M4W - Video Overview

Background
Understanding groundwater systems has traditionally been hampered by a lack of data- both for the analysis or characterization of the system and for conceptualizing, building, calibrating and validating numerical models. In recent times, though, the geospatial and digital revolutions have led to the availability of massive datasets such as high-resolution global Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), hydrological datasets (streams and lakes networks), detailed climate information (precipitation, temperature),and water well records. In spite of the availability of this “big data”, its size renders it immovable and hard to maneuver. As a result, the tools and techniques required to efficiently utilize this data have not kept pace with the rate of data “creation.” Moreover, the time required for processing the data makes it impractical to accomplish, especially considering that the same process must be repeated by "everybody" and for "every project". Obviously, this is an impractical way of efficiently using this data and needs improvement.

MAGNET 4 WATER
MAGNET is a data-enabled modeling system built on pre-processed, fully-assembled framework data, i.e., data needed to conceptualize and characterize the system in a ready-to-use form at the “global scale”. The system allows users not only to access and utilize pre-processed big datasets, but also to do so in real-time and interactively. Within the GIS-enabled modeling environment, users can zoom in anywhere to create a data-enabled model groundwater flow and contaminant transport, and immediately evaluate model performance using physical groundwater data available within the study area. All model inputs and representations (e.g. conceptual/structural, sources and sinks, number of layers, grid resolution, and display parameters) can be interactively modified and further customized based on study objectives and other available (local) data, as well as user experience and expertise. The users can: 1) change assumptions, conceptual framework, resolution, or representation, and immediately see the integrated effects, the ultimate implications, and the complex interrelationships presented intelligently in a meaningful context; 2) initiate or pause contaminant particle tracking or reactive plume modeling; and 3) perform well (head and concentration) monitoring and perform mass balance analyses.

The MAGNET modeling environment is designed in such a way that modeler feels as though they are using a single model that provides multiple options. The process starts with a global Google map/earth that allows user to select an area of interest, after which a geo-referencing model is determined based on the area selected. A GIS-based interface is provided for the user to fine-tune the computational domain and to add additional data such as i) polyline or polygon data used to represent a stream/lake in the model, or ii) geo-referenced images used as a base-map for digitizing a geological formation. For example, a polyline layer could be either treated as a stream with attributes of stage, leakance and bed elevation or as an injection trench with a prescribed flux; a polygon layer could be defined as a lake with attributes of lake level and leakance, or as a contaminant source.

Supporting Tools and Software
The algorithms, solvers, pre-processed data, and post-model visualization and analysis capabilities are derived from a sophisticated groundwater modeling software - Interactive Groundwater (IGW) - developed over the past 20 years of research . For advanced and expert groundwater modelers, Interactive Groundwater is an ideal tool and is available as a number of different packages - see Premium Products.