Visual MODFLOW Flex - Groundwater Flow & Contaminant Transport Modeling

LATEST RELEASE

What's New in Visual MODFLOW Flex 11.0

Major enhancements to model import, data operations, boundary conditions, and overall performance.

Model Import

Model import has been significantly improved in Visual MODFLOW Flex 11.0. Flex now internally uses the FloPy Python library to perform model import, allowing for more types of models to be imported and greater flexibility during model import.

MODFLOW-6 & SEAWAT Import

MODFLOW-6 models (unstructured and structured) and SEAWAT models can now be imported directly.

Unstructured Grid Import

Unstructured grids (in DISV format) associated with MODFLOW-6 models can now be imported.

Flexible Import

Individual model elements such as cell-by-cell flow properties, boundary conditions, initial heads, solvers, and output control settings can be selected or deselected during import.

Mid-Workflow Import

Flow properties (hydraulic conductivity and storage) and boundary conditions (RCH, EVT, CHD, RIV, DRN, GHB) can be imported separately from the import workflow step.

Data Operations

TIN Surfaces

Import TINs from point shapefiles (.shp) and Triangle .node or .ele files
Generate TINs from existing point data using linear or kriging interpolation
Generate TINs from model layers
Use TINs to define model horizons and boundary condition parameters
Use TINs in the expression builder of other data objects

Export Capabilities

Recharge and Evapotranspiration boundary conditions as shapefiles
Surfaces and TINs as point shapefiles
TINs as polygons
Water table output as shapefile contours or surface

Boundary Conditions & Properties

Inactive Transport Areas (ICBUND for MT3D-MS, RT3D, SEAWAT)
Schedule Editor for transient boundary condition data
Recharge/EVT assigned to specified layers with RCHOP = 2, NEVTOP = 2
Specified Flux BCs translated to WEL package for MODFLOW-6

WHY CHOOSE FLEX

Why Choose Visual MODFLOW Flex?

Build models faster and more efficiently. Handle complex geology. Visualize results with stunning 3D graphics. Manage multiple scenarios—all in one environment.

Build Models Faster

Model inputs and grid design updated at any point as objectives change
Workflow-driven intuitive GUI: see current, completed, and remaining steps
GIS-based 3D conceptual and numerical modeling in a single environment
Eliminates costly 3rd party pre-processing tools and transfer errors

Build Complex Credible Models

Handle vast quantities of detailed, high resolution data
Simulate large and complex regional-scale groundwater systems
Visualize model data alongside raw GIS field data in 3D
Easy side-by-side comparisons of multiple modeling scenarios

Powerful Data Visualization

State-of-the-art 2D, 3D and multi-view (FlexViewer) displays
Cut-away and cross-sectional views inside your model
3D animations and movies for reports or the web
Isolines, contours, pathlines and draped raster imagery

Manage Multiple Models

Manage multiple scenarios in a single project
Direct visual and numerical comparisons between scenarios
Generate multiple models in parallel for evaluating alternatives
Calculate head differences between runs with same or different grids

Full GIS Integration

Quick data importing of all common file types and formats
Automatic coordinate system and units conversion on import
Automatic data validation and intelligent error checking
Define boundaries, property zones, and conditions from GIS data

Integrated Conceptual & Numerical Modeling

Seamless transition from raw data through conceptualization to numerical model
Define complex geology using borehole logs and cross-sections
Run, analyze, and validate results with raw data in 2D, 3D, and cross-section
Create multiple conceptualizations and grid scenarios in parallel

GRID OPTIONS

Flexible Grid Options

Experiment with different grid types and choose the one that gives you the best, most stable model. Supports structured and unstructured grids for a wide range of applications.

Structured Finite Difference

Model domain divided into layers, rows, and columns
Variable widths of columns and lengths of rows
Three vertical discretization types: Deformed, Uniform, Semi-Uniform

QuadTree Grid (Q-Grid)

Unstructured Control Volume Finite Difference grid
Refinements by recursively bisecting cells in areas of interest
Supports MODFLOW-USG for improved accuracy

Voronoi Grid (V-Grid)

Refinements using Voronoi tessellation in areas of interest
Nested child grids for local refinement (MODFLOW-LGR)
Side-by-side grid comparisons in 2D or 3D

USE CASES

Applications

Visual MODFLOW Flex supports a wide range of groundwater modeling applications across environmental engineering, mining, and water resource management.

Well Capture Zones

Delineate well capture zones for domestic water supply development and wellhead protection.

Mine Dewatering

Design and optimize pumping well locations for mine dewatering projects.

Contaminant Fate & Risk

Determine contaminant fate and exposure pathways for risk assessment.

Surface–Groundwater Interactions

Simulate surface water–groundwater interactions for integrated watershed analysis.

Watershed & ASR

Watershed scale/regional groundwater modeling, and aquifer storage and recovery (ASR).

Remediation Systems

Evaluate groundwater remediation systems (pump and treat, funnel and gate, etc.).

Saltwater Intrusion

Evaluate saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers using variable-density flow simulation.

MODFLOW ENGINES

Supported Engines & Utilities

A comprehensive set of tools for addressing water quality, groundwater supply, and source water protection initiatives.

Engine / Utility	Description
MODFLOW-2000, 2005, NWT	Worldwide standard for simulating groundwater flow.
MODFLOW-6	The updated core version of MODFLOW – supports structured and unstructured grids, flow and transport modeling.
MODFLOW-USG	Control volume Finite Difference version of MODFLOW that uses unstructured grids.
MODFLOW-LGR	Shared-node local grid refinement (LGR) for regional-local scale simulations.
MODFLOW-SURFACT*	Enhanced simulations of complex saturated/unsaturated subsurface flow and transport processes.
MODPATH	Standard utility for forward and reverse particle tracking.
MOD-PATH3DU**	Advanced utility for forward and reverse particle tracking.
Zone Budget	Standard package for sub-regional water budget calculations.

* MODFLOW-SURFACT is a proprietary version of MODFLOW, developed by HydroGeoLogic, Inc. (HGL). A demo version is included with Visual MODFLOW Flex. The full version is available as an add-on.
** Distributed separately and available for download by registering at the MOD-PATH3DU website.

PACKAGES

MODFLOW Packages

Comprehensive package support for groundwater flow, boundary conditions, solvers, and contaminant transport simulation.

Groundwater Flow Packages

BAS – Basic Package
DIS – Discretization (structured grids)
DISU – Discretization (unstructured, MODFLOW-USG)
DISV – Discretization by Vertices (MODFLOW-6)
BCF – Block Centered Flow
LPF – Layer Property Flow
HUF – Hydrogeologic Unit Flow
UPW – Upstream Weighting Flow
NPF – Node Property Flow
STO – Storage
IC – Initial Conditions

Boundary Condition Packages*

RIV – River package
CHD – Constant-Head boundary
DRN – Drain package
WEL – Well package
LAK – Lake Package
EVT – Evapotranspiration
SFR – Streamflow-Routing
RCH – Recharge
FHB – Flow and Head boundary
MNW1/2 – Multinode Well
HFB – Horizontal Flow Barrier
UZF – Unsaturated Zone Flow
RSF** – Recharge Seepage Face
TMP** – Time-Varying Material Properties

Solver Packages*

GMG – Geometric Multigrid Solver
NWT – Newton-Raphson Solver
PCG – Pre-conditioned Conjugate Gradient
SAMG – Algebraic Multi-Grid Solver
SIP – Strongly Implicit Solver
WHS – Waterloo Hydrogeologic Solver (Bi-CGSTAB)
SMS – Sparse Matrix Solver (MODFLOW-USG)
IMS – Iterative Matrix Solution (MODFLOW-6)

Transport Engines

MT3DMS – Multi-species solute transport (advection, dispersion, sorption, reactions)
MODFLOW-6 – Integrated transport modeling
MODFLOW-SURFACT* – Saturated/unsaturated flow and transport
SEAWAT – Variable-density flow with solute and heat transport
RT3D – Multi-species reactive solute transport

* Not all packages/solvers are available with every groundwater flow engine. Please refer to the Visual MODFLOW Flex documentation for details.
** Package available in MODFLOW-SURFACT only. MODFLOW-SURFACT is a proprietary version of MODFLOW, developed by HydroGeoLogic, Inc. (HGL).

CALIBRATION

Parameter Estimation & Sensitivity Analysis

Automated parameter estimation, calibration, and sensitivity analysis using the industry-standard PEST engine.

PEST Integration

With Visual MODFLOW Flex, defining PEST inputs and interpreting results are made easy with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that guides you through the PEST process from start to finish. Includes support for pilot points, various regularization options, and advanced kriging.

Automated parameter estimation
Pilot point support with advanced kriging
Sensitivity analysis and regularization options
Intuitive interface guiding the full PEST workflow

DATA IMPORT

Supported File Types

Import spatial and attribute data from a wide variety of data types.

Spatial / Vector Data

Points: .XLS, .XLSX, .TXT, .CSV, .MDB, .SHP, .DXF, .TRP
Polylines: Shapefiles (.SHP), CAD Exchange Files (.DXF)
Polygons: Shapefiles (.SHP), CAD Exchange Files (.DXF)

Raster Data

3D Surfaces: Surfer Grid (.GRD), ESRI ASCII Grid (.ASC)
3D Gridded Data: Model Outputs (.HDS, .UCN), Tecplot (.DAT)
Images/Basemaps: .BMP, .TIF, .JPG, .DXF

Time & Cross-Section Data

Time Schedules: .XLS, .XLSX, .TXT, .CSV, .MDB
Cross-Sections: Hydro GeoAnalyst (.3XS)
Wells: Vertical and non-vertical wells (.XLSX, .CSV)

TIN & Surface Data

Import TINs: Point shapefiles (.SHP), Triangle .node/.ele files
Export: Shapefiles, surface contours, polygon TINs
Generate: TINs from point data or model layers

GET STARTED

Get Started With Visual MODFLOW Flex

Join thousands of environmental professionals who trust Visual MODFLOW Flex for their groundwater modeling needs. Download a free trial today or contact us for a quote.

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