Tips for Exporting a MODPATH Project

By aquaveo on April 8, 2020

MODPATH works with MODFLOW to show particle tracking information. Once you have successfully completed a MODFLOW project, you may want to share that information collected through MODPATH with your other colleagues. Exporting the MODPATH data can allow you to share specific information with them.

Typically, the Save As command in the File menu and the right-click Export command in the Project Explorer are used to export MODPATH data from GMS. When using these commands, there are some tips for getting the most out of them.

Exportin MODFLOW
Exporting MODPATH Flowlines to a KMZ File

The flowlines from a successful MODPATH run can be exported as a KMZ file using the Save As command. When doing this, pay attention to the following:

  • Use the Display Options to make the flowline more visible before exporting to a KMZ file.
  • Make certain that the projection/coordinate system of your MODPATH project has been set correctly. KMZ files require that a coordinate system be set therefore GMS cannot create a file if there is no projection.
  • Objects in the Project Explorer can be set to different projections. Be certain to review the projections of all objects when exporting a KMZ file.
Exporting Points

Using the Save As command, the particle points of the MODPATH project can be exported to a shapefile.

  • When exporting particle points from MODPATH it is important to note that endpoints will need to be exported with intermediate points.
  • Another option is to use the Text Tab Delimited Pathline File option, which prints out the location and could be quickly parsed to pull the X and Y locations for the last time step of each particle.
  • MODPATH output can be exported to a shapefile or text delimited file by right-clicking on your MODPATH particle set in the Project Explorer and selecting "Export".
  • In the "Export Particle Sets" dialog that comes up, you can then change the "Save as type" option at the bottom to the type (pathlines, points, vectors), and format (shapefile, text delimited file) you prefer.

Many of these tips apply to exporting other numeric modeling data in GMS. Try out the different export functionalities in GMS today!

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