GMS

Utilizing Contour Legends

By aquaveo on August 20, 2024

The Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) contains many tools for visualizing data. The contour visualization tools are particularly helpful in viewing solution data. With contours, GMS provides several options for how contours will be displayed, including options for the contour legend. When a legend is added to the contour display, it is not always clear what the units of the values shown in the legend are. With GMS 10.8 improvement to the Contour Legend Options allow displaying the data units with the legend.

The Contour Legend Options dialog is available for the contour dataset displayed in the Graphics Window. Accessed from the Legend Options button on the Contour Options dialog, the Contour Legend Options dialog controls the formatting and location of a displayed legend. The tool is only available if the Legend check box on the Contour Display Options Dialog is checked. This dialog includes formatting options such as a title field, a font selection button, as well as fields for height and width. Furthermore, the dialog offers location options that includes a combo box for specifying the location of the displayed legend. Visit our wiki page to view descriptions of each feature this dialog provides.

Here is a step-by-step of how to execute this feature:

  1. Select Contour Options.
  2. At the bottom of the Dataset Contour Options dialog, ensure that the Legend option is checked.
  3. Select Options in the Legend section.
  4. In the Formatting Section of the Contour Legend Options dialog, enter the respective unit keyword: "UNITS" for DS (Datasets) and "TUNITS" for (Time steps).
Contour legend options in GMS

The ability to add the unit type to the legend is a user requested feature that helps make presenting data clearer for your audience. This and other improvements are continuously being added to GMS. Head over to GMS and check out the options for legend displays and other features.

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GMS

Export UGrids Seamlessly With the Export UGrid Tool

By aquaveo on July 30, 2024

Do you have an unstructured grid (UGrid) in the Groundwater Modeling System that you want to share with other projects or applications? Having a portable UGrid allows you to share data between projects or with colleagues. The Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) has several ways to export data, including UGrids, from a model. The Export UGrid tool in the Toolbox allows you to export your UGrid to a file location your computer.

When you open the Export UGrid tool, found under the Unstructured Grids section in the Toolbox, you have only three steps to take:

  1. Select the UGrid you wish to export.
  2. Select the file type.
  3. Save it with a name and location.

There are three primary file types in the Export UGrid tool to choose from: XMC, STL, and OBJ. Two of these, XMC and STL, have two additional variations on the formats for saving: ASCII and binary.

Example of file generated with the Export UGrid tool

Aquaveo has provided the XMC format, our format, for exporting structured and unstructured grids of all varieties: 2D grids, 3D grids, quadtree/octree, nested, and voronoi.

GMS also provides the STL file format. This stereolithography file can be used with 3D CAD printing and should be able to be read by CAD software. It may also be converted to other file formats. This can only be used with triangular grids.

The last format type is OBJ. A geometry definition file format originally created for animation software, it has since been used for modeling and simulations in various applications. An OBJ file can be converted to STL and other formats. The OBJ format is limited to triangular grids only.

The ASCII formats of both the XMC and the STL file types, as well as the OBJ file type can be viewed and edited in a text editor.

The variety of file formats gives you flexibility in choosing how best to use the data. Head on over to GMS and see what the Export UGrid tool can do for you.

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GMS

Streamlining GMS by Using Keyboard Shortcuts

By aquaveo on July 9, 2024

No matter how long you have been using the Ground-water Modeling System (GMS), you can enhance your experience with keyboard shortcuts. GMS comes equipped with various keyboard shortcuts–quick keys, hotkeys, accelerator keys, keybindings–in order to make the process more efficient for you. Whether you are just beginning or seasoned, such shortcuts are useful for any water modeling project.

The newest addition to the collection is related to the GMS unstructured grid (UGrid) feature, and facilitates progress with one click: Select all cells in UGrid layer using the “l” (L) key.

New select UGrid layer shortcut

Here are a few more shortcut options that expedite the groundwater modeling process:

  • CTRL+D (Display Options): Quickly populate your display options module for view and modification.
  • CTRL+F (Frame Image): Use this option to scale and frame your model in the Main Graphics Window.
  • View: Utilize these options and view your project from any perspective quickly.
    • Shift+P (Plan View)
    • Shift+F (Front View)
    • Shift+S (Side View)
    • Shift+O (Oblique View)

With all of the intricacies of the GMS software, simplifying even the smallest commands may increase productivity in infrastructure planning:

  • CTRL+N (New Project): Clear the contents of your previous project easily with this command.
  • CTRL+O (Open File): Import a new file with this command.
  • Delete Key: Delete objects easily with this command.
  • CTRL+A (Select All): Select all objects easily with this command.
  • CTRL+U (Unselect All): Unselect all objects easily with this command.

Mastering keyboard shortcuts is a key aspect of becoming a proficient user of GMS. By taking advantage of these time-saving tools, users can navigate the environmental engineering software more efficiently, focus on their modeling tasks, and ultimately achieve better results in their water modeling projects. Use the "GMS Keyboard Shortcuts" article on the Aquaveo wiki to view these commands and more.

Additional shortcuts continue to be added to GMS. Access the latest version of GMS to make use of the newest shortcuts today!

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GMS

New Recharge Options for MODFLOW-USG Transport

By aquaveo on June 18, 2024

Do you have to refine the recharge options in your MODFLOW-USG Transport model in the Groundwater Modeling System (GMS)? With GMS 10.8, we’ve added two options to the MODFLOW-USG Transport Recharge Package. Concentrations (CONC) option and Use Seep Elevation (SEEPELEV) option have now been added as options to the main dialog. This makes it easier to add the data required when concentrations and/or seepage elevations are required for certain species. These additions can improve the accuracy and applicability of groundwater models, particularly in complex and variable hydrological settings.

New Recharge Options for MODFLOW-USG Transport

Adding the Concentrations (CONC) feature to the Recharge (RCH) package in MODFLOW-USG Transport allows you to account for the spatial and temporal variations in the concentration of contaminants or solutes in recharge water.

The Use Seep Elevation (SEEPELEV) feature enables you to consider the elevation of seepage faces in your simulations. This is particularly important in areas with complex topography and variable groundwater-surface water interactions.

In order to use these options:

  1. Go to MODFLOW | Global Options.
  2. In MODFLOW Global/Basic Package, select Packages.
  3. Make sure “RCH1” has been selected as one of the packages.
  4. Then, access the RCH package options using the RCH - Recharge Package command in MODFLOW | Optional Packages menu. You can also reach the options by double-clicking on the RCH package in the Project Explorer.
  5. In the MODFLOW Recharge Package dialog, look for “Concentrations (CONC)” and “Use Seep Elevation (SEEPELEV)”. They will appear below the “Recharge option (NRCHOP)” drop down.
  6. Select one or both of them, depending on your model’s needs.
  7. For the seep elevation, you can manually enter or import the appropriate data.

Note: These options are only a part of USG Transport and are not available in other versions of MODFLOW..

With these two options now available in MODFLOW-USG Transport, better refinement in your groundwater models is now possible. Head on over to GMS 10.8 to try out the Concentrations (CONC) and Use Seep Elevation (SEEPELEV) options in your MODFLOW-USG Transport projects today!

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