January 23, 2018

Enhanced MODFLOW Result Representation with Python, VTK and Paraview - Tutorial

January 23, 2018/ Saul Montoya

MODFLOW model output representation is key to understand the groundwater flow regime, to study the interaction with surface water and depending ecosystems and to evaluate the impact to anthropogenic and climate change requirements. Until now, there has been few open source software capable of generating3D representations and those software had limited options for color scales, cross sections and other graphical tools. On the research for more options we found Paraview, a open source software for data representation designed to analyze extremely large datasets using distributed memory computing resources.

In order to represent MODFLOW output into Paraview, a VTK file for unstructured grids is needed, this VTK type is called VTU where the "U" comes from unestructured. The tutorial show the complete procedure to process a MODFLOW model output into a VTU file and the representation in Paraview.

January 11, 2018

How to plot MODFLOW Head Output in Paraview with Python - Tutorial

January 11, 2018/ Saul Montoya

MODFLOW computes the groundwater heads over a porous / fractured media upon a series of boundary conditions as recharge, evapotranspiration, drains, well and others on steady and transient conditions. Free and commercial software is available for the MODFLOW model construction and MODFLOW output representation. Despite the fact the capabilities of these softwares, there are some gaps in data processing and representation; isometric views, animation and custom cross sections are still difficult to achieve under the existing tools, specially on multilayered models with transient conditions over series of time steps and stress periods.

There is a particular open source software for data representation that is of our interest, it is called Paraview (paraview.org). This visual application was designed to analyze extremely large datasets using distributed memory computing resources, in fact the term "para" in Paraview comes from the parallelization of computer cores.

January 05, 2018

How to import a Water Table from MODFLOW in QGIS with Python - Tutorial

January 05, 2018/ Saul Montoya

Advances in groundwater modeling with MODFLOW allow us to have higher refinements on the representation of the water heads and water table as well as more capabilities in the representation of physical process related to groundwater flow. On a regional scale, we can deal with models of more than 500K elements and most times we need to represent this data on a GIS software for further study or the creation of figures for the end users, stakeholders and reports. By the use of Python scripts we can speed up the process of model output representation on a GIS software as QGIS.

Python scripts can be a little bit long and very declarative, but the process time is much smaller than the traditional clicking process on the GUI interface. The purpose is to store these scripts and use then every time one have to process the MODFLOW output data.

December 25, 2017

Basic Example of a MODFLOW Model Creation and Simulation with Flopy - Tutorial

December 25, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Flopy is the Python library to create, run and represent results from MODFLOW models, including support for MODFLOW 6. With Flopy, the model definition and set up of boundary conditions can be done with lines of Python code, and some Python tools of optimization and machine learning can interact with the MODFLOW models. This tutorial show a basic example of model creation, configuration and simulation in Python 3 on a Jupyter Notebook. The tutorial also shows the procedure to import the MODFLOW results done with Flopy in Model Muse.

December 01, 2017

Groundwater Flow Simulation at Mine Closure Time Scale with MODFLOW and Model Muse

December 01, 2017/ Saul Montoya

This tutorial deals with the simulation of the groundwater flow regimen after the implementation of mine closure options as soil/geomembrane cover above a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) over a period of 80 years with results every 4 years. The tutorial deal with a full steady flow model which have been implemented to transient conditions on the model configuration and boundary conditions. A discussion of the seepage with time and final conditions after closure is presented to analyse the efficiency of the closure techniques.

November 29, 2017

Example of Zone Budget Package in MODFLOW with Model Muse

November 29, 2017/ Saul Montoya

MODFLOW is the code developed by the USGS for the simulation of groundwater flow in steady and transient flow conditions. MODFLOW can represent a wide variety of physical process related to the groundwater flow regime as recharge, evapotranspiration, wells, among others. Latest development in MODFLOW allow the simulation of flow and transport in the unsaturated flow zone with the UZF and MT3D packages. From the beginning of the MODFLOW development the water balance on the groundwater models was a strong part of the modeling process with high accuracy in between the balance of water going in and out of the system. On any groundwater flow model build on MODFLOW there absolutely control over the water coming from the specified boundary conditions and the discrepancies are minimal.

November 23, 2017

Pathline Simulation of Seepage Flow from a Tailings Dam with MODFLOW & MODPATH - Tutorial

November 23, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Due to their extension and climate conditions, Tailings Storage Facilities (TSF) are in interaction with groundwater flow having a dual behaviour of discharge and recharge zones. Long term evaluation of environmental impact from tailings have to consider the potential impact from the leachates into the groundwater flow regime and the impact on water quality on the downstream channels. Numerical modeling is a strong tool for the evaluation of flows and quality on the overall impact zone from tailings dam in current and future conditions.

Simulations on mine closure last for decades, and several remediation techniques as infiltration ponds, pump and test schemes, reactive walls have to be simulated on the long term. This tutorial show the procedure to simulate the particle tracking of seepage flow from tailings and estimate the potential affected stream network. The tutorial also discuss some common problems in the particle tracking simulation.

Modeling work was done in MODFLOW with Model Muse on steady state conditions over a 5 layer model with 101260 cells.

November 16, 2017

Example of Particle Tracking Modeling with MODPATH in Model Muse

November 16, 2017/ Saul Montoya

MODPATH is a particle tracking model that runs on the groundwater flow models simulated on MODFLOW. Particle tracking are three dimensional and can have a sort of options as forward / backward modeling direction in between others. Model Muse is a pre and post-processor of numerical models in MODFLOW, PHAST and SUTRA, this software can simulate some MODFLOW related models as MODPATH and MT3D (particle tracking and mass transport respectively). This tutorial show the basic procedure to set up a particle tracking model with MODPATH using Model Muse over a basic MODFLOW model.

October 19, 2017

Tutorial: Example Problem of MODFLOW with Model Muse

October 19, 2017/ Saul Montoya

This example problem is adapted from the MODFLOW documentation and use to demostrate the use of MODFLOW with Model Muse. The model is implemented without parameters and uses the LPF Package. The model decribes a regional aquifer setup with acuifers and aquitards with the interaction of many boundary conditions as recharge, evapotranspiration, constant head and wells. Groundwater flow simulation was done on steady state conditions.

October 11, 2017

Multiple Well Configuration in MODFLOW with Model Muse Tutorial

October 11, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Modflow with Model Muse are a powerful set of softwares developed by the USGS for groundwater modeling. Model Muse is very handy when working with GIS files but sometimes there are some specific requirements about the hydrogeologic features to conceptualize. This time we have prepared a tutorial about the multiple well configuration on a regional groundwater model. The tutorial deals with the model construction and configuration of 182 pumping wells on a 84km x 54km area in the north of Mexico.

September 22, 2017

How to insert a Geological Fracture on a Hydrogeological Model with MODFLOW and Model Muse

September 22, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Model Muse is a software for the pre and post data processing of hydrogeological 3D model in MODFLOW. Both Model Muse and MODFLOW are developed by the USGS (usgs.gov). Model Muse is designed to work with objects and datasets, a powerful model construction methodology that allows the quick setup of boundary conditions, a simple way of progressive refinement and interesting features as inserting geological fractures on the numerical model.

This tutorial show the whole procedure for the conceptualization of several fractures based on some known fracture information as a point on the fractures, the azimuth and elevation. The tutorial deals with the theorethical determination of the fracture plane equation, the construction of a dataset with the desired equation plus the implementation of object that represents the fracture with the relevant hydrogeological features.

August 16, 2017

Tutorial Infiltration Gallery for Water Supply Modeling with MODFLOW and Model Muse

August 16, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Tutorial for the simulation of filtration galleries close to a river. Modeling done with MODFLOW, Model Muse and QGIS.

August 03, 2017

Tutorial of a Cross Seccion of Water Quality with MODFLOW, MT3DMS y QGIS

August 03, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Groundwater flow modeling depends on GIS data, and its output is compatible with a sort of GIS tools. In order to do analysis or representation from contaminant transport modeling it is needed a sort of commands, formats, tools and plugins from a stack of programs as ModelMuse and QGIS.

This tutorial is not only a example of water quality representation, it is as well a discussión on the main parts of modeling construction and simulation.

July 16, 2017

How to insert a Geological Contact in MODFLOW with MODEL MUSE

July 16, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Model Muse and QGIS makes possible to deal with geological data for the groundwater flow model cocntstruction. A diverse group of tools are required to process and insert geological features as contacts or faults. This tutorial show the whole procedure from the ground up to build the model geometry and insert a geological contact as the interfase within two layers.

May 29, 2017

Tutorial: How to convert MODFLOW-2005 files to MODFLOW-6 format

May 29, 2017/ Saul Montoya

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has just released a new MODFLOW version: MODFLOW-6. This one comes with new functionalities to make it easier to create input files and perform simulations. Among the downloaded MODFLOW-6 files, there is an executable file to convert MODFLOW-2005 files to the new MODFLOW-6 format. In this tutorial we will show you how to do this.

May 17, 2017

VIDEO: Webminar on Groundwater Modeling with MODFLOW and Model Muse - May, 15 2017

May 17, 2017/ Saul Montoya

In case you missed or want to see again our webminar streamed on May 15th, 2017 , here you can find the recorded video.

March 29, 2017

Simulation of Radial Drains for Tailings Drainage with MODFLOW Tutorial

March 29, 2017/ Saul Montoya

MODFLOW is a versatil and applied computer code written in Fortran capable of modeling groundwater flow on steady and transient conditions. MODFLOW can simulate a diverse sort of groundwater flow management cases due to its packages and solvers. This tutorial shows the application of MODFLOW for the simulation of radial drains in a mine tailings facility. The simulation considers 16 drains of 60 m length over a simulation period of 1000 days.

March 23, 2017

Key concepts to become a numerical modeler

March 23, 2017/ Saul Montoya

Nowadays, water resources management requires a better understanding of nature and a superior evaluation of the impacts caused by humans. We are concerned and focused on sustainability because we live on a planet with limited resources and changing environments. In some way, we know that the actual changes are results from past and present actions along with the effect of nature cycles.

March 20, 2017

Simulation Tutorial of Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation at Wetlands with MODFLOW-MT3DMS

March 20, 2017/ Saul Montoya

If we want to talk about concentrations, solutes and contaminant transport in groundwater, we need to mention the Source/Sink concepts and natural concentrations in groundwater. Sources represent solute mass entering the system, which could be representing spills or natural lixiviation processes. Sinks are the zones where water with solute concentrations leave the system.