Aquaveo & Water Resources Engineering News

Reliable Grid Conversion with the Voronoi UGrid from UGrid Tool

By aquaveo on October 22, 2024

Did you realize while planning your Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) project that a different unstructured grid (UGrid) would be a better fit? UGrids are very flexible and can be refined around streams, wells, basins, and other objects. But sometimes, one type of UGrid may fit better than another for a particular project. The Voronoi UGrid is one of the more flexible types of UGrids available in GMS. The Voronoi UGrid from UGrid Tool in the Toolbox is there to help convert a UGrid into a Voronoi UGrid.

For most UGrids, the attributes and boundary conditions assigned are associated with the edges, points, and nodes, all on the outer edges of the cells. For a Voronoi UGrid, those things are associated with the point at the center of the cell.

Example of a Voronoi grid

If your model is fairly straight-forward, has structured boundaries or rectangular domains, UGrids with rectangular cells might still be the better choice. Or, if you require computational efficiency, the Voronoi UGrid may not be your best choice. However, if those are not considerations, then using the Voronoi UGrid from UGrid Tool may be a good option for you.

With a Voronoi UGrid, you get even greater flexibility to refine around irregular boundaries thus improving your groundwater model’s accuracy. The cells of the Voronoi UGrid are created with an algorithm that depends solely on the geometry of the points, arcs, and polygons in the active coverage. Voronoi UGrid cells can have more sides (up to eight) than just the three or four sides allowed in most other UGrids. Therefore, it can fit into the boundaries of a model and be refined along arcs and at points much more accurately.

You will find the Voronoi UGrid from UGrid Tool in the Unstructured Grid folder of the Toolbox. The Voronoi UGrid from UGrid Tool only needs the input UGrid and a name for the new Voronoi UGrid it will generate. There are some limitations to the tool. Conversions may not occur if any created final cells would have more than 8 edges. The UGrid being converted must contain only 2D cells. And there can also be no disjoint regions where cells aren’t connected to the rest of the UGrid.

Head on over to GMS to see if the Voronoi UGrid from UGrid tTool will help your model!

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GMS

Benefits of 3D Structures

By aquaveo on October 15, 2024

Does your Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) project require simulating the effects of bridges or culverts? For some time we have had the capacity to simulate these structures in 2D or 1D for use with numeric models such as SRH-2D and TUFLOW. More recently, we have added the ability to create and insert these structures in 3D thus improving your modeling capabilities and visualization options.

When running a model, having a bridge or other structure in the model can change the results of the model run. 3D structures provide more detail for how the structure will fit into the landscape. SMS allows the creation of the structure and inserting it into the 2D model, so you can see how and where it fits into the project. This potentially makes for a more accurate model. Furthermore, an unstructured grid of the 3D structure can be generated to visually show how the structure fits into your model..

3D structure example

Currently, SMS has the ability to create two kinds of 3D structures: bridges and culverts. It can also customize each one to include multiple configurations. 3D structures provide extra flexibility in the simulation, such as being able to have variations in the bridge ceiling along the entire width, which can match the reality of bridge structures much more closely. Your model can also include more than one 3D structure and a mix of types of structures as well. But note, multiple 3D structures could slow down your simulation. Currently, 3D structures can only work with SRH-2D models.

Creating a 3D structure will also automate some things you would have likely needed to do manually beforehand, like create the voids necessary for piers and walls. This reduces the potential for errors that manual void creation can have and improves the reliability of the model.

The 3D structure can be used as part of an observation plot and can also generate a new dataset for the maximum water surface elevation (ceiling elevation) in the model. Overtopping is, of course, included, as well as pressure flow through the culvert or under the bridge.

Head on over to SMS and see how adding 3D structures can improve your project today.

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SMS

Incorporating Inline Steering in CMS

By aquaveo on October 8, 2024

Are you wanting to internally couple a CMS-Wave model with your CMS-Flow model? The Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) offers the Inline Steering Model Control option, which allows CMS-Flow steering using CMS-Wave data. The steering is controlled by the CMS-Flow model executable and not SMS. The steering tool is useful in facilitating the process of launching models multiple times. Furthermore, the steering module automates repetitive user tasks. Using the steering tool for CMS will enable data sharing between circulation and wave propagation numerical models.

Example of CMS inline steering

In SMS version 12.1 and later the Inline Steering option is reached by going to the CMS-Flow Model Control dialog:

  1. Build and run a successful CMS-Wave model.
  2. Right-click on the CMS-Flow simulation in the Project Explorer and select Model Control.
  3. Select the Wave tab and select the Inline steering option under the drop-down in the Wave information heading.
  4. Import the specific CMS-Wave solution file.
  5. Enter the inline steering value.

Coupling of models is an efficient and accurate means of calculating wave-driven currents, setup and setdown, and wave-current interaction in nearshore regions, including tidal inlets. In SMS version 12.0 and earlier the steering tool can also be used to facilitate the transfer of data from wave models to circulation models and back. In versions 12.1 and later, the CMS-Flow Model Control is used for steering.

When using Inline Steering, it is necessary to build a CMS-Wave model prior to incorporating any data into CMS-Flow. Following that, it is then possible to build a model in CMS-Flow using the stored data and solution files. If you encounter problems with the CMS-Flow simulation results, and notice that neighboring outputs are not quite right, check the Steering Interval option in the CMS-Flow Model Control Dialog. If this option has a number less than 0.25 inputted, it causes problems as there is no proper indication for CMS-Flow to include CMS-Wave solutions in its calculations. To fix this, set the steering interval to a number greater than zero, and the CMS-Flow simulation should respond to the CMS-Wave inputs.

Try Inline Steering for your CMS-Flow models in SMS today!

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SMS

How to Prioritize Interpolating Multiple Rasters

By aquaveo on October 1, 2024

Do you have a project requiring multiple elevation rasters that are difficult to reconcile with each other? To manage the rasters, and get the best data for your project, our Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) has many tools in the Toolbox to help. One of these, the Interpolate Priority Rasters tool, gives you the ability to prioritize the elevation data from each raster.

When multiple rasters are interpolated to the geometry, multiple datasets will be created, one for each raster. A raster catalog can help consolidate this information but it doesn’t prioritize data. With the Interpolate Priority Rasters tool, you can specify exactly which raster takes precedence first, second, and so on. It will create one dataset that contains all the prioritized information. This ensures that the information most important to your model can be retained and used.

Multiple overlapping rasters

Rasters downloaded from separate sources, or from the same database but at differing times, can contain discrepancies in the data. When the rasters overlap, those differences can create problems with the model. If major discrepancies exist, some of the other tools in the Toolbox can help correct them before using the Interpolate Priority Rasters tool.

In GMS, the Interpolate Priority Raster tool can be used with both 2D and 3D UGrid geometries. All that is needed for this tool is a geometry selected, a dataset used to provide default values for interpolation, a method for interpolation, and the selected rasters placed in the order of priority. Once run, a new dataset is created with the integrated data. If the new dataset is meant to be the elevation of the target geometry, you will need to map it manually because it will not be done automatically, but you will have an interpolated raster that is consistent across the model.

Head on over to GMS and try the Interpolate Priority Rasters tool in your models.

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GMS

Announcing WMS 11.3 Beta!

By aquaveo on September 24, 2024

We are pleased to announce the release of WMS 11.3 in beta! Our developers have been working on several updates to the Watershed Modeling System (WMS). They have added some new features and improved the functionality of others. We'll highlight a few of them here.

GSSHA Permafrost

We are pleased to share that we have now added the ability to model permafrost regions with the GSSHA numeric model in WMS 11.3. With the addition of permafrost options to GSSHA models, your. Permafrost parameters can be defined and set under the GSSHA menus, Job Control and Map Tables. Also when you select a Feature Point/Node and right-click on it and select Attributes to open the Properties dialog. Output graphs and reports on soil temperatures can be generated for further analysis.

Permafrost options in WMS 11.3 beta
Feature Objects Clean Option Updates

We have made several improvements and updates to the Clean Option in our Feature Objects menu. Our developers have improved the cleaning algorithm, so that it is now significantly faster on large coverages. This will improve the efficiency of your model runs.

The Clean Option user interface has also been completely updated. It has the same functionality as the old interface but it now contains more options giving you more flexibility. You can choose to clean all feature objects or only selected ones. You can also now choose to do a full clean on feature objects, or only selected types of clean up.

Search Box for Recent Files

We have also added a search box to the Recent Files dialog. WMS shows the 5 most recent projects you have worked on when you click on File. When you click "More…" below that list of five projects, the dialog that comes up now includes a search box at the top. Rather than scrolling through the list of recent projects, you can now use the search box to find your modeling project more quickly.

These are only some of the great new and updated features in WMS 11.3 beta. Head on over to Aquaveo and try out the WMS 11.3 beta today!

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WMS

Discover the Map Activity Tools in SMS

By aquaveo on September 17, 2024

Aquaveo’s Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) comes equipped with various tools that streamline the water modeling process. In this collection, the Map Activity and Map Activity to UGrid features in the toolbox allow you to precisely define active and inactive areas of a grid or dataset. Some models and processes depend on being told which areas are active for which purpose these tools have been included.

The tools Map Activity and Map Activity to UGrid are located in the software Toolbox in the Datasets folder and Unstructured Grids folder, respectively. Both will create a new object based on the defined activity: either a new dataset or a new unstructured grid (UGrid).

The Map Activity tool has the ability to choose the activity dataset that will define the values for the new dataset using the Value dataset option, and the ability to choose the dataset that will define the activity for the new dataset using the Activity dataset option. Once you have selected the inputs, the only thing left to do is name the new activity dataset and run the tool. The tool outputs a new dataset that displays the custom inputs in the Graphics Window.

Example of Map Activity to UGrid tool

An important step when using the Map Activity to UGrid tool is establishing the proper activity coverage that defines the active and inactive areas of the unstructured grid. Ensure that you create an “Activity Classification” coverage with defined polygons in order to run the tool successfully. Additionally, assign polygons to the coverage to enable specificity when mapping activity. This tool has the ability to choose the geometry that will define the values for the new UGrid using the Input grid option, and the ability to select the coverage that will define the activity for the new UGrid using the Activity coverage option. After selecting the inputs, you name the new activity UGrid and run the tool. As a result, the tool populates a new UGrid that displays the given dataset inputs in the Graphics Window.

Now that you’ve been introduced to the activity tools in SMS 13.3, try using them in your surface-water models today!

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SMS

Problem Solving and the Fix Layer Errors Tool

By aquaveo on September 10, 2024

When creating multilayer models, defining layer data can be challenging. This is true for cases involving embedded seams, pinchouts, and truncations. Fortunately, Ground-water Modeling System (GMS) contains a suite of tools for interpolating and manipulating layer elevation data. With the tools in GMS), even complex geologic strata can be modeled quickly and easily. When interpolating layer data for the purpose of defining MODFLOW layer elevation arrays, there are often cases where the interpolated values overlap. In some cases, the best way to fix such a problem is to experiment with the interpolation options or to create some "pseudo-points" to fill in the gaps between sparse scatter points. In other cases, the overlap may correspond to a pinchout or truncation in the layer. In such cases, the elevations need to be adjusted so that there is a small but finite thickness for all cells in the overlapping region.

The first step in fixing layer errors is to use the Model Checker to determine if elevation overlaps occur. If they do occur, the Fix Layer Errors button at the top of the Model Checker dialog can be used to bring up the Fix Layer Errors dialog. Four options are available for fixing layer errors, including Average, Preserve Top, Preserve Bottom, and Truncate to Bedrock. The Average method is useful for modeling the transition zones adjacent to embedded seams. The Preserve Top method can be used to model truncated outcroppings. With the Preserve bottom method, at each cell where an overlap is found the bottom elevation is unchanged and the top elevation is adjusted to top = bot + min thickness. The Truncate to bedrock option differs from the other methods in that it can be used to alter several layers at once.

These are hypothetical scenarios that outline problems and solutions you may encounter when using the Fix Layer Errors Tool in GMS:

Fix Layer Errors Example

You are trying to construct a UGrid model that includes refinement around streams and pumping wells with refinement reserved for the top layers, and inactive cells with a thickness of less than 10 cm.

  1. You want a UGrid that includes refinement around streams and pumping wells, yet reserved for the top layers. You get the impression that reserved refinement is achievable only by using the preserve top method.
    It is correct that the preserve top method is a way to apply refinement. The average method does not have any way to refine certain areas, unless the 2D geometry being used as the base already has that refinement. In that case, the refinement would be added to all layers. In other words, refine the 2D grid first, but use the TIN method to create the grid based on that refinement. Use your judgment on if method one works better for your elevation data.
  2. You would like all cells with a thickness of less than 10 cm to be inactivated. Yet you find that the only way to inactivate cells less than 10 cm is by using the average method.
    Using the average method and setting the minimum thickness to 0.1m ≠ inactive thin cells. It means cells less than the minimum thickness are not created. Cells are not inactivated until after a MODFLOW simulation has been added. As such, they cannot be inactivated during the creation process. If this is not the result, and there does appear to be thin cells for a TIN grid, further action would be required.

Access the latest version of GMS 10.8 to make use of the Fix Layer Errors tool today!

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GMS

Tips for Pressure Zones with Overtopping in SRH-2D Models

By aquaveo on September 3, 2024

Does your SRH-2D project have a box culvert or pressure zone with overtopping that is proving to be a bit difficult to get correct?

Box culverts or pressure zones with overtopping are common features added to many SRH-2D models. Depending on how the pressure zone is created in your Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) project, this can be a tricky process for SRH-2D to handle. Here are some steps and tips for creating this feature successfully in SMS.

1 Use Quadrilateral Elements

Create quadrilateral elements between the boundaries of the pressure zone. Using quadrilateral elements tends to increase the stability and reliability of the SRH-2D model run. Quadrilateral elements can be created in one of two ways.

The first is to create the quadrilateral elements when creating the 2D mesh. Create a polygon for the area between and around the pressure zone. Assign this polygon with the Patch mesh type in the 2D Mesh Polygon Properties dialog.

The second method is to create the quadrilateral elements directly in the mesh using the Split/Merge tool and the Switch Element tool. This can be time-consuming, so it is only recommended for small adjustments.

Box culvert example
2 Create Voids

Create voids in the mesh on either side of the pressure zone. There are two options for creating these voids, but one option seems to work better.

The first option, and the more stable one, is to create the voids on either side of the pressure zone when generating the mesh. Create the voids as polygons and assign them the None mesh type. It is generally best to make each void a quadrilateral polygon to imitate the thickness of a concrete wall or barrier.

The second option is to generate the mesh then use the Select Elements tool to select and delete the elements where the voids should be. Using this method requires renumbering the mesh nodes. There is a risk that you will not be able to delete all of the nodes related to the elements which can make your mesh unusable to SRH-2D.

3 Assign Boundary Conditions

Two arcs are needed to define the pressure zone. Each arc should be created on an SRH-2D boundary condition coverage. When creating the arcs, make certain all 2D mesh elements between the arcs are quadrilateral elements. Also, it is advisable to have at least one row of quadrilateral elements just past the downstream arc.

Once the arcs have been drawn, select both arcs and open the SRH-2D Linear BC dialog. Set both arcs to the Pressure type, making sure the correct arc ID is assigned to upstream versus downstream, and turn on the Overtopping option.

Both the boundary condition coverage and the 2D mesh can be added to your SRH-2D simulation to have a pressure zone with overtopping included in the results.

Try out adding a pressure zone in SMS today!

This post was originally published September 12, 2018.

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SMS

Build Watershed and Streams from Raster Data

By aquaveo on August 27, 2024

Delineating a watershed area into a usable model can be a daunting process. Two new tools in the Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) Toolbox make defining a watershed domain quick and easy. Introducing the Streams from Rasters and the Watershed from Rasters tools.

These two tools are found in the Coverages folder in the Toolbox.These two tools can extract data from an imported raster to automatically generate the feature objects for watershed streams and domains for your SMS model.

The first tool, Streams from Raster, will evaluate the raster elevation data, extract the direction of runoff, create connected arcs, and put it into a separate coverage for you. You’ll need a directional raster in order to run the tool.

The Streams from Raster tool will show the entire runoff flow based on elevation in the selected raster. If water starts here, then it will go in that direction until it ends up there in that stream bed. You can see and trace the most likely paths for water flow until it hits the lowest point possible for that flow path. This can help you plan where to place your stream arcs for your model.

A watershed domain created from raster data

The Watershed from Rasters tool creates a domain of the watershed area. This tool uses an amalgamation of several processes that operate in a particular order in the background as the tool runs. Several of these processes have been added to the Toolbox, including Streams from Raster, to run as separate tools, if desired. Once run, you will end up adding feature objects that define a domain to a coverage.

Then, the feature objects can be used to create a geometry (2D or 3D meshes or UGrids, etc.) of the watershed area. By using the Watershed from Raster tool, it enhances the speed at which a model can be created.

Head on over to SMS and try delineating a watershed with these new tools in your next model.

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SMS

Utilizing Contour Legends

By aquaveo on August 20, 2024

The Groundwater Modeling System (GMS) contains many tools for visualizing data. The contour visualization tools are particularly helpful in viewing solution data. With contours, GMS provides several options for how contours will be displayed, including options for the contour legend. When a legend is added to the contour display, it is not always clear what the units of the values shown in the legend are. With GMS 10.8 improvement to the Contour Legend Options allow displaying the data units with the legend.

The Contour Legend Options dialog is available for the contour dataset displayed in the Graphics Window. Accessed from the Legend Options button on the Contour Options dialog, the Contour Legend Options dialog controls the formatting and location of a displayed legend. The tool is only available if the Legend check box on the Contour Display Options Dialog is checked. This dialog includes formatting options such as a title field, a font selection button, as well as fields for height and width. Furthermore, the dialog offers location options that includes a combo box for specifying the location of the displayed legend. Visit our wiki page to view descriptions of each feature this dialog provides.

Here is a step-by-step of how to execute this feature:

  1. Select Contour Options.
  2. At the bottom of the Dataset Contour Options dialog, ensure that the Legend option is checked.
  3. Select Options in the Legend section.
  4. In the Formatting Section of the Contour Legend Options dialog, enter the respective unit keyword: "UNITS" for DS (Datasets) and "TUNITS" for (Time steps).
Contour legend options in GMS

The ability to add the unit type to the legend is a user requested feature that helps make presenting data clearer for your audience. This and other improvements are continuously being added to GMS. Head over to GMS and check out the options for legend displays and other features.

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GMS

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