A Shiny App for Fitting Probability Distributions to Rainfall Data

Abstract

Precipitation modeling has numerous features and has been widely discussed in the literature. In this sense, statistical software, such as R, has allowed the analysis of complex data sets, as well as the popularization of various statistical methods. However, lack of familiarity with programming languages can limit the use of these resources. The objective of this work was to develop an interactive web application using Shiny to fit probability distributions to precipitation data. The application was developed to provide a user-friendly interface, without the need for prior knowledge in computer programming. By allowing the import of data and the implementation of adequate statistical tools, the application offers a clear and concise visualization of information, facilitating the interpretation and identification of patterns. In addition, several tests were included with the objective of providing a systematic and complete approach for evaluation in the modeling, allowing the identification of possible deviations from assumptions and expected statistical properties. By providing information for decision-making in an interactive and practical interface, the application proved to be a dynamic tool with great potential for use by researchers and users interested in modeling precipitation.