Groundwater Software Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder The new generation in dynamic conceptual model building
Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder provides you with advanced capabilities for building conceptual models completely independent of the numerical grid and within a unified modeling environment.
$2295.00 USD
Conceptual Model Development for MODFLOW Groundwater Models
Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder is the new generation in dynamic conceptual model building. Featuring a powerful multi-format object/data import tool and tested to work within the latest version of the Visual MODFLOW modeling environment,
Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder enables you to build impressive representations of your groundwater system within a single modeling environment. This means you save hours when building your numerical model
Build a conceptual model of the groundwater system, prior to the simulation - The geological formations, property model, and boundary conditions are all designed outside the numerical grid; this allows the flexibility to adjust your interpretation of the groundwater system before applying the numerical grid and converting to a numerical model.
Build the model with minimal data pre-processing required - Working with grid-independent data allows you to maximize the use of your existing GIS data and incorporate physical geology and geographic conditions before designing the grid.
Generate and Simulate regional and local-scaled models - As the only MODFLOW GUI that supports MODFLOW 2005-LGR, users are now able to design local grids around the area of interest, directly within the 2D/3D conceptual model environment. Calculated heads from a regional model can also be used as boundary conditions for local-scaled models.
Design the correct model faster - The grid-independent raw data is left intact and is not constricted by grid cells when modifying the data or project objective. This allows you to generate multiple numerical models from the same conceptual model.
Make changes to the model data and immediately see results - The conceptual model environment provides simultaneous 2D/3D views which translates to automatically seeing the results whenever changes to the data are made.
Data Import
Import raw data from numerous formats and edit data to suit your modeling requirements. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder allows you edit xyz points, shapefiles, or wells as well as map or draw attributes for points, polylines, and polygons. You can also view meta-data including statistics and history or edit settings for changing colors and styles for boundary conditions, wells, points, property zones, labels, and position.
Flexible Data Operations
Conduct several arithmetic or geometric calculations and easily apply them to the geometry of your data objects or attributes.
Viewing and Editing
View your work simultaneously in 2D, 3D or spreadsheet style and automatically edit your information. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder’s interactive multi-view display allows you to make changes to your data and display the results in all viewer windows all at once.
Define, Import, and Adjust Surfaces
Define surfaces from well tops, cross sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst, or by interpolating xyz points. Import surfaces from USGS .DEM, Surfer GRD, ESRI Ascii GRD. Manually adjust surfaces in 2d/3d or by editing your xyz points. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder delivers key features for:
Loading well tops and creating surface coverage to represent formations
Loading fence diagrams, cross-sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst, and interpolating contact points to create surfaces
Structure and Area Layers
Define the conceptual model area from a polygon and vertical horizons from surfaces. Several horizon types accommodate various geological conditions including pinchouts and discontinuous layers.
Property Zones
Use Shapefiles or CAD polygons/polylines to define property zones. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder supports several methods for defining property zone values, including: constant values, surfaces (2D Grid), and 3D Gridded Data.
Boundary Conditions
Define boundary geometry and attributes with Shapefiles or CAD polygons/polylines or by using the supported LAK and FHB packages.
Support for Horizontal Wells
Define values for entire zones, or use linear gradient. Methods for defining property zone values include:
Constant value
Surface (2D Grid) (eg river stage from DEM)
3D Gridded Data (recharge/evt)
Time schedule
Shapefile attributes
Numerical Grid
Define multiple vertical discretizations including deformed, uniformed and semi-uniform
Deformed - easy to design, requires a smaller number of layers
Uniform (Rectilinear grid) - requires larger number of cells, but fully respects the finite-difference assumptions
Semi-Uniformed - Top and bottom layers deform to the horizons; in between, a set of uniformly thick layers will be generated.
Translation to MODFLOW
Once your simulation model domain is defined, you can easily translate the conceptual objects to the simulation model grid and create the necessary MODFLOW input files. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder allows you to:
Define multiple grid discretizations
Define up to 9 child grids inside a parent grid with the built-in Local Grid refinement tool
Translate as MODFLOW parameters (for use in PES)
Select MODFLOW packages to represent boundary conditions (eg, model a river using MODFLOW RIV package or CHD package)
Import MODFLOW files into Visual MODFLOW for running the simulation
ATTENTION: Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder is supported on Visual MODFLOW 4.3 and above. If you do not have Visual MODFLOW 2009.1, please contact us at 519-746-1798 or sws-sales@slb.com.
Conceptual Model Development for MODFLOW Groundwater Models
Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder is the new generation in dynamic conceptual model building. Featuring a powerful multi-format object/data import tool and tested to work within the latest version of the Visual MODFLOW modeling environment,
Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder enables you to build impressive representations of your groundwater system within a single modeling environment. This means you save hours when building your numerical model
Build a conceptual model of the groundwater system, prior to the simulation - The geological formations, property model, and boundary conditions are all designed outside the numerical grid; this allows the flexibility to adjust your interpretation of the groundwater system before applying the numerical grid and converting to a numerical model.
Build the model with minimal data pre-processing required - Working with grid-independent data allows you to maximize the use of your existing GIS data and incorporate physical geology and geographic conditions before designing the grid.
Generate and Simulate regional and local-scaled models - As the only MODFLOW GUI that supports MODFLOW 2005-LGR, users are now able to design local grids around the area of interest, directly within the 2D/3D conceptual model environment. Calculated heads from a regional model can also be used as boundary conditions for local-scaled models.
Design the correct model faster - The grid-independent raw data is left intact and is not constricted by grid cells when modifying the data or project objective. This allows you to generate multiple numerical models from the same conceptual model.
Make changes to the model data and immediately see results - The conceptual model environment provides simultaneous 2D/3D views which translates to automatically seeing the results whenever changes to the data are made.
Data Import
Import raw data from numerous formats and edit data to suit your modeling requirements. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder allows you edit xyz points, shapefiles, or wells as well as map or draw attributes for points, polylines, and polygons. You can also view meta-data including statistics and history or edit settings for changing colors and styles for boundary conditions, wells, points, property zones, labels, and position.
Flexible Data Operations
Conduct several arithmetic or geometric calculations and easily apply them to the geometry of your data objects or attributes.
Viewing and Editing
View your work simultaneously in 2D, 3D or spreadsheet style and automatically edit your information. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder’s interactive multi-view display allows you to make changes to your data and display the results in all viewer windows all at once .
Define, Import, and Adjust Surfaces
Define surfaces from well tops, cross sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst, or by interpolating xyz points. Import surfaces from USGS .DEM, Surfer GRD, ESRI Ascii GRD. Manually adjust surfaces in 2d/3d or by editing your xyz points. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder delivers key features for:
Loading well tops and creating surface coverage to represent formations
Loading fence diagrams, cross-sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst, and interpolating contact points to create surfaces
Structure and Area Layers
Define the conceptual model area from a polygon and vertical horizons from surfaces. Several horizon types accommodate various geological conditions including pinchouts and discontinuous layers.
Property Zones
Use Shapefiles or CAD polygons/polylines to define property zones. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder supports several methods for defining property zone values, including: constant values, surfaces (2D Grid), and 3D Gridded Data.
Boundary Conditions
Define boundary geometry and attributes with Shapefiles or CAD polygons/polylines or by using the supported LAK and FHB packages.
Support for Horizontal Wells
Define values for entire zones, or use linear gradient. Methods for defining property zone values include:
Constant value
Surface (2D Grid) (eg river stage from DEM)
3D Gridded Data (recharge/evt)
time schedule
Shapefile attributes
Numerical Grid
Define multiple vertical discretizations including deformed, uniformed and semi-uniform
Deformed - easy to design, requires a smaller number of layers
Uniform (Rectilinear grid) - requires larger number of cells, but fully respects the finite-difference assumptions
Semi-Uniformed - Top and bottom layers deform to the horizons; in between, a set of uniformly thick layers will be generated.
Translation to MODFLOW
Once your simulation model domain is defined, you can easily translate the conceptual objects to the simulation model grid and create the necessary MODFLOW input files. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder allows you to:
Define multiple grid discretizations
Define up to 9 child grids inside a parent grid with the built-in Local Grid refinement tool
Translate as MODFLOW parameters (for use in PES)
Select MODFLOW packages to represent boundary conditions (eg, model a river using MODFLOW RIV package or CHD package)
Import MODFLOW files into Visual MODFLOW for running the simulation
ATTENTION: Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder is built to work only with the latest version of Visual MODFLOW. If you do not have Visual MODFLOW 2009.1, please contact us at 519-746-1798 or sws-sales@slb.com.
Conceptual Model Development for MODFLOW Groundwater Models
Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder is the new generation in dynamic conceptual model building. Featuring a powerful multi-format object/data import tool and tested to work within the latest version of the Visual MODFLOW modeling environment,
Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder enables you to build impressive representations of your groundwater system within a single modeling environment. This means you save hours when building your numerical model
Build a conceptual model of the groundwater system, prior to the simulation - The geological formations, property model, and boundary conditions are all designed outside the numerical grid; this allows the flexibility to adjust your interpretation of the groundwater system before applying the numerical grid and converting to a numerical model.
Build the model with minimal data pre-processing required - Working with grid-independent data allows you to maximize the use of your existing GIS data and incorporate physical geology and geographic conditions before designing the grid.
Generate and Simulate regional and local-scaled models - As the only MODFLOW GUI that supports MODFLOW 2005-LGR, users are now able to design local grids around the area of interest, directly within the 2D/3D conceptual model environment. Calculated heads from a regional model can also be used as boundary conditions for local-scaled models.
Design the correct model faster - The grid-independent raw data is left intact and is not constricted by grid cells when modifying the data or project objective. This allows you to generate multiple numerical models from the same conceptual model.
Make changes to the model data and immediately see results - The conceptual model environment provides simultaneous 2D/3D views which translates to automatically seeing the results whenever changes to the data are made.
Data Import
Import raw data from numerous formats and edit data to suit your modeling requirements. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder allows you edit xyz points, shapefiles, or wells as well as map or draw attributes for points, polylines, and polygons. You can also view meta-data including statistics and history or edit settings for changing colors and styles for boundary conditions, wells, points, property zones, labels, and position.
Flexible Data Operations
Conduct several arithmetic or geometric calculations and easily apply them to the geometry of your data objects or attributes.
Viewing and Editing
View your work simultaneously in 2D, 3D or spreadsheet style and automatically edit your information. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder’s interactive multi-view display allows you to make changes to your data and display the results in all viewer windows all at once .
Define, Import, and Adjust Surfaces
Define surfaces from well tops, cross sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst, or by interpolating xyz points. Import surfaces from USGS .DEM, Surfer GRD, ESRI Ascii GRD. Manually adjust surfaces in 2d/3d or by editing your xyz points. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder delivers key features for:
Loading well tops and creating surface coverage to represent formations
Loading fence diagrams, cross-sections from Hydro GeoAnalyst, and interpolating contact points to create surfaces
Structure and Area Layers
Define the conceptual model area from a polygon and vertical horizons from surfaces. Several horizon types accommodate various geological conditions including pinchouts and discontinuous layers.
Property Zones
Use Shapefiles or CAD polygons/polylines to define property zones. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder supports several methods for defining property zone values, including: constant values, surfaces (2D Grid), and 3D Gridded Data.
Boundary Conditions
Define boundary geometry and attributes with Shapefiles or CAD polygons/polylines or by using the supported LAK and FHB packages.
Support for Horizontal Wells
Define values for entire zones, or use linear gradient. Methods for defining property zone values include:
Constant value
Surface (2D Grid) (eg river stage from DEM)
3D Gridded Data (recharge/evt)
time schedule
Shapefile attributes
Numerical Grid
Define multiple vertical discretizations including deformed, uniformed and semi-uniform
Deformed - easy to design, requires a smaller number of layers
Uniform (Rectilinear grid) - requires larger number of cells, but fully respects the finite-difference assumptions
Semi-Uniformed - Top and bottom layers deform to the horizons; in between, a set of uniformly thick layers will be generated.
Translation to MODFLOW
Once your simulation model domain is defined, you can easily translate the conceptual objects to the simulation model grid and create the necessary MODFLOW input files. Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder allows you to:
Define multiple grid discretizations
Define up to 9 child grids inside a parent grid with the built-in Local Grid refinement tool
Translate as MODFLOW parameters (for use in PES)
Select MODFLOW packages to represent boundary conditions (eg, model a river using MODFLOW RIV package or CHD package)
Import MODFLOW files into Visual MODFLOW for running the simulation
ATTENTION: Visual MODFLOW 3D-Builder is built to work only with the latest version of Visual MODFLOW. If you do not have Visual MODFLOW 2009.1, please contact us at 519-746-1798 or sws-sales@slb.com.
Schlumberger Water Services offers innovative groundwater monitoring solutions plus software for data management, data analysis, visualization, and modeling with a complete range of educational training and support services for environmental consultants, government agencies, industry, and educational/research institutions.
Shopping Cart (
Advanced contaminant transport & unsaturated zone flow simulation software. 
Theory and Hands-on Applications using MODFLOW-2000, MODPATH, MT3D, & WinPEST 
Advanced contaminant transport & groundwater modeling software. 
Print this page
Download white paper on conceptual modeling (PDF)
