Aquaveo & Water Resources Engineering News

New Tool for Locked Nodes Datasets

By aquaveo on December 10, 2024

When working with your Surface-water Modeling System (SMS) project, have you ever wanted or needed to isolate an area to ensure stability and consistency? There are many ways this can be accomplished, but one method is by using a locked node dataset. By creating a locked nodes dataset, you can better isolate the variables you are testing. You can maintain control over specific parts of the model making it more reliable. You can also reduce the freedom in the system, causing the model to converge more quickly and help it avoid instability. With the Locked Nodes Dataset from Coverage tool, in our Toolbox, you can create locked node data.

The Locked Nodes Dataset from Coverage tool takes information from the selected coverage and grid and uses it to designate whether nodes are locked or unlocked. If it is designated as locked, operations or activity cannot be changed within that area. The simulation will ignore all locked nodes. If it is designated as unlocked, the simulation will process new data, and operations or activity can change in that area.

Example of a locked node dataset

The Locked Node Dataset from Coverage tool allows you to choose between using polygons or arcs. If you choose polygons, every node inside the polygons in the selected coverage are locked. If you choose arcs, then you must define the distance out from the arc in which all nodes are to be locked. If the coverage you select contains multiple polygons, the tool will choose what to lock and what to leave unlocked. This is not recommended.

When the Locked Node Dataset is defined on an arc, especially boundary conditions, it can maintain the integrity of the boundary condition assumptions.

In order to get the best effect, you can create a coverage with polygons and arcs for that specific area that you wish to lock down. Then select that coverage in the tool to lock it down.

By defining a dataset with unlocked and locked areas, the new dataset can be used later to stabilize the model.

Head on over to SMS and see how the Locked Nodes Dataset from Coverage tool and locked node datasets can help your model

Blog tags: 
SMS

Getting a Head Start with the Import UGrid Points Tool

By aquaveo on December 3, 2024

Does setting up an unstructured grid (UGrid) in your Ground-water Modeling System (GMS) project seem to take too many steps? If you already have a CSV file containing point information, one of the tools in our Toolbox can help you create a UGrid quickly. The Import UGrid Points tool allows you to import a CSV file and turn it into a UGrid in one process.

Example of a UGrid created from the Import UGrid Points tool

Our Import UGrid Points tool works similarly to the File Import Wizard does but processes CSV files with fewer steps and directly creates the UGrid. In order for the Import UGrid Points tool to work, the basic file must include, at a minimum, x and y coordinates. Z is optional. Other datasets associating data with each point may be included as well, and the Import UGrid Points tool can handle transient data associated with the points. Note that because it is limited to one z coordinate column, The Import UGrid Points tool will only create 2D UGrids.

The Import UGrid Points tool requires the CSV file have the following:

  • "No data value” values for any values that should import as "NULL" or "no data"
  • A time unit for those files containing transient data specified as a floating point number
  • A coordinate system projection file associated with the points you are importing

The CSV file must be properly formatted before importing. It must have a heading row to define each column of data. If the file also contains transient data for each point, the second row must be blank for the x, y and z coordinates but contain date/time information in a specified format. If the CSV file is not set up correctly, the tool will fail to set up the UGrid.

The Import UGrid Points tool is very useful for getting a head start on the UGrid creation, especially if you already have older data you've been wanting to import. As long as it is formatted correctly, and you have the projection file to match it to, you can try it here. If you have a file that isn't working with the File Import Wizard, you could also try this tool.

Head on over to GMS and try the Import UGrid Points tool today!

Blog tags: 
GMS