Aquaveo & Water Resources Engineering News

GMS 10.0 - Updated Model Checker

The model checker has been a feature of GMS from the beginning. The purpose of the model checker is to analyze the input data currently defined for a model simulation and report any obvious errors or potential problems. Running the Model Checker successfully does not guarantee that a solution will be correct. It simply serves as an initial check on the input data and can save a considerable amount of time that would otherwise be lost tracking down input errors.

In version 10 the model checker has been updated to make reading its results much easier (see the images below). If GMS does not find any obvious errors or warnings then a message highlighted in Green will appear at the top of the dialog letting you know that the input data is free from obvious errors. If your model contains warnings then a Yellow highlighted message will appear at the top of the dialog telling you that warnings were detected. Then as you scroll through the model checker output the warnings will be highlighted in Yellow. Finally, if your model has errors then a message highlighted in Red appears at the top of the dialog and as you scroll through the output the errors will be highlighted in Red. While these features may not be technological breakthroughs they make using the model checker even easier than previous version of GMS.

MODFLOW-USG Complex Stratigraphy

MODFLOW–USG (for UnStructured Grid), was developed to support a wide variety of structured and unstructured grid types, including nested grids and grids based on prismatic triangles, rectangles, hexagons, and other cell shapes. Flexibility in grid design can be used to focus resolution along rivers and around wells, for example, or to subdiscretize individual layers to better represent hydrostratigraphic units.

MODFLOW-USG’s subdiscretization capability to better represent hydrostratigraphic units is an extremely powerful feature. Traditional MODFLOW requires that grid layers be continuous throughout the model domain even if the particular stratigraphic unit ends or pinches out.

Complex unstructured grids can be created in GMS by using the horizons approach.

There is a new video on the aquaveo youtube channel that highlights this feature. There is also a new tutorial that explains the various options associated with this feature.

Traditional MODFLOW Layering
MODFLOW-USG Layer that pinches out
3D Unstructured Grid generated using the horizons approach

MODFLOW Native Text Format

GMS uses a modified version of MODFLOW that can read data from HDF5 files. HDF5 is a binary, cross-platform file format for storing data. Large portions of the MODFLOW inputs are stored in an HDF5 file when creating a MODFLOW model in GMS. Large MODFLOW models are stored much more efficiently using HDF5 (compression ratios of 95% when compared to text files are common). Also, the read/write times are much faster with the binary HDF5 file when compared to text files.

Even though it has been shown that HDF5 with MODFLOW is extremely efficient, many users would also like to have their MODFLOW simulations in the native MODFLOW format. This is particularly true when completing a modeling project and the user needs to archive the project.

Native MODFLOW text files can be saved from GMS. Beginning with version 10.0, these text files also contain documentation comments that more clearly identify the contents of each line in the MODFLOW input file. Further, parameter definitions are also included in the text files.

There is a new video on the aquaveo youtube channel that highlights this feature. There is also a new tutorial that explains the various options associated with this feature.

GMS Sprint March 2014

  • Fixed four bugs
  • Finished advanced Run MODFLOW dialog
  • Finished improvements to MODFLOW native text
  • Created tutorial on converting existing models to MODFLOW-USG
  • Created MODFLOW-USG tutorial on quad tree refinement around rivers, wells
  • GMS asks user for local or online help preference on first-time help
  • vtu file saved with MODFLOW files
  • Some work on modflow.org
  • New plot axes finished
  • "Ortho" view for UGrids done. Symbols drawn on top when faces are filled
  • Arc and poly refinement attributes added for quadtree refinement
  • Arc and poly refinement works for quadtree UGrids
  • Added command to extrude 2D UGrid to a 3D UGrid
  • Ctrl-click to select UGrid cells now works
  • Disabled dragging UGrid nodes or editing coordinates
  • Cell size now displayed for selected UGrid cell
  • MODFLOW symbols in other layers not displayed when doing single layer
  • MODFLOW-USG arrays work like data sets - show contours
  • F2 edits selected name in Project Explorer
  • CTRL+U unselects all
  • Octree UGrid creation added
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GMS Sprint February 2014

  • Fixed 6 bugs
  • Finished major tasks related to improving native MODFLOW text
  • Finished Map -> UGrid
  • Help|GMS Help uses local help according to preference
  • Finished a MODFLOW-LGR version of the Regional to Local tutorial
  • Fix Layer Errors command now works for UGrids
  • MODFLOW-USG solver now includes option to hide dimmed rows
  • Added moles/liter to concentration units for PHT3D
  • Added bitmaps for collapsed (non-pinned) windows
  • Disabled attempt at opening of .zip and related file types
  • Added MODFLOW-USG as a licensed component
  • Lots of UGrid code development
  • Horizons -> UGrid finished
  • Create UGrid dialogs done
  • Added number of 2D/3D elements in UGrid properties
  • Import of UGrids from a VTK .vtu file done
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GMS Training, United Arab Emirates

The GMS team recently completed a training course in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Aquaveo would like to thank Dr. Ahmad Alzoubi, Certification and Training Manager at United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain for helping to organize the class. The course ran from January 26 to 29, 2014. Course attendees came from as far away as Sweden to attend. The course was a great success. By the end of the week attendees could use the powerful conceptual modeling tools in GMS to build and calibrate complex MODFLOW models. As usual the attendees appreciated how easy it was to use GMS to create and edit groundwater models. Thanks to all those who attended and made for a great experience in UAE.
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GMS Sprint January 2014

  • Fixed 6 bugs
  • Good progress on UGrid creation workflows
  • Interpolate to MODFLOW Layers for UGrids finished
  • Good progress on improved native MODFLOW text output
  • Model checker for MODFLOW-USG finished
  • UGrid generation fixed to avoid tears
  • UGrid module added to toolbar
  • Module toolbar default location moved to top
  • Pin/unpin functionality added to Project Explorer
  • Some speed optimizations added
  • GMS Training in UAE
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GMS Sprint December 2013

  • Fixed 9 bugs
  • Added rasters to list in coverage Attributes dialog to get elevation for drains etc.
  • Progress on switch to Qt
  • Progress on improved MODFLOW native text
  • Finished Map -> MODFLOW for UGrids
  • Cell layers shown in table dialog for UGrids
  • MODFLOW-USG code now under tests
  • Display of UGrid cell, node, and scalar numbers done
  • Added colors and I/O to new plot axes options
  • Improved readability of model checker with colors
  • Added button to edit all multipliers and use last flags in array dialogs
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Using Rasters with Map to MODFLOW

For some time GMS has included the capability to use TINs with the Map->MODFLOW command. The next version of GMS will also include the capability to use Rasters with the Map->MODFLOW command similar to how TINs can be used now. In the conceptual model, the user will associate the desired Raster with the Head/Elevation assigned to a point, node, arc, or polygon. When the Map->MODFLOW command is executed the Head/Elevation for the boundary condition is extracted from the Raster using the cell center where the boundary condition is applied. The figure below shows how/where the Raster can be assigned to a point/node/arc/polygon.

Map to MODFLOW Raster
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GMS Sprint November 2013

  • Released GMS 9.2
  • Fixed 11 bugs
  • Conducted training in Australia
  • Implemented exporting of faces to CAD
  • Help buttons on wizards now goes to correct wiki or offline help page
  • More progress with improved native MODFLOW text files
  • Good progress on MODFLOW-USG support
  • Help buttons for Qt dialogs no work
  • Tutorial sample files open without prompting for missing file locations
  • Added color and improved readability of model checker dialog
  • Fixed problems with View Previous in ortho mode
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