FluxNet
Frequently Asked Questions



Is FluxNet free?

Yes, FluxNet was developed with funds from NASA, and is provided free of charge.  All we ask is that you acknowledge it appropriately in any publications that result from its use.  See the User's Guide for details on how to reference the software.

On what computer platforms will the code run?

The code is written in two different languages: C and IDL (Interactive Data Language), so it will run on any computer that has either a C compiler or IDL.   In both cases the programs are small and efficient.  See the User's Guide for more information.

Is the "model" reliable?

Comparisions of FluxNet and Streamer indicate that FluxNet is indeed reliable and accurate IF, and only if, the input values for all variables are within the ranges of those used in the training of the network.  See the User's Guide for information on reasonable ranges for each variable.  Like regression procedures, neural networks can interpolate (predict within the range of the original data), but extrapolation is discouraged.  We have observed that having an out of range value for even a single variable can result in very poor results.

Is there a GUI (graphical user interface)?

No, not at this time.

How much memory and disk space does it require?

The FluxNet executable is small, less than 50K. There are no other special disk space requirements; i.e., there are no associated files other than the input and output files. The size of the output file is a function of the size of the input file, which you control.

What future enhancements are planned?

Version 4.0 is in the works. Stay tuned!