How this reference works
- Organized by tier, not alphabetical. IGW-NET's toolbar has four tiers corresponding to the workflow stages. Buttons are listed within their tier; this matches the interface layout and makes navigation intuitive.
- Every entry is a row in a table. Columns: button name, one-line purpose, which chapter teaches the workflow, realtime help slug for operational details.
- Cross-references are explicit. Instead of re-teaching content, each entry points to the chapter where the topic is covered in depth. The reference is a map, not a duplicate textbook.
- When in doubt, consult realtime help. The realtime help system (approximately 179 pages) is the operational reference; this chapter is the structural map to it.
21.1 The Four-Tier Tool Organization
Understanding which tier a button belongs to tells you when during a modeling session you would use it. This orientation section establishes the mental model; the rest of the chapter details each tier's buttons.
21.1.1 The tier structure
| Tier | Purpose | When used |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Conceptual Model Tools | Build the model — define spatial extent, layering, features, zones | First: before running any simulation |
| 2. Simulation Tools | Run the model — execute the solver with current configuration | Second: after conceptual model is built; iteratively as changes are made |
| 3. Analysis Tools | Interpret the results — view outputs, compare against observations | During and after simulation (IGW-NET analysis is real-time — charts update as the solver runs) |
| 4. Other Tools | Manage workspace — save, load, clear, publish, utilities | Throughout: whenever workspace actions are needed |
21.1.2 Interface layout
The four tiers appear as a vertical tool panel along the left side of the IGW-NET interface. Tiers are visually separated; within each tier, buttons are grouped by related function. The most visually prominent button is SIMULATE (in Tier 2) — rendered in red because it is the action users invoke most often.
Dialogs opened from toolbar buttons (for example, DomainAttr opens the Default Model Parameters dialog) typically occupy a floating panel that users can reposition. Some dialogs (Wells, Lines, Zones) open tabbed interfaces with multiple property pages.
21.1.3 How to use this chapter
The sections below list every button by tier. Each entry is a row with:
- Button name — as shown on the toolbar or as referred to in dialogs
- Purpose — one-line summary of what clicking it does
- Taught in — chapter(s) where the underlying workflow is covered in depth
- Realtime help — slug for the canonical operational reference page
If you already know what you want to accomplish, jump to the tier that corresponds to your stage of work. If you've encountered a button on the toolbar and want to know what it does, find it in the appropriate tier's table.
21.2 Conceptual Model Tools (Tier 1)
Tier 1 is where the model is built. Users draw features on the map; IGW-NET translates those drawings into model data. The tier contains seven buttons covering domain definition, layering, features, and confirmation.
| Button | Purpose | Taught in | Realtime help |
|---|---|---|---|
| DrawDomain | Define the model boundary as a rectangle or polygon on the map. The boundary establishes the computational extent; the no-flow default applies to the boundary unless overridden. | Ch. 4 — Domain Definition | draw-domain |
| DomainAttr | Open the Default Model Parameters dialog. Central hub for aquifer attributes, grid resolution, layer configuration, boundary conditions, recharge, simulation settings, and Calib checkboxes for multipliers. | Ch. 5 — Aquifer Attributes; also Ch. 7, Ch. 18 | default-model-parameters |
| Layer | Add or remove vertical geologic (hydrostratigraphic) layers. Each layer has its own top/bottom elevation and may inherit or override aquifer properties. | Ch. 10 — Vertical Layering | layer-options |
| Wells | Add, import, or edit point features representing pumping wells, injection wells, or monitoring wells. Each well has coordinates, screen interval, pumping rate (with time series for transient), concentration (for transport sources), and monitoring options. | Ch. 6 — Adding Features | wells, add-wells, well-data-processing-tool |
| Lines | Add, import, or edit polyline features for streams, rivers, drains, or prescribed-head boundaries. Each polyline has attributes for stage (river), elevation (drain), prescribed head, and SW-GW coupling options. | Ch. 6 — Adding Features; Ch. 14 — SW as BC | lines, server-river-options, other-line-options, edit-polyline-attributes |
| Zones | Add, import, or edit polygon features (zones) that override aquifer properties within their extent. Up to 15 property overrides per zone including K, recharge, porosity, top/bottom elevation, random field configuration, lake coupling, T-PROGS borehole simulation. | Ch. 5, Ch. 13 (nesting), Ch. 15 (coupled lakes), Ch. 17 (T-PROGS), Ch. 19 (random fields) | zones, zone-attributes, server-lake-options |
| SaveShape | Finalize a polyline or zone being drawn on the map. Completes the feature-creation operation so the feature becomes part of the model. | Ch. 6 — Adding Features | save-shape |
21.2.1 The DomainAttr dialog — central hub
Because DomainAttr is the most heavily-used dialog in IGW-NET, its sub-structure is worth noting. The Default Model Parameters dialog opened by DomainAttr contains tabs and sub-sections including:
- Aquifer Attributes — K, storage, recharge, top/bottom elevations, porosity, including the Multiplying Factors section (K multiplier, Recharge multiplier, with Calib checkboxes — Ch. 18)
- Boundary Conditions — defaults for the domain edges
- Initial Conditions — starting heads for transient simulations
- Simulation Settings — steady-state vs. transient, time stepping, solver choice, convergence criteria
- Miscellaneous — includes the UTM Only checkbox for SwaNET handshaking (Ch. 16 §16.6.3)
- Biochemical Properties — for reactive transport (Ch. 12)
- Overland Flow Options — Land Use, Climate, Soil Type tabs for the Watershed Solver (Ch. 16)
Each tab has its own realtime help page for operational details. Chapter 5 (Aquifer Attributes) provides the conceptual walkthrough; the realtime help provides per-field reference.
21.3 Simulation Tools (Tier 2)
Tier 2 is where the solver runs. Five buttons handle simulation execution and transient time-step control.
| Button | Purpose | Taught in | Realtime help |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIMULATE (red) | The main action button. Runs the groundwater flow simulation to completion. Solute transport activates automatically if concentration sources exist. The engine used is selected automatically (native IGW for structured grids; MODFLOW 6 for unstructured; MT3DMS for transport; UCODE for calibration). | Ch. 7 — Running the Simulation; Ch. 20 — MODFLOW Integration | simulate |
| ParticleTK | Opens the particle tracking sub-menu. Forward particle tracking traces where water is going; backward tracking traces where water came from (used for capture zone delineation). Options for 2D vs 3D particle release, path visualization, travel times. | Ch. 11 — Particle Tracking | particle-tracking-options, create-modpath-model |
| Forward | For transient simulations: advance forward in time. Steps through time periods or resumes a paused simulation going forward. | Ch. 9 — Transient Simulations | transient-controls |
| Backward | Reverse direction in transient simulations. Also used for backward particle tracking (tracing where water came from). | Ch. 9 — Transient; Ch. 11 — Particle Tracking (backward) | backward-tracking |
| Pause | Pause an active simulation. Useful for inspecting intermediate results, adjusting parameters mid-run, or stopping before completion if results are obviously wrong. Resume with Forward or Backward. | Ch. 7 — Running the Simulation | pause-resume |
21.3.1 Transport activation — no separate toggle
Solute transport activates automatically whenever the model contains any concentration source:
- A source zone drawn on the map with nonzero concentration
- A well with nonzero concentration (injection with contamination)
- A boundary with concentration specified
There is no "enable transport" button. The presence of concentration data triggers MT3DMS automatically on SIMULATE. If transport should be inactive, remove concentration sources.
21.3.2 Auto-calibration and Monte Carlo triggers
Automatic Calibration (Ch. 18) and Monte Carlo / stochastic simulation (Ch. 19) are not separate buttons but are configured through Solver Options and activated when SIMULATE is pressed:
- Automatic Calibration — enabled via Solver Options (solver position 18); runs UCODE parameter estimation wrapped around the flow solve
- Monte Carlo — realization count configured via Solver Options (position 19); if greater than 1 with auto-calibration active, stochastic ensemble simulation runs
These activations are parser-detectable — reports clearly indicate when a model is configured for automatic calibration or stochastic simulation.
21.4 Analysis Tools (Tier 3)
Tier 3 is where results are interpreted. IGW-NET's distinctive real-time visualization lives here: charts update live as the simulation runs, not after completion.
| Button | Purpose | Taught in | Realtime help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis | Opens a popup menu with multiple options. Most commonly used: Display Charts (opens the default streaming charts — water table, breakthrough curves, cross-sections, mass balance). Also: parameter value displays, cross-section diagrams, water budget reports, data density charts. | Ch. 8 — Viewing Results; Ch. 9, Ch. 11, Ch. 12, Ch. 19 | analysis, display-charts, chart-options |
| X-Section | Draw a new cross-section line on the map to see a vertical profile along it. Cross-section chart updates live as simulation runs; shows head (and concentration if transport is active). Any number of custom cross-sections can be added. | Ch. 8 — Viewing Results; Ch. 10 — Layering; Ch. 17 — T-PROGS (geology visualization) | cross-section-diagram, cross-section-plot |
| Calibration | Opens the calibration chart — observed vs. simulated head scatter, with confidence band overlay, statistics (RMSE, R², bias), and observation source configuration (IGWServer, Well Data Processing Tool filters). | Ch. 18 — Calibration | calibration-chart, calibration-data-input |
| 3D TP | Transition-probability 3D visualization — shows the T-PROGS-simulated 3D material distribution (AQ/MAQ/PCM/CM classes) as a 3D block diagram or cross-section. Essential for interpreting heterogeneous K field structure. | Ch. 17 — T-PROGS 3D Geology | boreholesimulationresults--cs-ycentralline |
| Data Explorer | Query, filter, and extract raw data layers. Useful for inspecting Data Center datasets that feed the model, checking imported rasters, examining well log records. | Ch. 4 — Domain Definition; Ch. 17 — T-PROGS data sources | data-explorer, exploratory-data-analysis |
21.4.1 The Display Charts default set
Clicking Analysis → Display Charts opens four default streaming charts immediately:
- Water table surface — map view of the head field, contoured, overlaid with flow vectors
- Breakthrough curves — concentration vs. time at any monitoring wells (active when transport is on)
- Vertical cross-sections — head (and concentration) along default lines through the domain
- Mass balance — Ins vs. Outs for the full domain polygon, updated as the simulation runs
All four update live as the solver runs — not after completion. This is IGW-NET's distinctive streaming visualization pattern. Custom charts can be added via the X-Section tool or Analysis sub-menu options.
21.4.2 Ensemble visualization modes
For stochastic / Monte Carlo simulations (Ch. 19), the MCS Display sub-section of Display Charts controls ensemble visualization:
- Mean Head — ensemble mean head field, smoothing as realizations accumulate
- Head Variance — spatial variance map, stabilizing as realizations grow
- Individual realizations — watch each realization flash past
- Flow vectors — current realization, mean, or both
The recursive-statistics architecture (Ch. 19 §19.6) means these visualizations update per-realization without storing the ensemble.
21.5 Other Tools (Tier 4)
Tier 4 contains workspace management utilities — file operations, display toggles, and miscellaneous tools.
| Button | Purpose | Taught in | Realtime help |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaveModel | Export the conceptual model and current configuration as a file. Also the entry point for export options including MODFLOW file export. | Ch. 20 — MODFLOW Integration (for MODFLOW export) | save-model |
| LoadModel | Import a saved IGW-NET model file. Rebuilds the full model state from the file including domain, zones, features, attributes. | Ch. 2 — Navigation and Interface | load-model |
| HideOverlay / ShowOverlay | Toggle visibility of simulation results on the map. Useful when you want to see the base map or input data without the head contours / flow vectors overlay. | Ch. 8 — Viewing Results | overlay-controls |
| ResetModel | Clear the current model to start fresh. Destructive — use with care. Ask for confirmation before accepting. | Ch. 2 — Navigation and Interface | reset-model |
| Utilities | Miscellaneous tools including synthetic-case mode (for teaching / demonstration), feature locking (prevent accidental edits), model publishing (Ch. 29 collaborative workflows), background image management, georeferencing tool. | Ch. 29 — Collaborative Workflows (publishing); various for individual utilities | utilities, model-publishing-options, magnet-georeference-tool |
21.5.1 Publishing and the Global Model Network
The Utilities → Model Publishing option pushes a model to the Global Model Network — IGW-NET's shared repository of published models. Published models are discoverable by other users and contribute to the MAGNET4WATER Observatory's model catalog. Chapter 29 covers collaborative workflows including publishing in detail.
21.5.2 The Georeference Tool
Utilities → MAGNET Georeference Tool handles coordinate system setup for the model domain. Most users don't need to interact with this directly — IGW-NET handles georeferencing automatically from Data Center inputs. It becomes relevant when:
- Importing a custom raster whose projection is non-standard
- Setting UTM-Only mode for SwaNET handshaking (Ch. 16 §16.6.3)
- Working with a legacy model whose projection needs to be re-specified
Related reference material
- Chapter 22 — Field Reference → — next chapter. Parser-backed catalog of every model file field with its meaning and valid values.
- Chapter 23 — Data Center Reference — all Data Center datasets organized by region and type.
- Chapter 24 — Solver Options Reference — every solver parameter documented.
- Chapter 25 — Error Messages Reference — common errors and their resolutions.
- Realtime help — Tools and Workflow — the canonical interactive guide to the four tiers.
- Realtime help — complete topic list — all approximately 179 operational reference pages.
- Platform Reference — parser-backed catalog of every field in the IGW-NET model file format.