Computerized Data Processing and Geographic Information Systems Applications for Development of a 3-Dimensional Groundwater Flow Model

by Shih-Huang Chieh, Consulting Engineers, Inc, Walnut Creek, United States,
Marc V. Cromer, Consulting Engineers, Inc, Walnut Creek, United States,
William R. Swanson, Consulting Engineers, Inc, Walnut Creek, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Management in the '90s: A Time for Innovation

Abstract:

A 3-dimensional numerical groundwater flow model was developed for a 100 square mile area located in the Santa Clara Valley, California. The model development relied upon data base and Geographic Information System (GIS) processes to evaluate hydrogeologic conditions, define the model structure, and to distribute model parameters throughout the model domain. Approximately three hundred well logs, including location and construction data, lithologic data and water elevation data were available within the study area. In additional to the well logs, numerous groundwater extraction records were available from several decades of groundwater production in the Santa Clara Valley. GIS applications were developed to display hydrogeologic data along arbitrarily defined cross sections, calculate model parameters of individual wells, distribute the parameters throughout the model domain, and to select wells to be used during transient calibration. Using developed GIS applications, a 3-dimensional flow model structure was defined to reflect the observed hydrogeologic conditions. The model consists of 129 rows and 89 columns, has four layers, and is used to simulate groundwater flow under different aquifer stress conditions and provide boundary conditions for a solute transport model.

Subject Headings: Computer models | Hydrologic models | Groundwater flow | Geographic information systems | Three-dimensional models | Information systems | Three-dimensional flow | California | United States

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