ADAPTING THE ARC HYDRO DATA
MODEL AND TOOLS TO A
HYDROGEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK
KITSAP PENINSULA, KITSAP, MASON AND
PIERCE COUNTIES, WASHINGTON
Wendy Welch
PRESENTATION OUTLINE
• Background
• Research Problem
• Proposed Methods
• Geology Component
• Borehole Component
• Hydrostratigraphy Component
• Conclusion
• Projected Timeline
• Anticipated Results
• References
BACKGROUND
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROJECT S
• USGS WA Water
Science Center
• Collects statewide
hydrologic data
(surface and
groundwater data)
• Performs water
resource
investigations
(quality and
quantity)
• Work with federal,
state and local
agencies to solve
water issues
BACKGROUND
HYDROGEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK
• Definition: 3D model of the subsurface hydrogeologic units;
water bearing aquifers and confining units
• Needed for greater understanding of groundwater
characteristics and flow directions.
• Created by incorporating hydrogeologic and geologic maps,
well logs with borehole data and cross sections.
• Can be used for conceptual understanding or as input to
numerical flow and transport simulation models
BACKGROUND
CURRENT METHODS
• Surficial geologic maps compiled from variety of sources and
merged into one shapefile.
• Well data is retrieved from USGS NWIS (National Water
Information System) database
• MS Excel is used to store and manage well data
• Well data is exported to shapefile format for plotting in Arc Map
• Cross sections are made using A Prime’s CrossView in Arc
Map
• Hydrogeologic unit (HGU) assignments are made and edited in
Excel tables
• Surfaces representing the tops of each HGU are interpolated
using Spatial Analyst tools
• Final surfaces viewed in CrossView
BACKGROUND
CASE STUDY
• Kitsap GW study
• ~790 sq. miles
• 20 1:24k geologic
maps merged
• >2,000 wells with
lithologic
information
• 11 unique
hydrogeologic
units (aquifers
and confining
units)
BACKGROUND
ARC HYDRO DATA MODEL COMPONENT S
• Arc Hydro Groundwater (AHGW) is a data model and related set of
tools for managing, analyzing and visualizing groundwater
information
• Originally Arc Hydro was developed for sur face water resources.
Expanded to include groundwater data
• Gil Strassberg developed AHGW data model for doctoral studies at University of Texas
at Austin Center for Research in Water Resources
• Data model
components:
Image from Strassberg and others, 2010
BACKGROUND
ARC HYDRO GROUNDWATER TOOLS
3 Toolsets developed by Esri and Aquaveo TM that use
groundwater information from the data model as a foundation.
• Groundwater Analyst
• Import existing data into AHGW data model (geodatabase)
• Edit attributes
• Manage well data
• Subsurface Analyst
• Visualizing borehole logs
• Creating and editing cross sections
• Making 2D sections and volumes
• MODFLOW Analyst
• Create, archive and visualize MODFLOW models
* not used for this project
RESEARCH PROBLEM
NEED FOR STRUCTURE
• USGS allows for a lot of freedom for scientists to select
methods and software that are appropriate for their individual
projects.
• Benefits:
• Fosters curiosity in new technology.
• Flexibility in determining best fit.
• Challenges:
• Difficult to coordinate users if communication is limited.
• Inefficient process if individuals are researching new software
independently.
• Hard to share or incorporate data from other projects, even within one
science center if data is not managed in a universal structure
RESEARCH PROBLEM
WHY AHGW?
• Helps to standardize groundwater and hydrogeologic datasets
and maintain organization
• Geodatabase design is scalable – elements can be added or
removed but the basic structure remains
• Data model and tools work within ArcGIS - the standard GIS
software of the USGS
• Tools have 3D visualization and analytic advantages over
current methods
PROPOSED METHODS
AHGW GEODATABASE
• Geodatabase can be
imported from tool in
Groundwater Analyst
• Gdb can be customized
to meet project needs
• Coded value domains
for certain attributes
are used to increase
efficiency and maintain
integrity of data when
editing
• Features are related
using HydroID attribute
PROPOSED METHODS
GEOLOGY COMPONENT
• Geologic maps form
starting point for
hydrogeologic studies
• Represent geologic units at
land surface
• Kitsap project required
compilation and edgematching over 20 1:24,000
geologic map quadrangles
• When final shapefile of
surficial geology is
complete, data is loaded
into the GeologyArea
polygon feature class of
the AHGW geodatabase
PROPOSED METHODS
BOREHOLE COMPONENT
• B o re h oleLog t a bl e
• Represents vertical data along borehole
• Relates to HydroID of Well feature class using WellID
• Data is loaded from MS Excel into BoreholeLog table using data loader wizard
PROPOSED METHODS
HYDROSTRATIGRAPHY COMPONENT
• Hydrogeologic units
are assigned to
different elevations
along borehole.
• HGU assignments are
the basis for further
analysis and
processing
• Subsurface Analyst
tools used to create:
Image from Strassberg and others, 2010
•
•
•
•
Cross sections
Top surfaces
Fence diagrams
Volumes
CONCLUSION
PROJECTED TIMELINE
• December 2012
• Import current data into geodatabase
• January 2013
• Create cross sections and assign HGU top elevations to wells
• Interpolate HGU surfaces from tops
• February 2013
• Build 3D fence diagrams and volumes in Arc Scene
• March- April 2013
• Finalize report and presentation for Symposium
CONCLUSION
ANTICIPATED RESULT S
• Adapting a
universal system
design will:
• Improve data
management
• Increase efficiency
• Expand ability to
communicate 3D
concepts
• Presentation of
results
• WA Hydrogeology
Symposium, April
2013
REFERENCES
Jacobsen, L. J., Glynn, P. D., Phelps, G. A., Orndorff, R. C., Bawden, G. W., & Grauch, V. J. S., 2011,
Chapter 13: U.S. Geological Survey - A synopsis of three-dimensional modeling: Illinois
State Geological Survey Circular 578, p. 69-79.
Reilly, T.E., 2004, A Brief History of the contributions to ground water hydrology by the U.S.
Geological Survey. Ground Water, v. 42, no. 4, p. 625-631.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/article/groundwater/2004/vol42.html [Accessed November 21,
2012]
Strassberg, G., Jones, N.L. and Lemon, A., 2010, Arc Hydro Groundwater Data Model and Tools:
Overview and Use Cases: Aqua mundi – Journal of Water Sciences, p. 101-114.
http://www.acquesotterranee.com/rivista/arc-hydro-groundwater-data-model-and-toolsoverview-and-use-cases?language=en [Accessed October 15, 2012]
Strassberg G., Jones, N.L. and Maidment, D.R. 2011. Arc Hydro Groundwater: GIS for
Hydrogeology. ESRI Press. Redlands, CA, 160pp.
Welch, W.B., 2012, GEOG 897D Final Project; Arc Hydro Groundwater Data Model and Geodatabase
Design, The Pennsylvania State University.