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:

http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/modflow/MODFLOW.html

http://water.usgs.gov/nrp/gwsoftware/
Online Visual MODFLOW manual:
http://water.usgs.gov/nrp/gwsoftware/modflow2000/MFDOC/guide.html

Thank you for your attention!