Neuroemulation: definition and key benefits for water resources research

Neuroemulation is the art and science of using a neural network model to replicate the external behaviour of some other model or component of a model. It is an independent activity that is distinct from neural network-based simulation. Neuroemulation has become a recognized and established sub-discipline in many spheres of study, but remains poorly defined in the field of water resources research. Its many potential benefits have not yet been adequately recognized or established. Lack of recognition can in part be attributed to difficulties involved in identifying, collating and synthesizing published studies on neuroemulation: query-based searching of a publications database fails to identify papers concerned with a field of study, for which no agreed conceptual and/or terminological framework as yet exists. Therefore, in this paper, we provide a first attempt at defining such a framework for use in water resources investigations. We identify eight key benefits offered by neuroemulation and exemplify current activities with relevant examples taken from published research in the field. The concluding section highlights a number of strategic research directions related to developing the identified potential of neuroemulator applications for water resources modelling.