Visual MODFLOW Flex 10

Visual MODFLOW Flex Improvements

PEST Workflow Improvements
Visual MODFLOW Flex includes significant upgrades to the PEST workflow:
Workflow Steps:The PEST workflow includes a number of new and improved workflow steps:
- Define Observations: add flux observations and improved usability for assigning observation groups, observations, and weights
- Define Property Parameters: add recharge (RCH), evapotranspiration (EVT), and unsaturated zone flow (UZF) property parameters to the PEST run
- Define Kriging Variograms: an optional new setting that allows PEST utilities to automatically calculate the kriging variograms based on the density of pilot points
- Select PEST Variant: you can select which variant of PEST to use (PEST v17.5, PEST_HP)
- PEST Control settings: define/edit settings for the PEST run including for the Objective Function, Parameter Updates, Iterations, Marquardt Lambda, Singular Value Decomposition, etc.
- Parameter Estimation: Stop and Restart PEST Runs

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-Support for PEST_HP:significantly speed up PEST runs by using PEST_HP, a parallelized version of PEST that can make use of multiple cores on your machine
-Support for MODFLOW-6:include structured finite difference or unstructured MODFLOW-6 flow models in a PEST workflow
-Pilot Point Interpolation:The scripts in a PEST run that link parameter updates in PEST to pilot points include several improvements:
. Pilot point interpolation makes use of the PLPROC utility for improved performance and clarity of the script files
. Optional automated calculation of the kriging variogram parameters based on the density of pilot points
-Improved Validation:Visual MODFLOW Flex includes additional checks in the PEST workflow to reduce input errors
-Observation Weights:automatically calculate observation weights so that observation groups contribute equally to the initial objective function with and without normalizing observations using the target residual
Color Handling
Visual MODFLOW Flex includes the following improvements for visualization:
-Color Ramps:objects with distributed values such as surfaces, model properties, boundary conditions, and model outputs can be rendered using predefined or custom color ramps:
. Define a list of custom, linearly distributed, logarithmically distributed, or custom values and associated colorsSelect from a list of predefined, custom, or imported color ramps
. Include optional hard breaks/color stops in a ramp to render an abrupt break in colors when values cross a specified threshold (e.g. positive/negative or above/below a regulatory limit)


-Manage Color Ramps:
. Visual MODFLOW Flex includes over a dozen predefined color ramps or you can create your own custom color rampYou can import color ramps using the color map (.clr) file format supported in other applications such as QGIS, ArcPro, and Surfer
. The project palette variables include all color fill settings including colors and values
-Project Palette:the project palette includes all value and color settings so you have more fine control over rendering
Boundary Condition and Properties
Visual MODFLOW Flex includes the following improvements for working with your models:
-MAW and MWT Package Support:Support for the multi-aquifer well (MAW) and multi-aquifer well transport (MWT) packages in MODFLOW-6 models.
. Create or import MAW/MWT wells
. Dynamically switch between supported well models (WEL/MNW1/MNW2/MAW)
. Import and edit well information including head loss, well skin, and pump constraint parameters supported in the MAW package
-Conceptual Wells:pumping wells in the unstructured grid workflow are grid-independent, conceptual, and support the WEL or MAW well model.
-Flux Observations:Support for boundary condition flux observations for unstructured grid models (MODFLOW-6 and MODFLOW-USG)
-Assign Properties:the assign properties in the unstructured grid workflow includes additional tools for setting property zones and values similar to the tools available in the workflow for structured finite difference grid models
-Layer Properties:the translation step in the unstructured grid workflow includes layer type settings for MODFLOW-USG and MODFLOW-6 models
Performance, Usability, and Other Enhancements
Visual MODFLOW Flex includes the following improvements for working with your models:
-Performance Enhancements:
. Assigning time steps to models with many stress periods Model translation for MODFLOW-6 models with many stress periods
. Converting a conceptual model to an unstructured Q-grid model with many cells
. Applying/saving changes to model properties for an unstructured grid model with many cells
- The following features can be exported from Visual MODFLOW Flex:
. Model outputs including heads, concentrations, and drawdowns as contours for unstructured grid models (MODFLOW-6 and MODFLOW-USG)boundary conditions as points or polygons for unstructured grids
. Calibration dashboard charts as images