CARDINAL is a user-friendly program, which allows to create easily 2D and 3D computer models of arbitrary water object and to simulate non-steady dynamics of surface waters, simulation of currents, storm surges, tsunami, dispersion of dissolved and suspended pollutants (including oil), water temperature, salinity, transport of bottom sediments (bottom erosion and silting), to solve dam break problems.

The program uses curvilinear boundary-fitted co-ordinates with options for two-dimensional or three-dimensional conditions. For the vertical mixing k-e model of turbulence may be used among other ones. It is possible to look for the processes evolution and to change parameters during the program run (without stop of calculationbs). Pre-processor, post-processor and the solver are integrated in one executable: no need to transfer data files from one program to another one. The program has been used in dozens of projects in different countries.