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Design - File Specifications

All Specifications, also known as Primary Data Communication Files (PDCF), will have similar structural components but different specific content. The PDCF that any individual module generates is integrated into a 'global' PDCF containing all like (PDCF) data from other modules. To make the reading of the PDCF more efficient, markers are used to identify the unique dataset for a particular module. A marker consists of the module name and the number of lines in the subsequent dataset. These markers must be accounted for when reading the global PDCF but are not included in a module's output PDCF. Embedding markers and line counts is the function of the PDCF integration process only. Each module's dataset will have a heading area and data area. The content of the heading area is defined by each module/code developer and gives general information on the code and analysis represented by the current file. Information included here would be variable (or nothing); however, as a minimum, the following is recommended.

  1. Identification of the module/code used to generate the file.
  2. Identification of the analyst responsible for generation of the file.
  3. Date of file generation and last modification.
  4. Description of the situation being modeled by the data in the file.
  5. Descriptive information giving basic assumptions of the analysis, with key differences between related analyses.

The first line of a dataset will contain a numerical value (integer) indicating the number of lines that follow devoted to the heading information. The second part of the file starts after the end of the heading information.

The extension is used to distinguish what information is contained in the file.

FRAMES organizes the PDCF into three types: System, Database and Boundary Conditions. The PDCFs currently incorporated in FRAMES are listed below. Click on each to view a description and example.

System

DES - Model Description File DSC - Project Description File
GID - Global Input Data File REF - Reference File
ERR - Error File MSG - Message File
WRN - Warning File

Database (These files are held within the GID File)

AOS - Aquatic Organism Selection File CON - Constituent Selection
CCT - Chemical Terrestrial TRVs File EBF - Chemical Aquatic Benchmarks File
SAF - Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors File TOS - Terrestrial Organism Selection File
SSL - Soil Screening Limits File

Boundary Conditions

AFF - Air Flux File BBF - Body Burden File
ATO - Atmospheric Transport Output File EPF - Exposure Pathways File
EXF - Ecological Effects File HQF - Hazard Quotiant File
HIF - Health Impacts File RIF - Receptor Intake File
SCF - Soil Concentration File TWI - Terrestrial Wildlife Intake File
SUF - Sensitivity/Uncertainty File WCF - Water Concentration File
WFF - Water Flux File

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