Visual MODFLOW

Criterion

Explanation

General Description

A graphical user interface (GUI) for developing, running and visualizing groundwater simulations. Provides tools for building three-dimensional groundwater conceptual models using raw GIS data objects.

Model Domain

Provide a polygon that represents the groundwater model area. The user can import a shapefile/DXF file, or create an empty polygon data object, then digitize the geometry.

Developer

Waterloo Hydrogeologic

Hardware computing requirements

For use in Microsoft Windows environments; 8 GB RAM or more recommended

Code language

C# .NET

Original application

Originally developed to facilitate running the 1996 version of MODFLOW

Public/proprietary and cost

Proprietary; starting from $1745.00 USD, based on license type and add-ons

Physically or empirically based

Physically based

Mathematical methods used

Model discretization:
After the conceptual model is created, it can be discretized using either the finite difference method, control volume finite difference (CVFD), or the finite element method.

Input data requirements

Geographic data: Visual MODFLOW Flex supports Geographic coordinate systems, projected coordinate systems (UTM, StatePlane), and local cartesian coordinates.
Spatial and attribute data may be imported from a variety of data types (e.g. points, polygons, polylines, 3D gridded data, raster images, surfaces).
Spatial data can be used to delineate and visualize geometry of structural zones, horizons and features of the conceptual model, while attribute data can be used in assigning properties to structural zones and attributes to boundary conditions.
General steps of the data importing process (varies slightly by data type):

1. Select the data type and source file
   
2. Specify the coordinate system (including projection and datum) of the source data
   
3. Map the source data fields with required target fields, and map attribute fields
   
4. Preview data and validation
   Visual MODFLOW Classic projects can be imported into Flex.

Outputs

2D and 3D viewer displays can be exported to graphics files: *.BMP, *.TIF, *.GIF, *.JPEG

Pre-processing and post-processing tools

N/A

Representation of uncertainty

Predictive uncertainty can be output by running PEST within a GUI workflow in Visual MODFLOW.

Prevalence

Used extensively to run MODFLOW models

Ease of use for public entities

Readily available for a cost.

Ease of obtaining information and availability of technical support

Tutorials available through the model webpage:
https://www.waterloohydrogeologic.com/visual-modflow-flex/
Technical support: support@waterloohydrogeologic.com

Source code availability

Not provided

Status of model development

Fully developed and ready for use

Challenges for integration

Primary challenges are associated with groundwater models that may not integrate well with other models due to different spatial and temporal discretization.