IGW-NET V8.0.0 Release Notes

"Out of Memory" Modeling with DataNET Datasets

This feature is an extension of the new approach introduced in V7.0.0 for modeling groundwater systems of large areas and the their interactions with the extensive surface water network. Specifically, V8.0.0 allows importing stream/river/lake/etc. layers from DataNET into the IGW-NET model and applying the new "out-of-memory" approach to eliminate computational bottleknecks. This method also applies to water well datasets imported from DataNET into IGW-NET (see more below in IGW-NET 7.0.0 Releast Notes).

River Network from tauDEM Delineation

Users can now create a river nework in SwaNET (based on the tauDEM Delineation package applied to Digital Elevation Model) and transfer it into IGW-NET as line features (e.g., two-way or one-way head dependent flux boundary conditions).

Subbasins from tauDEM Delineation

Users can now create a collection of subbasins in SwaNET (based on the tauDEM Delineation package applied to Digital Elevation Model) and transfer it into IGW-NET as zone features (e.g., submodel domains, zone-specific recharge or hydraulic conductivity, etc.).

Previous Release Notes:

IGW-NET V7.0.0 Release Notes

Out-of-Memory" Groundwater Modeling Using Massive Spatial Datasets

A new approach was developed that allows modeling groundwater systems of large areas (large river basins, entire states/provinces, etc.) and the their interactions with the extensive surface water network (stream networks, lakes, and other surface water bodies). The method allows reading the extremely detailed, high-resolution surface water network datasets (in USA: NHDPlus High Resolution from USGS; for outside USA: HydroRIVERSfrom HydroSHEDS) "out-of-memory" (on the server side) so that computational bottleknecks are eliminated. The approach can also be applied to utilize massive water wells datasets assembled from state and provincial datastorehouses (current coverage: about 1/2 of United States, all Canadian provinces) for groundwater model calibration and spatial visualization (see more below).

In the V7.0.0.0 release, the "out-of-memory" approach is applied to data directly linked to IGW-NET from the MAGNET4WATER DataCenter (through the IGW-NET interfaces). Version 8.0.0 allows applying the approach to datasets transferred into IGW-NET from DataNET (see above).

Large Well Data Reprocessing Tool

This tool converts information (e.g., water levels) from very large numbers of water wells into a smaller subset so that the data can be utilized for groundwater model calibration or spatial visualization (scatter point attributes over space or spatial interpolation). The processing options include:
- random sub-sampling
- statistical sub-sampling (e.g., averaging)
- spatial interpolation

IGW-NET V6.0.0 Release Notes

Groundwater Modeling

New Features

Unstructured grid modeling utilizing unstructured grid support in MODFLOW6, allowing users to refine the computational grid to resolve more details in key areas of interest, for example: in the vicinity of a pumping well, or near a river or stream, where head dynamics change quickly over time and/or space.

The approach is based on nested grids consisting of rectangular cells (other cell shapes are not supported at this time), with computations relying on shared cell faces between unrefined and refined portions of the computational domain. Refinements in one layer apply to all other vertical layers in the model.

Users can generate and visualize their unstructured grid using IGW-NET. Users simply draw Zones (polygons) and Lines (polylines) within the model domain and indicate the refinement parameters (grid size fraction, buffer, etc.), and then IGW-NET automatically generates the unstructured grid. Users can also import Zones from a shapefile created outside of IGW-NET to generate the unstructured grid.

Unstructured grid results are automatically shown in the map display. Users can further analyze the unstructured model results with tools for: aquifer/zone water balance; cross-section visualization; time-series hydrographs (at monitoring wells); and particle tracking. (Contaminant fate and transport modeling are coming soon.)

ZipMODFLOW Post-Analysis Tool allowing users to load, run and visualize completed (existing) MODFLOW models in the IGW-NET-ZipMODFLOW post analysis tool. Users can take most any MODFLOW model and inspect the boundary conditions, run the model, inspect cross-sections, do basic calibration, perform MODPATH particle tracking, and more.

Watershed Modeling

New Features

Realtime Water Balance Analysis
- for an entire watershed or any of its subbasins
- as net water balance over a specified time period, or as time-varying water balance for daily, monthly, or yearly intervals, or as average monthly water balances over the specified time period;
- and calculated for the overland water balance, the in-stream water balance, the shallow aquifer balance, the deep aquifer water balance, and/or the reservoir water balance (if applicable).

Flood Mapping A new tool enables creating spatial maps of flood hazard index, flood frequency, and flood recurrance.
- Flood hazard index is calculated by dividing the number of flood days with total number of days in each subbasin.
- Flood frequency map is created by counting the number of flood days and categorizing them using user selected method.
- Flood recurrance maps are created using user selected return period and distribution method.

Constituent Load Estimator for streams and rivers based on US Geological Survey LOADEST software. The tool takes time series streamflow data and available (and typically sparse) constituent concentration data to estimate constituent load through regression modeling. Mean load estimates, standard errors, and 95 percent confidence intervals are developed on a monthly and/or seasonal basis.

Immersive 3D Visualization of the watershed and subbasins, allowing overlaying (draping) of land use, soil type, and other model inputs/outputs to the 3D VTK (Visualization ToolKit) rendering of the surface and subsurface environment.

Auto-calibration tool using Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) developed by Ercan and Goodall (2016)*. The auto calibration tool minimizes three objective functions: 1-NSE (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency), absolute value of PBIAS (percent bias) and RSR (root mean square error to observations standard deviation ratio).

Typical calibration parameters include stream flow, sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Other New Features / Expanded Options


USGS Sensor Data Calibration Options that allow users to directly utilize extracted groundwater or surface water data for evaluation of model performance / calibration. Groundwater level time series data can be used for both transient and steady-state model calibration (by comparing average, maximum, or minimum observed water levels to steady-state simulated head). Streamflow data can be directly used in watershed model calibration.

Extended Climate Data Options for data analysis and as input into watershed modeling. At the global scale, Climate Forecast System Renalysis (CFSR) weather data is now available, while additional National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) observed weather data has been added. A new point-based PRISM data extraction method has been added to assign the spatially continuous precipitation and air temperature data to subbasins within a watershed model.

MAGNET Datacenter WMTS Data Preview allows users to quickly preview the global datasets in the MAGNET Datacenter that are live-linked to the modeling platforms.

Publish 3D Visualizations of groundwater models and watershed models for other to load and explore. Users can update their existing published models, or delete them.

World Projections included World Mercator and Google Web have been added for use in modeling and mapping.

Guest Account Synchronous Access A Guest Password can be assigned to a IGW-NET account to allow other IGW-NET users to load and view model results associated with the 'Master' user account, although guests cannot edit/refine the model (e.g., they cannot add conceptual features, change inputs, etc.).

A built-in Image Georeference Tool that allows users to align a map/background/site image to the correct geographic location and with an associated spatial reference system.


IGW-NET V5.0.0 Release Notes

New Features

3D geology modeling and visualization based on Transition Probability (TP) geostatistical simulation of borehole lithologic data

TP-based hydraulic conductivity field for groundwater flow modeling (mapping to 2D or 3D models)

Web Data Services-enabled modeling - a direct link or "bridge" between DataNet WMS, WFS, and WCS service layers and IGW-NET for data import and model parameterization

Direct linkage of US streams and lakes from MAGNET Data Center (intelligent import as conceptual features / boundary conditions in a IGW-NET groundwater model).

Lake water balance modeling and coupled lake-groundwater modeling , accounting for precipitation, evaporation, surface runoff, surface water inflows/outflows, groundwater seepage and infiltration, etc. Lake levels can be computed as part of this coupled groundwater-lake interaction model.

Parameter estimation tool for automated calibration of groundwater models (e.g., hydraulic conductivity, recharge, etc.) and visualization of parameter estimation analytics.

3D interactive visualization of groundwater model results (e.g., head, velocity, conductivity), TP model results (3D aquifer material class distribution), pumping wells, water well lithologies, 3D point data (e.g., well water concentrations), iso-surfaces / plumes, and the spatial framework (aquifer top and bottom surfaces).

Multiple Species fate and transport to simulate different chemical species and their interactions (based on MT3D-USGS and RT3D).

Variable-density flow simulation based on SEAWAT and MODFLOW-6.

Particle tracking integrated into the ZipModflow environment (based on MODPATH) to interactively track particles forward or backward.

New Post-Analysis modules including:
- Post analysis (visualization) of a previously created TP model
- Post analysis of particle tracking and delineation of particle path zones
- Post analysis for multiple species interactions in a constant flow field.

Aquifer Test tools for calculating drawdown and estimating aquifer properties (transmissivity, T and storage coefficient, S) based on observed drawdown data. Subtools include:
- Theis solution graphical interface
- Specific capacity analysis
- Root Mean Square drawdown analysis
- Automated estimation of T and S (based on initial guess)
- Curve matching (type curves and pump test data) - confined, leaky and unconfined aquifers
- Slug test analysis - methods: Hvorslev (1951), Cooper (1967), and Bower-Rice (1976)

Data Analysis tool for visual and statistical exploration of scatter-point data, including:
- histogram, PDF/CDF, spatial and temporal analysis of parameter values
- data density distribution visualization

- spatial interpolation (2D or 3D) using Inverse Distance Weighting or Kriging based on variogram modeling
- linear regression analysis
- outlier analysis and removal

USGS Sensor Data tool for dynamic extraction and visualization of USGS monitoring well and surface water (stream gage) sensor data.

Climate Data tool for dynamic extraction and visualization of PRISM Climate Data - gridded precipitation, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature data (daily, monthly, or annual).

Grid-based Watershed Modeling for simulation of groundwater recharge, surface runoff into lakes (for lake water balance modeling, see above) and other water balance components. Based on USGS INFIL3.0

SWAT-based Watershed Modeling for simulation of quality and quantity of surface water and other aspects of the land surface water balance. Based on USDA Soil and Water Assessment (SWAT) tool.

Video Maker tool enabling time-based screen capture and an interface for creating videos or snapshots.

New / Extended Options of Existing Features

Model Publishing / Global Model Network

IGW-NET Users can now publish any SWAT-based Watershed model or ZipModflow model (see Version 6.0.0 releae notes above) to the IGW-NET Global Model Network (in addition to any IGW-NET Groundwater model).

Additionally, the Global Model Network page now shows different types of models as different colored map markers, and a "clickable" legend has been added to allow users to filter the types of models being displayed on the map. As with groundwater, SWAT-based watershed models and ZipModflow models can be directly loaded into the correct IGW-NET interface/module.

Particle Tracking

- If a 3D model is created, users can choose which computational or conceptual layer(s) the particle will appear in ("Show Particle in" option).
- An option to release particles along a 3-D surface (e.g., plume iso-surface) was added. - Particle positions and path lines can be saved for post-processing in the Post Analysis tool. Save particle file option and button.

Initial Concentration Field

An option was added to use a concentration file (e.g., generated from 3D interpolation) as the initial concentration for fate and transport modeling.

Display Settings

Several new options are available in the Display Settings tab of the Domain Attributes menu (Conceptual Modeling Tools > DomainAttr > Display Settings), including:

- Grid lines can be shown.

- New options for watershed model input/output parameters display

- New options to show multiple species fate and transport model results

- New option to overlay conceptual model features (e.g., streams and lakes from the Data Center server).

Save Model Image

At any time, a user can create and download the display contents within the groundwater model domain.

Default Model Projection

Previous Michigan state system project has been replaced with World Mercator projection.

Multiple Time Steps

Multiple time steps are allowed in a transient model. Time-step based screen capture (for video making) was also added.

Minimum Aquifer Thickness

An option was added to treat as inactive cells those cells with a thickness less than a specified percentage of maximum aquifer thickness.

Data Center Data Preview

Small '?' buttons have been added throughout the model input interfaces that allow users to preview the datasets available from the MAGNET Data Center (e.g., DEM, aquifer thickness, land use, etc.). Metadata is also provided.

Direct watershed import

Watersheds of different sizes/levels can be directly imported as a groundwater model domain or conceptual zone.

Comments about IGW-NET V4.0.0

Two important new features were added to IGW-NET in the recent Version 4.0.0 release:

- MODFLOW flow packages and solvers for solving groundwater flow models in IGW-NET, including MODFLOW-6, MODFLOW-USG, MODFLOW-NWT, MODFLOW-2005, and MODFLOW-2000.

- Multi-realizatoin Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) of flow in random (stochastic) conductivity fields. To get started, visit the Quick Tutorials page.