Resource-at-a-glance
- Users' Manual (this document) — 29 chapters teaching the conceptual framework. Use when learning.
- Realtime Help — approximately 179 operational reference pages keyed to specific dialogs and features. Use for field-by-field operational lookup.
- Platform Reference — parser-backed catalog of model file fields. Use when you need to understand a specific field.
- Quick Tutorials — 28 step-by-step walkthroughs. Use when you want to work through a complete example.
- Concept Pages — cross-cutting conceptual explanations. Use when a concept spans multiple parts of the interface.
- Case Studies — Mancelona TCE plume and Barron Lake coupled lake-aquifer. Use when you want to see the platform on real problems.
- Video Tutorials — visual walkthroughs. Use when you learn better by watching.
- Observatory — ecosystem context (approximately 43 countries, approximately 143 cities). Use for strategic context about MAGNET4WATER.
- Global Model Network — published models as learning examples. Use for seeing real models in practice.
- Support — thumbs-down feedback within the app, community forums, direct support channels.
26.1 Which Resource for Which Question
Decide which resource to consult based on the kind of question you have.
26.1.1 The decision table
| Your question | Best resource |
|---|---|
| How does feature X work conceptually? Why does it exist? How does it connect to other features? | Users' Manual — Parts I-III (teaching chapters) |
| What does button X do? What values does field Y accept? What's the exact effect of checking this box? | Realtime Help — the page for that specific dialog/feature |
| What does field Z mean in the model file? What's its format? What gotchas apply? | Platform Reference — parser-backed field catalog |
| How do I set up a complete workflow from scratch? Can I see every step? | Quick Tutorials — pick the tutorial for your workflow |
| A concept seems to cross several features — what's the unifying framework? | Concept Pages — cross-cutting explanations |
| How would the platform handle a real, complicated, published problem? | Case Studies — Mancelona TCE or Barron Lake |
| I want to see someone do this on video. | Video Tutorials |
| Where does IGW-NET fit in the MAGNET4WATER ecosystem? What other platforms are there? | Observatory and main MAGNET4WATER site |
| I need to report a bug or request help with something specific. | Support channels — §26.6 |
26.1.2 The three-layer documentation system
For technical questions about fields and values, the three-layer system from Ch. 22 §22.5.4 applies:
- Users' Manual — conceptual teaching, workflow context
- Platform Reference — field-by-field parser-backed detail
- Parser (code) — executable authoritative truth
Most users need only the first two. The parser itself is for developers, advanced troubleshooters, and reviewers verifying documentation accuracy.
26.2 Documentation Pillars
The three primary documentation pillars serve coordinated functions.
26.2.1 The Users' Manual (this document)
What it is: 29 chapters organized into 5 parts. Part I (Getting Started) orients new users; Part II (Core Workflow) covers the baseline modeling workflow; Part III (Advanced Features) covers specialized topics (transient, layering, particles, transport, nesting, surface water, coupled lakes, watershed, T-PROGS, calibration, stochastic, MODFLOW integration); Part IV (Reference Catalogs) catalogs the menus, fields, Data Center, solver options, and error messages; Part V (this part) covers resources, learning paths, glossary, and collaborative workflows.
When to use: Learning a new feature or workflow. Understanding why something works a specific way. Planning a modeling project by understanding what capabilities exist. Looking up cross-cutting topics that span multiple interface elements.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/magnet/igwnet/users-manual/
26.2.2 Realtime Help
What it is: approximately 179 operational reference pages, each keyed to a specific dialog, button, or feature. Each page describes exactly what a specific interface element does, what values it accepts, and its immediate effect.
When to use: While working on a model and you need to know what a specific field does or what a specific dialog controls. Short, focused questions about operational specifics.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/magnet/docs/igwnet/realtime-help/ — plus direct links from within the IGW-NET interface (context-sensitive help buttons open the relevant realtime help page). A complete topic list is at realtime-help/complete-help-topics-list.
26.2.3 Platform Reference
What it is: parser-backed catalog of every field IGW-NET's model files use. Organized by the seven field categories (Geometry & Grid, Aquifer Properties, Boundaries/Zones/Features, Simulation & Solver, Transport & Biochemistry, Surface Water & Display, Enum Catalogs). Every field documented with format, valid values, gotchas, and cross-references.
When to use: Understanding what a specific field in the model file means. Debugging by inspecting model-file contents. Writing scripts that generate or analyze IGW-NET models. Verifying that documentation matches the parser's behavior.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/magnet/igwnet/users-manual/
26.2.4 Reference relationship
Resource Organized by Reading pattern
Users' Manual
Modeling workflow and concepts
Narrative; read chapters sequentially for learning, jump for reference
Realtime Help
Interface elements (dialogs, buttons, fields)
Single-page lookup; direct link from interface
Platform Reference
Model file field categories
Single-page reference; anchor-link to specific fields
26.3 Interactive Learning Resources
Beyond the reference pillars, interactive learning resources let you work through complete examples and explore specific concepts.
26.3.1 Quick Tutorials — 28 step-by-step walkthroughs
What they are: 28 complete tutorials, each covering one specific workflow from setup to analysis. Step-by-step instructions with screenshots; self-contained (you can start from any tutorial without doing prior ones).
Tutorial topics:
- Foundational (1-9): Steady 2D Flow, Nested Modeling, Particle Tracking, Water Balance, Contaminant Transport, Vertical Dynamics, Transient Modeling, Calibration, Synthetic Model
- Intermediate (10-14): Aquifer Layers, Model Hierarchy, Profile Modeling, Import Shapefiles, Post Analysis
- Stochastic & Calibration (15-19): Stochastic Flow, Monte Carlo Flow, MC Transport, Probabilistic Capture, Auto Parameter Estimation
- Specialized (20-28): Theis Solution, Unstructured Grid Setup, Unstructured Grid Results, MODFLOW Analysis Tool, T-PROGS 3D Geologic Model, 3D Flow Visualization, 3D Point Data Analysis, DataNET GW Model, Data Processing Regression
When to use: Learning a new workflow by doing. Verifying a setup pattern. Following along when you have a similar problem of your own.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/magnet/docs/igwnet/quick-tutorials/ — the index page lets you browse by topic or sequence.
26.3.2 Concept Pages
What they are: cross-cutting conceptual explanations for features that span multiple parts of the interface. Short, focused, and conceptually dense.
Concept topics include:
- Auto-detected transport (when transport activates automatically)
- Fallback vs spatial values (how constant-value fields interact with Data Center rasters)
- Manning's n watershed-only (when Manning matters vs when it's stored-but-inactive)
- Stream vs drainage precedence (how Level-2 explicit streams interact with DEM-as-drain)
- Sublayers vs layers (the layer-vs-sublayer distinction for vertical discretization)
- Submodel boundary precedence (how nested-model BCs override parent defaults)
- Surface drainage as wetland predictor (using DEM-as-drain discharge as a wetland indicator)
- Naming gotchas (field names that look similar but mean different things)
When to use: When you understand a feature operationally but want the conceptual picture of how it fits with related features. Particularly useful when something surprising happens that suggests you're missing a conceptual connection.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/magnet/docs/igwnet/concepts/
26.3.3 Video tutorials
What they are: visual walkthroughs of workflows, presented as video content accessible through the HSA Video Tools.
When to use: When you learn better by watching than by reading. For workflow demonstrations where the interactive nature of the interface is important to see in motion.
Where to find: accessible through Tools → HSA Video Tools, and documented at the realtime help page hsa-video-tools.
26.4 Real-World Examples — Case Studies
Case studies show IGW-NET working on actual published problems, not synthetic teaching examples. They demonstrate the platform's capabilities on real complexity.
26.4.1 Mancelona TCE plume
What it is: A contaminated groundwater case from Mancelona, Michigan. TCE (trichloroethylene) contamination from a former industrial site with decades of plume development. The case study walks through setup with T-PROGS heterogeneous K, transient transport, calibration against observed TCE concentrations, and probabilistic capture zone analysis for affected wells.
What it demonstrates: integration of multiple advanced features — Ch. 12 transport, Ch. 17 T-PROGS, Ch. 18 calibration, Ch. 19 stochastic — on a real regulatory-relevant problem.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/magnet/docs/igwnet/case-studies/mancelona-tce-plume
26.4.2 Barron Lake coupled lake-aquifer model
What it is: A coupled lake-aquifer case from Barron Lake. Demonstrates the Level-3 surface-water representation (Ch. 14) — two-way coupling between the lake and the aquifer with full lake water balance, transient stage, and seepage exchange.
What it demonstrates: integration of Ch. 14 surface water as BC, Ch. 15 coupled lake-aquifer, and real data on lake stage and groundwater interaction.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/magnet/docs/igwnet/case-studies/barron-lake-coupled-model
26.5 The Observatory and Global Model Network
IGW-NET is part of the MAGNET4WATER ecosystem. The Observatory and Global Model Network connect individual modeling work to the broader platform.
26.5.1 The MAGNET4WATER Observatory
What it is: the integrated information layer of the MAGNET4WATER ecosystem. Covers water resources globally — spanning approximately 43 countries and approximately 143 cities with integrated datasets, published models, and workflow examples. The Observatory provides the "situational awareness" context for anyone working with MAGNET4WATER's water modeling platforms.
When to use: Understanding how IGW-NET fits in the broader ecosystem. Finding datasets and published work for your region. Getting oriented before starting a model in a new area.
Where to find: https://www.magnet4water.net/observatory (accessible from the MAGNET4WATER main site).
26.5.2 The Global Model Network
What it is: a collection of published IGW-NET models spanning different regions, scales, and problem types. Each published model can be loaded, inspected, and used as a starting template for similar problems.
When to use: Looking for an example model in your region or problem type. Seeing how experienced modelers structured a specific kind of problem. Publishing your own completed models for others to learn from.
Where to find: models are discoverable through the Observatory and through the IGW-NET interface (Utilities → Model Publishing opens the interface for discovery and publishing). Chapter 29 covers the publishing workflow in depth.
26.5.3 The five-platform ecosystem
IGW-NET is one of the five platforms that together form MAGNET4WATER:
| Platform | Focus |
|---|---|
| IGW-NET | Groundwater modeling (this manual's subject) |
| SwaNET | Surface water / watershed modeling — IGW-NET's complement for SW-GW coupling (Ch. 16) |
| StormNET | Stormwater modeling |
| ConduitNET | Piped flow network modeling |
| DataNET | Data services platform — feeds all four modeling platforms with spatial data |
Most IGW-NET users focus on groundwater modeling and don't directly use the other platforms. But understanding the ecosystem helps when questions arise about watershed inputs (SwaNET handshaking, Ch. 16 §16.6) or data services (DataNET, Ch. 23 §23.7).
26.6 Getting Support
When documentation doesn't answer your question, several support channels are available.
26.6.1 Within-app feedback
Every page in the documentation ecosystem includes thumbs-up/thumbs-down feedback buttons. Use thumbs-down to flag pages that are unclear, incomplete, wrong, or missing information. Comments can accompany the feedback. The documentation team reviews feedback regularly and updates pages based on user input.
This is the lightest-weight feedback path — use it often when something could be clearer.
26.6.2 Community forums and discussion
IGW-NET users help each other through community forums. Common uses:
- Asking workflow questions that aren't answered in the docs
- Sharing model setups and getting feedback
- Discussing best practices for specific problem types
- Finding collaborators
Community forums are accessible through the main MAGNET4WATER site.
26.6.3 Direct support
For bugs, platform issues, or questions that need direct team attention, contact the MAGNET4WATER support team through the contact channels on the main site. When reporting bugs, include:
- What you were trying to do
- What you expected to happen
- What actually happened
- A model file or reproduction steps if possible
- Any error messages you saw
The triage guide in Ch. 25 can help you determine whether an issue is a platform bug or a configuration issue — for configuration issues, the docs usually have the answer; for real bugs, direct support is the right channel.
Related references
- Chapter 27 — Learning Paths → — next chapter. Curated learning sequences for different user types.
- Chapter 28 — Glossary — terminology reference.
- Chapter 29 — Collaborative Workflows — Observatory integration and Global Model Network publishing.
- All IGW-NET documentation — the main docs index.
- Realtime help — complete topic list.
- Platform Reference.
- Quick Tutorials index.
- Concept Pages.
- Case Studies.