two this coming week. He raised the review process. RP happy with @hol353 reviewing them prior to being released via the YouTube Channel. Raised a question in relation what other topics should be made available via this format. What else should one have completed before being able to do "Advanced Training" ACTION: @sarahcleary to commence GitHub issue seeking input into topics for online training

@sarahcleary provided short update on APSIM week. Noted that the AI SC requested the RP to think about structure/format of APSIM Symposium to include the “wider selling” of APSIM to commercial/funders. Who should be invite them to present/attend - any of the AI commercial partners.

APSIM Next Gen session should be a stand alone session. No parallel workshop

ACTION- @sarahcleary to continue preparations for APSIM week including updating EOI form. @APSIMInitiative/reference-panel to provide further input into #33

6 Website/Communications

@hol353 provided an update on new website including that CSIRO can provide the WordPress Content Management free of change. They will deal with the security patches, updates. They have set up a template for @sarahcleary to populate.

7 Science Chats

@hut104 is unlikely to be available for next meeting.

@sarahcleary to ask @peter-devoil if he can present the APSIMX crop rotations manager.

8 Other Business

None

9 Next Meeting

4 October 2019; 9:30am AEST