Arc Hydro Groundwater Data Model

Gil Strassberg[1], David R. Maidment[2] and Norman L. Jones [3]

 

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Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Data model objectives

• Data model components

• Tools and tutorials

• Downloads

• References

• Primary Contact

 

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Introduction:

Arc Hydro is one of a number of data models developed for users of ArcGIS. Such models include transportation, geology, marine, petroleum, water utilities, and others, describing a variety of disciplines that utilize GIS technology (ESRI, 2006). The purpose of these models is to develop a set of “best practices” geodatabase designs to help users implement GIS in a productive manner and to share information within user communities (Arctur et al, 2004). Arc Hydro is a data base design for storing hydrologic geospatial and temporal information within a geographic information system. The database and accompanying toolset operate within the ArcGIS environment and are public domain. Originally, the data model focused on surface water data (Figure 1), but it became apparent that a similar model is needed for storing and sharing groundwater information.

Figure 1. The four components of the Arc Hydro framework for surface water

 

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Data model objectives:

The following objectives were defined to guide the ground water data model design:

1. The data model should support representation of regional groundwater systems.
2. The data model should support representation of site-scale groundwater systems.
3. The data model should enable the integration of surface and groundwater information (through the integration with the Arc Hydro surface water data model).
4. The data model should facilitate the extraction of archived groundwater data for use with groundwater simulation software, and will support the storage and display of solutions computed by groundwater simulation models.

 

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Data model components:

Rather than trying to anticipate all the different types of groundwater data that can potentially be stored in a geodatabase, the focus was set on describing ground water information in terms of raw field data and conceptual representations of the primary features in a hydrogeologic system. This allows the data model to be used as a tool for archiving and sharing groundwater data for a wide variety of applications. The importance of three-dimensional GIS in the characterization of the subsurface has been widely emphasized (Bohman-Carter, 2000; Moore et al, 1993; Turner, 1989 and 2000). An effort was made to include three dimensional features (i.e. solids, cross sections) as much as possible to reflect the nature of hydrogeologic systems.

The data model design outlines three components for the data model: Hydrogeology, Simulation, and Temporal information (Figure 2). These are arranged into feature datasets, tables, and raster catalogs. The Hydrogeology component is a set of vector feature classes, tables, and raster catalogs that describe the hydrogeology of an aquifer system. The dataset includes representations of two-dimensional features such as wells and aquifer outlines, and three-dimensional classes to describe hydrostratigraphy, solid volumes, and cross sections. The modeling component is a set of vector features that represent common modeling objects. These feature classes can represent computational grids such as finite difference grids and enable storage and presentation of model inputs and outputs. Temporal information is represented with the Arc Hydro tabular structures for representing time series (TimeSeries and TSType tables) and the RasterSeries raster catalog represents gridded temporal information.

Figure 2. Arc Hydro groundwater data model components

 

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Data model Framework

Similar to the surface water component, a framework data mode is designed to highlight the core set of classes for representing groundwater information (Figure 3). The framework includes classes for representing aquifers, wells, and data observed along wells (e.g. contacts and stratigraphy), a three-dimensional geospatial context, and time series.

Figure 3. Arc Hydro ground water framework

 

A detailed description of the data model classes and relationships is provided by Strassberg (2005)

 

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Tools and Tutorials

A set of tools and tutorials were developed to demonstrate the utility of the data models. The tutorials are listed below and the data and tools can be downloaded from the CRWR website: ftp://ftp.crwr.utexas.edu/pub/outgoing/strassberg/GroundwaterDataModel/Groundwater_Data_Model.htm or from the ESRI data model website: http://support.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=downloads.dataModels.filteredGateway&dmid=37

·        Changing the spatial reference of the schema: this tutorial shows how to change the spatial reference of the XML schema of the data model geodatabase. The tutorial describes how to load and run an ArcCatalog tool for modifying the spatial reference (including Z dimension) of an XML schema.

·        Arc Hydro groundwater toolbar tutorial: this tutorial demonstrates the Arc Hydro groundwater toolbar, which is a set of ArcScene tools for creating three-dimensional features (e.g. BoreLines, GeoVolumes, and GeoSections). The tutorial was developed with data from the North Carolina coastal aquifer system. The tutorial includes an ArcScene document, geodatabase, and the dll for loading the toolbar.

·        MODFLOW geoprocessing tools: this tutorial demonstrates the integration of a MODFLOW model of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer in Texas within ArcGIS. The tutorial includes the MODFLOW model, a populated geodatabase, the geoprocessing tools, and ArcMap and ArcScene documents for viewing the data.

·        3D time series: This example demonstrates how the data structures of the data model support the creation of three-dimensional displays of time series within the Macro Dispersion (MADE) site in Mississippi. The example includes an ArcScene document with embedded macros for creating three-dimensional displays of time series.

·        Mapping 2D time series: This example shows how the data structures of the data model support mapping time series related to wells. The example includes an ArcMap document with embedded macros for creating water level and water quality maps in the Ogallala aquifer, Texas.

 

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Downloads:

The CRWR website (ftp://ftp.crwr.utexas.edu/pub/outgoing/strassberg/GroundwaterDataModel/Groundwater_Data_Model.htm) includes a set of presentations, documents, posters, and code describing the groundwater data model.

 

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References:

·        Arctur, D., Zeiler, M. (2004). Designing Geodatabase Case Studies in GIS Data Modeling. ESRI Press.

·        Bohman-Carter, G. (2000). An Overview of GIS in the Geoscience. Geographic information systems in petroleum exploration and development AAPG computer applications in geology; no. 4. T. C. Coburn and J. M. Yarus. Tulsa, Okla., American Association of Petroleum Geologists: xii, 315.

·        ESRI, website. (2005). http://support.esri.com/datamodels

·        Moore, I. D., A. K. Turner, et al. (1993). GIS and Land-Surface-Subsurface Process Modeling. Environmental modeling with GIS. M. F. Goodchild, B. O. Parks and L. T. Steyaert. New York, Oxford University Press: xxiii, 488 , [8] of col. plates.

·        Turner, A. K. (1989). The role of three-dimensional geographic information systems in subsurface characterization for hydrogeological applications. Three dimensional applications in geographical information systems. J. Raper. London ; New York, Taylor & Francis: ix, 189 , [8] of plates.

·        Turner, A. K. (2000). Geoscientific Modeling: Past, Present, and Future. Geographic information systems in petroleum exploration and development  AAPG computer applications in geology ; no. 4. T. C. Coburn and J. M. Yarus. Tulsa, Okla., American Association of Petroleum Geologists: xii, 315.

·        Strassberg G. 2005. A geographic data model for groundwater systems. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Texas at Austin. Austin, Texas