Conceptual Model Development for FEFLOW and MODFLOW

Benefits

From raw data, to the conceptual model, to the numerical model, Hydro GeoBuilder will dramatically improve the way you build your groundwater models. Working with mesh-independent data, you will quickly capture the essence of the groundwater flow system without being constrained by a particular mesh size or type. With Hydro GeoBuilder, the tedious tasks of populating the 3D finite element mesh are done for you automatically, allowing you to focus more effort on conceptualization and interpretation.

• Interpret your native file formats to conceptualize your site: Spreadsheets, XYZ points, Shapefiles, ASCII/Binary Grid Files, and Cross-sections
• View and edit raw data in 2D or 3D, before generating the mesh
• Convert between coordinate systems: UTM, Geographic, Gauss Krueger, and more.
• Work with flexible units for length, conductivity, and flow rates
• Unit conversions to be compatible with FEFLOW .FEM file format
• Easily assign tens or hundreds of multi-layered wells to the finite element mesh
• Automatically generate the finite element mesh from multi-layered pinchout and discontinuous layers based on your raw data
• Automatically assign appropriate flow properties in regions of pinchouts.
• Generate slice elevations that deform to the geology or are layer-independent - ideal for complex geologic structures
• Refine superelement mesh around wells, lines (rivers, drains, etc.) and the model boundary
• Execute advanced translation routines for managing conductivities based on geometry and properties
• Automatically generate the ASCII FEFLOW. FEM file from the conceptual model, and
• Generate Finite Difference Grids for translation to MODFLOW file format

Pollution Engineering Magazine selects Hydro GeoBuilder as one of the Top 10 Technologies for 2010! Click here for more details.

Why is Conceptual Modeling Important?

Conceptual modeling allows today’s professionals to streamline the model development process. This relatively new approach can increase efficiency specially when creating the numerical grid, defining model parameters, and assignation boundary conditions. The main benefits of conceptual model development include:

• Better understanding of the groundwater flow system prior to transforming the conceptual model to a numerical model
• Defining a model using GIS objects is much faster than the traditional cell-based approach
• If the numerical model is modified, the model inputs can be easily regenerated from the conceptual objects
• From the same conceptual model, you can generate multiple numerical models, of different grid types

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Conceptual Model Development for FEFLOW (PDF)
Download Hydro GeoBuilder Tech Sheet (PDF)
FEFLOW Conference 2009 – Conceptual Modeling Presentation
Hydro GeoBuilder Software Spotlight
HydroGeoBuilder_DemonstrationExercise.pdf
HydroGeoBuilder_GettingStarted.pdf
HydroGeoBuilder_UsersManual.pdf


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Demonstration Movie - From Conceptual Model to FEFLOW model

FEFLOW is a Trademark of DHI-WASY

Hydro GeoBuilder - Demo - Southwest Florida

Hydro GeoBuilder - Demo Project Geologic Modeling

"Hydro GeoBuilder - Demo - Convert conceptual to numerical model

Regional scaled modeling with FEFLOW or Locally Refined MODFLOW Grids

Color rendering of raw geology data in 2D

Quickly import raw data from numerous formats

Refine the finite element mesh around wells

Generate regional scale finite element models and refine mesh around wells and rivers

Define the 3D geologic model from borehole and cross-section data

Easily import borehole data and cross-sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst

Hydro GeoBuilder prepares a wide-range of output data for FEFLOW and Visual MODFLOW within a single modeling environment for simulating your groundwater and surface water interactions.

Applications:

• Construct a three-dimensional realization of confined or unconfined aquifers during landfill site assessments
• Characterize hydrogeologic features that influence groundwater flow and contaminant migration at industrial facilities (Brownsfields)
• Visualize in 2D/3D and interpret shapefiles, CAD files, fence diagrams, surfaces, raster images, wells, and XYZ points
• Generate 3D pinchout and discontinuous geological formations based on well logs, points, or cross-section interpretations
• Design grid-independent properties and boundary conditions for your MODFLOW model, based on GIS and raw data
• Design mesh-independent flow materials and structure for your FEFLOW model, using GIS and raw data
• Conduct Geostatistical Analysis: 2D interpolation and contouring
• Generate complex gridded geologic models that can be easily exported to Visual MODFLOW for simulation
• Mesh generation using Triangle for your conceptual model
• Generate deformed/uniform numerical grids, with vertical and horizontal refinement and localized grids, for MODFLOW-2000/2005 and MODFLOW-LGR
• Analyze results from the numerical model in 2D and 3D
• Conceptualize and simulate localized areas of interest, within your regional-sized model
  

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

• Support for the following coordinate systems
  • Geographic (WGS72, WGS84, NAD27, NAD83)
  • State Plane 27, State Plane 83
  • UTM WGS 72, UTM WGS84, UTM NAD27, UTM NAD83
  • UTM PSAD56
  • Gaus Kruger
  • Local Coordinates (Non-Cartesian)
• Create folders for logical grouping of data objects
• Flexible metric and imperial units for length, conductivity, flow rates, pumping rates, simulation time, and recharge
• Convenient unit conversion to MODFLOW/FEFLOW files formats

IMPORTING

Seamless data validation and error checking during data import
Convert raw data to project units during import
Coordinate system conversion during import

DATA OBJECT SETTINGS AND EXPORTING

General

• View source file, meta data (source units, coordinate system, mapped fields, number of errors/warnings encountered during the import, number of Records ignored)
• Spreadsheet view of raw data allows for display and editing
• View statistics summary of raw data, for the geometry and attributes. (min, max, range, mean, std dev, variance, sum, count) and Features (number of features, number of vertices, number of parts)

Operations

Apply mathematical operations to data objects. Examples:

• For river polyline, calculate river stage from a surface (eg DEM)
• Arithmetic operations to an attribute: e.g. shift elevation up/down by a value
• Simple arithmetic operations: set attribute to a constant value, shift by a constant
• Convert well tops to points
• Convert HGA Model Layer XS interpretations to points
• Drape polygons or polylines over a surface
• Calculate well elevation from surface (e.g. .DEM)

Style/Visual Settings

• Multiple 2D, 3D, and spreadsheet interactive windows
• Modify size, color, and style of points, polygons, and polylines
• Display attribute labels in 2D or 3D (e.g. well ID, feature names)
• Render points, polygons, and polylines by attribute in 2D or 3D
• Display 3D Gridded data with wireframe, as solids, or isosurfaces
• Modify transparency of surfaces and 3D volumes
• Display well screens and geologic contact points for borehole data
• Modify contour line interval, color ramps, and labels for surfaces

Export Data

• Export geometry to Shapefiles (.SHP) and tabular data to .CSV
• Export high quality 2D/3D display to raster formats (.JPG and .BMP)

Create Surfaces:

• Convert well logs to XYZ points
• Convert cross-section interpretations to XYZ points
• Interpolate XYZ points using:
  • Kriging
  • Inverse Distance
  • Natural Neighbor
• Combine multiple points data objects when interpolating (for example, combine points from cross-sections with user-defined control-points)
• Define variograms for Kriging interpolation
• Modify resolution of the interpolation grid
• Calculate spatial interpolation extents from a polygon

2D/3D VIEWING AND EDITING

General Features

• Within the same project, create multiple 2D/3D views of the same data, and display one or more data layers in these viewers
• Live-update in viewers: make a change in one viewer, and the display in other 2D/3D viewers is simultaneously updated
• Bi-directional Selection: When doing selection or editing, select a feature from the viewer, and the corresponding feature is highlighted in the spreadsheet viewer. Or, from the spreadsheet showing the attribute table, select one or more rows, and see the corresponding data selected on viewers
• Render by zone or attribute in 2D or 3D (assign different color based on the zone or attribute value)

In Spreadsheet Viewer/Editor:

View/edit the raw imported data (XYZ, with attributes)

In 2D

• Edit points, polylines, polygons
• Define new point, polygon, polyline layers
• Undo when digitizing line or polygon
• Adjust layer order
• Pan and dynamic zoom, zoom with box, zoom full extents

In 3D

• Zoom, pan, and rotate in 3D displays
• Render colorful, high-impact 3D views
• Efficiently generate dynamic three-dimensional cut-aways

THE CONCEPTUAL MODEL

From the raw data, you define the area that will represent your conceptual model. You can create multiple conceptual models, with different interpretations.

Horizons
Horizons approach allows you to define the layer hierarchy, for efficient generation of pinchouts and discontinuities. Horizon types include:

• Erosional: Horizons below will be truncated
• Base: Horizons above will be truncated
• Discontinuous: Horizons above and below will be truncated
• Conformable: Horizons will be truncated by erosional, base and discontinuous horizons. Lower conformable horizons will be truncated by upper conformable horizons.

Structural Zones

Between the horizons, the structural zones are generated. These are 3D Solids/volumes. The structural zones can be populated with properties, as defined below. Volume calculations can be done for structural zones, ideal for mining or remediation purposes.

Properties

• Create property zones from polygon data objects (that you have imported from shapefile or AutoCAD DXF, or digitized)
• Create property zones from structural zones
• Define geologic lenses using simple shapes and surfaces
• Define conductivity, initial heads, and storativity using several options:
  • Constant value
  • Shapefile attributes
  • Use a distributed property zone from an imported 2D Gridded surface (Surfer GRD, ESRI Grid), or a Surface that you have interpolated from random points
  • Use 3D Gridded Data object (eg, X,Y,Z,Kx)

Boundary Conditions

• Define boundary condition geometry from polylines or polygons (imported from shapefiles or AutoCAD DXF, or digitized)
  
• Define the boundary condition parameters using:
  • attributes from shapefile surface (DEM) (for example, river stage calculated from a DEM)
  • values at nodes along the line geometry (for example for lines, define values at start, end, or intermediate nodes along the line)
  • 3D Gridded Data
  • Transient parameters from a time schedule object.

Support for defining the following boundary conditions (available in existing Visual MODFLOW):

• Pumping wells (vertical or horizontal wells)
• Constant Head
• River
• General Head
• Drain
• Recharge
• Evapotranspiration
• Lake
• Specified Flux (using FHB package)

Define boundary conditions from a regional model (eg, imported HDS file from another model). Graphical tools allow for simple definition of boundaries to sides, tops/bottoms of the simulation model domain. For example, select the entire west face, from top to bottom, and specify: Constant Head, General Head, Specified Flux, No- Flow

Grid and Mesh Generation

Numerical Grid Generation

• Generate multiple finite difference grids or finite element meshes and compare in 2D or 3D
• Convenient 2D and 3D previews assist in grid refinement, positioning, and provide instant display of the grid/mesh
• Refine grid around areas of interest
• Enforcement of minimum layer thickness ensures compatibility with MODFLOW

Support for Local Grid Refinement

• Efficiently create multiple child grids for regional and localized simulations using MODFLOW-LGR (Local Grid Refinement)
• Define multiple localized grids with local horizontal and vertical refinement
• Refinement is applied only to the area of interest
• Shared-node coupling: two-way feedback between the coarse and local grids, ensures that the models have consistent boundary conditions along their adjoining interface
• Localized models can be run independently in Visual MODFLOW, using the new Boundary Flow and Head (BFH) package

Define Vertical grid: select from one of the following grid types:

• Deformed: In a deformed grid, the tops and bottoms of the model layers follow the horizons elevations. You can refine the model layers, by dividing the zones into proportionately thick layers
• Uniform: In a uniform grid, a number of layers with uniform thickness will be created. At the time of translating the conceptual model to the numerical model, the properties will be assigned to the appropriate grid cells to represent the geological structure. This grid is useful for transport or density-dependent simulations, where it is desirable to have fine vertical discretization
• Semi-Uniform: In a deformed-uniform grid, the top and bottom of the grid are deformed, following the top-most and bottom-most horizons respectively; in between, a set of uniformly thick layers will be generated. At the time of translating the conceptual model to the numerical model, the properties will be assigned to the appropriate grid cells to represent the geological structure. This grid is useful where you have discontinuous layers.

Finite Element Mesh Generation

• Generate finite element meshes using Triangle
• Automatically include wells, lines, and polygons as add-ins for the superelement mesh
• Refine mesh around point, well, and line add-ins
• Advanced vertical refinement options for entire layers
• Define Deformed meshes or Semi-Uniform Mesh
  • Deformed: In a deformed mesh, the slices follow the horizons elevations. You can refine the model layers, by dividing the zones into proportionately thick layers
  • Semi-Uniform: In a semi-uniform mesh, the top and bottom of the mesh are deformed, following the top-most and bottom-most horizons respectively; in between, a set of uniformly thick layers will be generated. At the time of translating the conceptual model to the numerical model, the properties will be assigned to the appropriate elements to represent the geological structure. This mesh is useful where you have discontinuous layers

CONVERSION TO MODFLOW / FEFLOW

• Intuitive wizards simplify the creation of the input for MODFLOW-2000, 2005, LGR, and FEFLOW (ASCII .FEM v.5.4 or later)
• Seamless data validation and error checking during conversion with logging of errors or warnings
• Easily adjust simulation type (steady-state or transient), date/time
• Automatically define inactive cells for MODFLOW
• Property values in pinchout regions are automatically defined based on layer location and following the horizons hierarchy
• Advanced property upscaling accounts for Darcy’s Law for accurate representation of vertical conductivity

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• Pentium 4+ 600MHz (1GHz recommended)
• 512 MB RAM (1GB or more recommended)
• CD ROM drive
• 100 MB of free hard drive space
• Graphics card with 3D Graphics Accelerator
• Windows XP Pro (SP3) 32-Bit; Windows XP Pro (SP2) 64-Bit; Windows Vista Business , Ultimate or Enterprise, 32-Bit (SP1) and 64-bit.

Note: Windows XP Home, Windows Vista Home Premium, Home Basic and Starter Versions are not supported.

Microsoft .NET Framework v.3.0 installed (provided with installation)
Dual Monitors (recommended)

Regional scaled modeling with FEFLOW or Locally Refined Grids

Quickly Import raw data from numerous formats

Color rendering of raw geology data in 2D

Quickly drape polylines representing rivers over ground surface

Conveniently display multiple 2D and 3D viewers

Easily import borehole data and cross-sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst

Render contaminant plume data as isosurfaces for effective 3D presentation

Convert cross-sections into surfaces to build the geologic model

Easily accommodate pinchouts and discontinuous layers with horizons approach

Effective 3D cut-aways allow for correlating slice elevations with the conceptual model

Define the 3D geologic model from borehole and cross-section data

Efficiently use raw GIS data for defining flow boundaries on regional scale

Quickly generate deformed model layers compatible for FEFLOW

Generate non-deformed model layers, with efficient vertical refinement

Develop child grids for use in MODFLOW Local Grid Refinement (LGR)

Display finite element mesh with the geologic model

Refine the finite element mesh around wells

Generate and manage multiple FEFLOW models on a regional scale

Quickly generate and manage multiple MODFLOW models within a single project

Display multiple groups of pumping wells screened at varying depths

Generate isosurfaces from transport model results, and display with raw field data

Generate regional scale finite element models and refine mesh around wells and rivers