The purpose of this project is to develop software to automatically build MODFLOW models through GIS and web-based programming. The software works as follows: (a) the user enters the desired model location and dimensions through a web-based form; (b) the software queries raster databases for the data needed to write MODFLOW input files; (c) the MODFLOW model is run; (d) the MODFLOW output files are checked for stability and plausibility (i.e. that the groundwater heads are within an acceptable range of expected values); and (e) the MODFLOW files are made available to the user for download. During the development of the software, GIS raster databases were constructed to contain all the data needed to build a first-draft quality MODFLOW model for any location in the state of Iowa. In the future, the raster databases will be expanded to cover all of the United States. Raster database inputs were collected from public domain sources, including the United States Geological Survey and the GIS Section of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The software code and the raster databases are maintained on a web server. Thus, the only client-side software required is a web browser and the MODFLOW program. The ultimate goal of the project is to make groundwater modeling more accessible by automating the initial data collection and modeling.
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