Brief Introduction of
Visual MODFLOW
Introduction
Visual MODFLOW is the USGS's three-dimensional (3D)
finite-difference groundwater model that was first published
in 1984.
Visual MODFLOW is the most complete, and user-friendly,
modeling environment for practical applications in threedimensional groundwater flow and contaminant transport
simulation.
Characteristics
Widely used ground-water flow simulation program that
runs on any platform (Windows, Unix, Linux,);
Open source (Anyone can check and change the source
code);
A modular structure that allows it to be easily modified to
adapt the code for a particular application (Processes
and Packages).
Some modules
Programs based on MODFLOW
Public domain/open source
MT3DMS (multi-species solute or heat transport, some
reactions, dual porosity) (Chunmiao Zheng, U Alabama)
MODPATH (particle tracking) (Dave Pollock, USGS)
SEAWAT (density-dependent transport using MODFLOW
and MT3DMS) (Chris Langevin, USGS)
Commercial
MODHMS-Surfact (Integrated sw/gw/unsat)
GUIs: Visual MODFLOW, Groundwater Vistas, GMS,
PMWin,
Governing Equations
Confined Aquifer
h
h
(K x ) (K y ) (K z ) Ss
W
x
x y
y z
z
t
S s g ( + n )
Unconfined Aquifer
h
h
( Kx
) ( Ky
) ( Kz
) Sy
W
x
x
y
y
z
z
t
Conceptual model
. A simplified representation of the physical
hydrogeological setting.
The geologic and hydrologic framework;
Media type;
Hydraulic properties;
Sources and sinks of flow;
(a)
(b)
Conceptual representation of leakage
through a riverbed into a cell
(a)
(b)
Cross section of an unconfined aquifer
containing a stream
Conceptual representative of streamaquifer interconnection in simulation
Recharge, discharge, and runoff of groundwater
Input of Visual MODFLOW
.1. Boundary
Mathematical statements specifying the
dependent variable (head) or the derivative of the
dependent variable (flux) at the boundaries of the
problem domain.
Input of Visual MODFLOW
1) Specified head boundaries (Dirichlet conditions) for
which head is given.
2) Specified flow boundaries (Neumann conditions) for
which the derivative of head (flux) across the boundary is
given. An no-flow boundary condition is set by specifying
flux to be zero.
3) Head-dependent flow boundaries (Cauchy or mixed
boundary conditions) for which flux across the boundary is
calculated given a boundary value.
Boundary Setting in Visual MODFLOW
Constant Head
Drain
River
Lake
Stream
Wall
General Head
Recharge
Evaporation
Input of Visual MODFLOW
.2. Source and sink
Among the many problems in heat-conduction
analogous to those in ground-water hydraulics are
those concerning sources and sinks, sources being
analogous to recharging wells and sinks to ordinary
discharging wells.
--- C.V. Theis, 1935
Input of Visual MODFLOW
.3. Grid
The Grid module allows the user to define and
discretize the modeling domain. The user can add
or delete gridlines, change cell or layer elevations,
or remove cells from the computations.
Input of Visual MODFLOW
.Other Input
Wells
Properties
Particles(MODPATH)
Leakage
Zone budget
Output of Visual MODFLOW
The output allows the user to visualize, print,
and export the simulation results.
Five types of maps:
Four types of graphs:
Calibration Residual Maps
Contour Maps
Pathline Maps
Velocity Vectors Maps
Zone Budget Maps
Calibration Graphs
Time-Series Graphs
Mass Balance Graphs
Zone Budget Graphs
Some useful website
USGS Software website:
[Link]
[Link]
Online Visual MODFLOW manual:
[Link]
Thank you for your attention!
