AI Assistant
Ask questions, analyze SURF-NEMO/SURF-SHYFEM configurations, and generate draft setup files.
Ask the SURF AI Assistant
How this assistant finds answers
This assistant uses retrieval-augmented generation (RAG): before answering, it searches the SURF documentation and knowledge base, then bases its reply on what it finds. Each question goes through these steps:
- Understands your question Follow-ups like “and for SHYFEM?” are rewritten into a complete, standalone search using the conversation so far.
- Searches two ways at once It combines keyword matching (exact terms like namelists or version numbers) with meaning-based search, so relevant passages are found even when your wording differs.
- Ranks the best matches The top candidates are re-scored for how well they actually answer your question, and only the strongest are kept.
- Answers from the sources Those passages are given to a Large Language Model, which writes the reply grounded in them — not on general knowledge alone.
When sources are used they appear as numbered citations (e.g. [1]) — click any one to open that source beside the chat.
Ask anything about SURF — getting started, SURF-NEMO vs SURF-SHYFEM, downloads and versions, documentation, or how to run a simulation. For a specific configuration, switch to .
1 Create or load a configuration
Generate from a description
Describe an experiment in plain language and the assistant drafts a SURF configuration JSON for you to review and validate — nothing is saved or run automatically. (Requires sign-in.)
Analyze an existing configuration
Select a SURF configuration file (max 256 KB). Its contents load into the editor for analysis.
Generated draft
This is a draft generated from your description. Review and validate it before use — nothing has been saved or run.
Generate or analyze a configuration to see the validation summary, domain, grid, forcing and scientific review here.
2 Review active configuration
Active configuration
Validation
3 Define computational domain
Domain
Use the draw tools (top-right of the map) to sketch one computational domain — a rectangle for a structured (NEMO) bbox, or a polygon for an unstructured (SHYFEM) mesh boundary. Drawing a new shape replaces the previous one. Coordinates are read in WGS84 (longitude, latitude).
- Bounding box
—
4 Inspect numerical setup
Grid
Simulation period
Outputs
5 Review inputs and workflow
Forcing
Workflow tasks
6 Scientific review and recommendations
Scientific review
Ask about this configuration
Ask a follow-up about the active configuration above — its domain, time step, forcing, missing credentials, or downstream use.