April 2012 Sprint Highlights

Some of the more interesting accomplishments from the April 2012 sprint:

• Fixed over 21 bugs
• Held a training course in Orem, Utah
• Completed MODFLOW SUB package to about 40%
• Added support for all file formats supported by Global Mapper
• Added dynamic online imagery via Global Mapper
• Identified the changes needed to support the SFR2 inputs used with UZF
• Switched next version number form 8.4 to 9.0
• Completed most of the work needed for PEST null space Monte Carlo support with RANDPAR
• Added the ISTCB2 option in the STR package
• Added a model checker for the SFR package
• Added an option to only save the groundwater data in the UZF package
• Added wells in the MT3D TOB package so it tracks (and we can plot) mass vs. time
• Added all array-based parameter types to the set of those that can use pilot points with PEST
• Made the gage folder in the MODFLOW solution start out collapsed by default
• Added the GMS version number to the main window title
• Renamed "Convergence Options" to "PEST ASP Package" to help identify what it is
• Switched to new round logos
• Made improvements to the pilot points, transient, and gage tutorials
• Continued improvements to the wiki

March 2012 Sprint Highlights

Some of the more interesting accomplishments from the March 2012 sprint:

• Posted GMS 8.3 beta
• Added two new videos to our YouTube channel on regional to local model conversion and contour options
• Fixed over 10 bugs
• Added a machine to help with nightly testing
• Added a few new testimonials
• Started on the PHT3D interface design
• Moved SFR outputs related to ISTCB2 to a separate CCF file so they don't get included in the flow budget.
• Fixed the Check For Updates command to warn if the maintenance has expired to avoid downloading an update that can't be used.
• PEST Null space Monte Carlo progress
• Came up with a fix for broken images when converting the wiki to OpenOffice
• Designed Global Mapper dynamic images
• Finished adding support for the MODFLOW Gage package
• Added a new Measure tool
• Added new Locate Selections and Zoom To Selections commands
• Simplified the MT3D Sink & Source Mixing Package dialog
• Enhanced the model checker and added tests for MT3D SSM, RCT and ADV packages.
• Held a training course in Mexico City
• Made several improvements to the Model Calibration tutorial
• Started splitting the Conceptual Model Approach tutorial into two
• Made exported shapefiles include a projection (.prj) file whenever the projection is not local

Training Mexico City, Mexico

A GMS training course was held from March 5-8 in Mexico City, Mexico. Alan Lemon of the GMS development team and Dr. Willis Weight of Carroll College, Montana taught the course.

The course was well attended. More than 20 people attended the course. There was a wide variety in the amount of experience with groundwater modeling. Some attendees had been building models for years, while others were relatively new to groundwater modeling. Also, the attendees came from many different backgrounds including: professors at universities, consultants, and students. Based on the comments submitted after the course, the attendees felt like they all learned something valuable that they could use in their work. Many attendees commented on how much easier it was to build models using GMS than other MODFLOW preprocessors. They appreciated using the conceptual model approach and having their data independent of a MODFLOW grid.

Thanks to Jorge Chipres and Catalina Morato for their efforts in organizing the course.

Exporting 3D Grids to Shapefiles

In GMS 8.2 we added the ability to export a 3D grid to a shapefile. All layers of the grid are exported, along with the active data set and the grid cell activity (IBOUND) and data set activity (dry cells) if they exist. Here is the list of the attributes that get exported:

• cell ID
• cell I
• cell J
• cell K
• grid cell activity
• active scalar data set values
• active data set activity (if it exists)

A simple definition query using the grid cell activity and K fields can be created in ArcMap to see one layer of the grid at a time. For example, the following figure shows the head solution on the third layer of the grid from the lake package tutorial as a shapefile in ArcMap.

MODFLOW-NWT Interface

With the release this week of GMS 8.2, GMS includes support for MODFLOW-NWT including the UPW package and NWT solver. Compiled versions of the MODFLOW-NWT executable are included with the GMS installer, including versions for 64 bit and double precision. A new tutorial covering the NWT interface has been added and is included in the tutorial installer and is also available via the learning center.

February 2012 Sprint Highlights

Some of the more interesting accomplishments from the February 2012 sprint:

• Released GMS 8.2
• Finished GMS 8.3 beta
• Flow vector calculations are now velocity vectors
• Design for MODFLOW-CDSS
• Gage package progress
• PEST Null space Monte Carlo progress
• Fixed over 36 bugs
• Created GUI tests for the MNW2 package, FEMWATER transport tutorial, Map -> 3D scatter, 2D Scatter -> 3D Scatter and other features
• Progress on MODFLOW-LGR design
• MT3D heat transport tutorial
• Documented versions of third party software on the wiki

MODPATH Updates Coming Soon

GMS 8.2 includes improvements to the MODPATH model interface. The biggest change is that GMS saves the MODPATH files with the project, and reads the pathline solutions when reading the project. This is especially helpful for transient MODFLOW models with large grids where MODPATH can take a considerable amount of time to run. The option to run MODPATH automatically now only works for steady state models. This option is available by selecting "General Options" in the MODPATH menu. The toggle is near the bottom of the dialog.

A second added feature for GMS 8.2 is that MODPATH pathlines can now be converted to a coverage. This is available by selecting "Pathlines -> Arcs" from the MODPATH menu.

Another feature that will be coming in GMS 8.3 is that MODPATH pathline colors can be set based on the MODPATH zone code for the grid cell the path line is crossing. An example is shown in the screenshot below. For this model, each grid layer has a different MODPATH zone code, so the pathlines change color as they pass through different layers. This option will be available by selecting Display Options from the MODPATH menu and then selecting "Cell zone code" from the color popup menu.