1. Groundwater modeling using GIS technology
Jessie Ackerman

2. 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

3. Purpose Understand how GIS is used in groundwater modeling
Analyze current material on topic
Decide if GIS is useful in modeling groundwater

4. Basics of groundwater Darcy’s Law Q = - Ksat*A*dh/dx
Understanding of flow
Modeling developed first from an understanding of Darcy’s Law

5. 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

6. 1-D model

7. 2-D model

8. Semi 3-D model

9. 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

10. Basics of GIS
A computer system designed to process information with a spatial content dimension
Composed of a geographical database and a toolkit

11. Modeling with GIS

12. 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

13. 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

14. Buena Vista Ground Water Basin, Wisconsin

15. 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

16. 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