Groundwater Vistas (GV) is a state of the art software package for 3-D groundwater flow and contaminant transport modelling, calibration and optimisation using the MODFLOW suite of codes. Widely used in the UK, GV is a pre- and post-processor for MODFLOW modelling codes, designed as a model-independent system which means that you only need to learn one software program in order to use a wide range of groundwater models.

The current release GV supports, amongst others, the following model codes:

	MODFLOW-2005	Modular three-dimensional finite-difference ground-water model
	MODPATH	A particle-tracking postprocessing code for MODFLOW
	MT3DMS	A multi-species transport model for simulation of advection, dispersion, and chemical reactions of contaminants in groundwater systems
	MODFLOWT	Modular finite-difference ground-water model for simulating three-dimensional contaminant transport
	MODFLOW-SURFACT	A three-dimensional finite-difference flow and transport program
	MODFLOW2000	Modular three-dimensional finite-difference ground-water flow model
	GFLOW	Stepwise groundwater flow modelling system suitable for modelling regional horizontal flow
	RT3D	For simulating three-dimensional, multispecies, reactive transport in groundwater
	PATH3	A general particle tracking program to help visualize transient, three-dimensional flow fields
	SEAWAT	Developed to simulate three-dimensional, variable-density, transient groundwater flow in porous media.
	PEST	A model-independent nonlinear parameter estimator

Groundwater Vistas: Groundwater Modelling Software

	Click here to download a demonstration version of Groundwater Vistas.
	Click here to purchase Groundwater Vistas software.
	Click here for groundwater modelling consultancy services

* If you purchase software from ESI, you may be eligible for a discount on training courses. Click here to view course listings.

Groundwater Vistas New Features in Version 5

There are many new features that will make GV even more powerful. Here are the most important new features!

	Import New MODFLOW2000 Files. Groundwater Vistas can now import existing MODFLOW2000 datasets for the SFR1, SFR2, HUF, ETS, DRT, and LAK3 Packages.
	New Layout View. The layout view will show you what your plot will look like on a piece of paper, allowing you to customize headers, footers, legends, etc. Each figure will show up as a tab along the right side of the Groundwater Vistas window. To see the figure, simply click on the tab. You can also embed charts, logos, and custom graphics in the layout.
	Model Reports. A number of detailed reports can be written for calibration, mass balance, dry cell locations, etc. There are also custom reports in Microsoft RTF format where you can embed codes that are automatically replaced with descriptive information about the model.
	Run Log and Notes. Groundwater Vistas 5 can automatically create a run log every time you run your model. This report conforms with ASTM standards and can be customized by the user. You may also associate an external document with your Vistas design to record notes and observations about your modelling effort.
	Huge Transient Runs. One limitation Groundwater Vistas has had in the past is with large transient models. The problem as been the amount of memory required to store all of the recharge and ET data for each stress period. A new caching scheme now allows you to store this data on disk, making it possible to work on very large transient runs.
	Custom Contour Levels. You may now define the specific contours you want for each data type (head, drawdown, concentration)
	Easier Boundary Condition Editing. Groundwater Vistas has always had the ability to perform complex edits of boundary conditions. Now there are additional tools for quick editing that is more intuitive.
	Custom Output Control. There is more control over what to save and when in the MODFLOW output control file, including use of the new DDREFERENCE flag in MODFLOW2000/2005 which allows drawdown to be computed based on any time step GWM Optimization Model. Groundwater Vistas 5 continues to support SOMOS, MGO2003, Brute Force, and MODOFC. GWM is a new optimization model based on MODFLOW2000. GMS and Visual MODFLOW Import. GV has always been able to import GMS and VM runs but usually some edits needed to be made outside of Groundwater Vistas prior to the import of these files. Groundwater Vistas 5 now simplifies the import of GMS and VM so that no editing is required.
	Unsaturated Zone Flow (UZF) Package. MODFLOW2005 has a new runoff/recharge/et package tha includes the effects of flow through the unsaturated zone. Groundwater Vistas 5 fully supports the UZF Package.
	Lake Spreadsheets. Data entry for the Lake Package has been simplified so that most data can be entered on spreadsheets. Drawing Elements. You may now draw shapes within Groundwater Vistas to augment the digitized base maps. You may also import bitmaps such as charts and pictures to overlay on the model or on the layouts.
	Change Boundary Types. Boundary conditions can now be changed from one type to another (e.g. change constant heads to rivers) on the fly.
	Editing & Selecting Analytic Elements. There are many new ways of selecting analytic elements for copy/paste and delete.
	New Analytic Elements. Polyline and polygon analytic elements have been added for use with most boundary types

Groundwater Vistas Advanced Version: Groundwater Modelling Software

The Advanced (stochastic) version of Groundwater Vistas provides the ideal groundwater risk assessment tool. Groundwater Vistas is the first modelling environment for the MODFLOW family of models that allows for the quantification of uncertainty. Advanced Groundwater Vistas includes Monte Carlo versions of MODFLOW, MODPATH and MT3D , Geostatistical Simulators SWIFT support and more. Specifically it adds to the Standard version:

	Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis,
	SWIFT support,
	Recharge/ET memory compression for large transient models,
	Support for the HUF Package in MODFLOW2000/2005 and PEST SVDAssist capabilities.

Groundwater Vistas Enterprise Version: Groundwater Modelling Software

The Enterprise version of Groundwater Vistas includes everything in the Advanced version plus two additional features;

	GW3D for 3D Visualization that works seamlessly with Groundwater Vistas
	one license of the Remote Model Launch feature which can launch MODFLOW, MODPATH, and MT3DMS over a network on another workstation.

Existing Vistas users can purchase the GW3D and Remote Model Launch features separately.

GW3D is a program that works with Groundwater Vistas (GV) to view groundwater models in three dimensions. GW3D is designed to view the model domain, boundary conditions, aquifer properties, and model results. It is not designed to view general hydrogeological data. GW3D is based on the USGS program called Model Viewer (Hsieh & Winston 2002), which has been extensively modified to interface with GV and also the make it easier to use. Many enhancements have also been added.

Remote Model Launch allows you to create your own simple super-computer using Groundwater Vistas. ESI’s Remote Launch technology allows you to run many models simultaneously when running Automated Sensitivity Analysis and Monte Carlo simulations. Remote Launch must be purchased separately unless you have the Enterprise Version of Vistas.

Please contact ESI (01743 276100 / email) for more information on "Groundwater Vistas" groundwater modelling software.

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