Groundwater modeling using
GIS technology
Jessie Ackerman
Introduction
• Groundwater is an
important freshwater
resource
• Groundwater is held in
aquifers
• Studying groundwater is
difficult because it’s
underground
• Groundwater modeling was
developed to understand
what’s going on
• Modeling has developed as
new technologies have
developed
Purpose
• Understand how GIS is used in
groundwater modeling
• Analyze current material on topic
• Decide if GIS is useful in modeling
groundwater
Basics of groundwater
• Darcy’s Law
Q = - Ksat*A*dh/dx
• Understanding of flow
• Modeling developed
first from an
understanding of
Darcy’s
Law
Groundwater modeling
• Field data including hydrological inputs,
hydraulic parameters and initial and
boundary conditions are gathered
• Data input into modeling software
• Models can be 1-D, 2-D, semi 3-D and
3-D
1-D model
2-D model
Semi 3-D model
Integrating GIS in models
• GIS is a true 3-D model
• Hydrologists looked to
GIS to demonstrate
erosion, sediment
transport, and chemical
transport simulations
• Needed a program that
could handle lots of
data
• Need to connect
globally
Basics of GIS
• A computer system
designed to process
information with a
spatial content
dimension
• Composed of a
geographical database
and a toolkit
Modeling
with GIS
Example using GIS
technology
• Searching for suitable area to tap
aquifer near a landfill or other area of
possible contamination
• Landfill data and aquifer data input into
GIS model
• Program runs all possible situations
Work being done now using
GIS technology
• Recharge and discharge rates of
aquifers
• Used to make important decisions about
water management
• Illinois State Water Survey and
University of Illinois
Buena Vista Ground Water Basin, Wisconsin
Analysis of resources
• All but one source spoke well of using
GIS within groundwater modeling
• One source just tells hydrologists to be
wary in using only GIS software to
model groundwater
Conclusions
• Gained an understanding of how GIS is
used in groundwater modeling
• GIS is very useful in creating 3-D
models that incorporate lots of data
• The best way to know if any advanced
model is right is to go through it the long
way first than to take shortcuts