Grantee Research Project Results

2001 Progress Report: A High Performance Analytic Element Model: GIS Interface, Calibration Tools, and Application to the Niagara Falls Region

EPA Grant Number: R827961
Title: A High Performance Analytic Element Model: GIS Interface, Calibration Tools, and Application to the Niagara Falls Region
Investigators: Rabideau, Alan J.
Institution: The State University of New York at Buffalo
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: March 1, 2000 through February 28, 2003 (Extended to April 1, 2004)
Project Period Covered by this Report: March 1, 2001 through February 28, 2002
Project Amount: $996,545
RFA: Computing Technology for Ecosystem Modeling (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Environmental Statistics

Objective:

The objectives of this research project are to: (1) develop and test a groundwater flow model based on the Analytic Element Method (AEM) for very large-scale problems using massively parallel computers; (2) develop and compare two calibration/optimization tools for use with the newly expanded AEM software, based on two computational approaches: nonlinear regression and the genetic algorithm, each optimized for parallel processing; (3) develop a geographic information system (GIS)-based graphical user interface and database for the above models; and (4) demonstrate the performance of the modeling system through case studies.

Progress Summary:

By the end of Year 1 of the project, the team was assembled, preliminary simulation models were developed, and code development and model testing were well underway. By the end of Year 2 of the project, enhancements had been implemented to speed the performance of the primary model (SPLIT), and a new object-oriented version (BlueBird) was developed using the C++ language. In addition, a graphical user interface (GUI) for both models was developed using the Visual BASIC language (Visual BlueBird). All three products are available on the project Web site at www.groundwater.buffalo.edu Exit .

In light of significant changes in the programming environment implemented by the ESRI (the primary developers of high-end GIS software), a completely new GUI was developed for the current ESRI product (ArcGIS 8.2). This task is essentially completed (beta testing underway) and the product will be posted on the project Web site when it is available.

High Performance Analytic Element Model: Year 2 Project Summary

The status of the model development is presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Status of Model Development

Model	Description	Status	Ongoing Developments
SPLIT	Two-dimensional high-performance AEM flow model, FORTRAN.	Completed, version 2.4 available/(parallel version not distributed).	Implementation of improved iterative solver and parallel processing.
BlueBird	Two-dimensional high- performance AEM flow model, C++.	Single-processor version completed, version 1 available for download.	Testing of parallel processing.
VISUAL BlueBird	Graphical interface for SPLIT/BlueBird, Visual Basic.	Completed, version 1.1 available.	Updated as features are added to other models.
MACT* (tentative)	Model independent calibration tool, C++, three calibration algorithms: LM, GA, SA.	Completed, internal testing in progress.	User's manual, regression diagnostics to be added in 2002-2003.
ArcFlow 2 (tentative)	User interface for SPLIT/BlueBird, ArcGIS.	99 percent complete.	Beta testing.
* Multi-Algorithm Calibration Tool, LM = Levenberg-Marquardt, GA = genetic algorithm, SA = simulated annealing

Future Activities:

We will continue development and testing of algorithms and software as indicated in Table 1. As discussed previously, the Niagara Falls case study has been abandoned because of the inability to establish a contractual relationship with the proposed USGS collaborator, as well as the inability of current methods to handle the required number of model layers. Instead, the development of two case studies for demonstrating the modeling system is ongoing (Ischua Creek, NY, watershed and Trout Lake, WI, watershed). A no-cost extension will be requested to extend the project period to 4 years.

Journal Articles on this Report : 5 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views
Other project views:	All 46 publications	15 publications in selected types	All 15 journal articles

Publications
Type	Citation	Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Becker MW, Georgian T, Ambrose H, Siniscalchi J, Fredrick K. Estimating flow and flux of ground-water discharge using water temperature and velocity. Journal of Hydrology 2004;296(1-4):221-233.	R827961 (2000) R827961 (2001) R827961 (2002) R827961 (Final)	Full-text: ResearchGate-Full Text-PDF Exit Abstract: ResearchGate-Abstract Exit
Journal Article	Craig JR, Jankovic, I, Barnes R. The nested superblock approach for regional-scale analytic element models. Groundwater 2006;44(1):76-80.	R827961 (2000) R827961 (2001) R827961 (2002) R827961 (Final)	Abstract from PubMed Full-text: NGWA-Full Text-PDF Exit Abstract: Wiley-Abstract Exit Other: ResearchGate-Abstract & Full Text-PDF Exit
Journal Article	Feng C-C, Flewelling DM. Assessment of semantic similarity between land use/land cover classification systems. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems. 2004;28(3):229-246	R827961 (2001) R827961 (2002)	not available
Journal Article	Fredrick KC, Becker MW, Flewelling DM, Silavisesrith W, Hart ER. Enhancement of aquifer vulnerability indexing using the analytic-element method. Environmental Geology 2004;45(8):1054-1061.	R827961 (2000) R827961 (2001) R827961 (2002) R827961 (Final)	Full-text: ResearchGate-Abstract & Full Text-PDF Exit Abstract: Springer-Abstract Exit
Journal Article	Rabideau AJ, Jankovic I, Matott L, Raghavan V, Becker M. On the calibration of ground water flow models based on the Analytic Element Method. Ground Water.	R827961 (2001) R827961 (2002)	not available

Supplemental Keywords:

groundwater, engineering, geology, hydrology, modeling, analytic element method, calibration, geographic information system, GIS, high-performance computing, parallel processing, analytic elemental method, AEM, graphic user interface, GUI, Visual Basic, BlueBird, SPLTT, ESRI, beta testing, nonlinear regression, genetic algorithm, USGS.,

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.