Access & allocations
SWATGenX is research infrastructure, and access works the way research facilities work: the data and evidence are open to everyone, model generation is free with an account under fair-use allocations, and larger allocations are granted on request.
At a glance
| Public | Account (free) | Extended (by request, free) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer, national inventories, example models, methods & benchmarks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SWAT+ models (USGS gage / HUC12 outlet, ≤15 HUC12 subbasins) | — | ✓ (fair-use allocation) | ✓ |
| Watershed PDF reports & analyses | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| HUC8 whole-basin builds | — | — | ✓ |
| Coupled SWAT+MODFLOW-6 orders | — | — | ✓ |
| HUC14 site-scale models (single-catchment, 30 m) | — | — | ✓ |
| Cloud calibration & validation | — | — | by request (AWS compute at cost — pay-as-you-go, no platform fee) |
| Programmatic API | — | — | ✓ |
The ≤15-HUC12 guardrail exists because NHDPlus HR hydrography is dense — it keeps free-account builds fast and queues predictable, not because smaller models are lower fidelity. Live limits for your account are always shown in the app.
The three levels
Public
Open to everyone, no account. The data and the evidence are public commitments.
- CONUS Watershed Explorer with streamflow classification and overlays
- National groundwater lithology inventory (live counts, CC BY, citable)
- National soil PFAS inventory and PFAS site layers
- All example models, methods, and benchmark pages
Research account
Free. For generating your own models and reports at exploratory scale.
- SWAT+ builds for USGS-gage or HUC12-outlet watersheds (≤15 contributing HUC12s per model)
- Watershed PDF reports, floodplain, population, cropland, and stream analyses
- Personal workspace: build queue, downloads, saved results
- Fair-use allocation — live limits shown in the app
Extended access
By request, free, justified — like a compute allocation at a research facility.
- Everything in a research account, plus HUC8 whole-basin SWAT+ builds
- Coupled SWAT+MODFLOW-6 model orders (two-way surface–groundwater exchange)
- HUC14 site-scale models — compose catchments on the map, down to a single HUC14, at 30 m
- Cloud calibration & validation — you pay only the AWS compute cost (pass-through, shown before you launch)
- Programmatic API access and higher throughput
Research collaborations — coupled PFAS fate-and-transport studies like the Wurtsmith case study, or opening more public data — are arranged directly.
SWATGenX is a production research platform in controlled release. Nothing on it is sold: allocations exist to keep shared compute predictable while the platform and its peer-reviewed methods mature. Want evidence before requesting anything? Browse real example SWAT+ models from completed runs, or read the research portfolio.
FAQ
What can I use without an account?
The Watershed Explorer, the national groundwater lithology inventory, the soil PFAS inventory, all example models, and every methods and benchmark page are open to everyone — no account, no gate. The open datasets are public commitments (they back state-agency collaborations) and will remain freely accessible.
What does a free account add?
Model generation and reporting: SWAT+ builds for USGS-gage or HUC12-outlet watersheds (up to 15 contributing HUC12 subbasins per model), watershed PDF reports, floodplain and population analyses, and a personal workspace where results are saved. A fair-use allocation applies — your live limits and reset window are always shown in the app.
How do extended allocations work?
By request, free of charge, with a short justification. Email info@swatgenx.com with your affiliation and what you are working on — a thesis watershed, an agency study, a method comparison. Extended allocations add HUC8 whole-basin builds, coupled SWAT+MODFLOW-6 orders, higher throughput, and API access. We grant them case by case to keep the shared infrastructure predictable for everyone.
How is cloud calibration handled?
Calibration runs on dedicated per-job AWS compute, and you pay only what AWS charges — pass-through, pay-as-you-go, with no SWATGenX fee on top. The calibration workflow shows you the exact estimated compute cost for your model and settings BEFORE you launch, so there are no surprises; depending on model size, runs, and parallel settings it ranges from a few dollars to a few hundred. Measured wall-time reference points are documented on the SWAT+ Calibration on AWS EC2 page.
Why are there allocations at all?
Because the platform runs on real shared infrastructure and NHDPlus HR hydrography is dense: a watershed that looks small on a map can produce a large model. Fair-use allocations keep queues fast and turnaround predictable for everyone — they are stewardship of a research system, not a paywall. No capability on this platform is sold.
What about teams, institutions, or research collaborations?
Institutional evaluation setups and research collaborations — including coupled PFAS fate-and-transport studies of the kind shown in the Wurtsmith case study — are arranged directly. Email info@swatgenx.com with your affiliation and study goals.
Do limits ever change?
Yes — entitlements follow live app configuration. This page is updated when limits change; the in-app "Your access" view is always the authoritative source for your account.