USGS Model Viewer
Criterion | Explanation |
General Description | Displays the results of three-dimensional groundwater models. Can display pathlines, cells or nodes that represent model features such as streams and wells, and auxiliary graphical objects such as grid lines and coordinate axes. Supports the following models: MODFLOW-2005, MODFLOW-2000, MODFLOW-2000 with the Ground-Water Transport Process, MODFLOW-96, MOC3D (Version 3.5), MODPATH, MT3DMS, SUTRA (Version 2.1), PHAST, and UCODE-2005. |
Model Domain | Groundwater |
Developer | United States Geological Survey (USGS) |
Hardware computing requirements | For use in Microsoft Windows environments Minimum processor speed 300 MHz Minimum RAM 64 MB (or larger for larger models) |
Code language | Developed in Microsoft Visual C++ version 6, Visual Fortran version 6, Lahey Fortran 90, and HTML Help Workshop |
Original application | Designed to directly read input and output files from 3D groundwater models listed above, thus minimizing the need for additional postprocessing. |
Public/proprietary and cost | Public; no cost |
Physically or empirically based | Physically based |
Mathematical methods used | Vector data (such as fluid velocity or specific discharge) are represented as lines oriented to the direction of vector movement and scaled to vector magnitude. Scalar data (such as hydraulic head or solute concentration) are displayed either as a solid or a set of isosurfaces:
For finite-difference models, ModelViewer also displays cells or nodes that represent model features (such as streams, wells, or boundary conditions) and auxiliary graphic objects (such as grid lines, coordinate axes, and bounding box). |
Input data requirements | "Model data files" are the input and output files for a particular model (e.g. MODFLOW). These are read by ModelViewer but not modified. "MV files" contain information about the display settings, model type, and names of model data files, which are modified every time the user changes a display setting. |
Outputs | May be exported as:
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Pre-processing and post-processing tools | N/A |
Representation of uncertainty | N/A |
Prevalence | How common is the model; are there many known applications (not just peer-reviewed publications)? |
Ease of use for public entities | The software is readily available. |
Ease of obtaining information and availability of technical support | Technical support is available from the USGS. Points of contact for Model Viewer are Paul A. Hsieh (pahsieh@usgs.gov) and Richard B. Winston (rbwinst@usgs.gov). |
Source code availability | The source code is available for download as a zip file, and can be found at the USGS Model Viewer web page: |
Status of model development | Fully developed and ready for use |
Challenges for integration | See MODFLOW description |
References
Hsieh, P.A., and Winston, R.B., 2002, User's Guide To Model Viewer, A Program For Three-Dimensional Visualization of Ground-water Model Results: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-106, 18 p. Available online at: https://water.usgs.gov/nrp/gwsoftware/modelviewer/ofr02-106.pdf.