Grantee Research Project Results

2002 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, 2002 through February 28, 2003
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:

Work has continued on the various software tools, as summarized in Table 1. The three main products of this research (groundwater flow simulator, calibration tool, and GIS-based interface) essentially are complete, although the addition of new features will be an ongoing process beyond the duration of the project. Current efforts are focused on better integration of the three tools into a single system and development of test cases.

Table 1. Status of Model Development

Model	Description	Status	Ongoing Developments
SPLIT	Two-dimensional high-performance AEM flow model, FORTRAN.	Version 2.4 available for download (parallel version not distributed).	Testing of improved iterative solvers and parallel processing ongoing.
BlueBird	Two-dimensional high-performance AEM flow model, C++.	Single-processor version completed, version 1.12 available for download.	No further developments planned. Primary purpose is to compare FORTAN/C++.
VISUAL BlueBird	Graphical interface for SPLIT, Visual Basic.	Completed, version 1.12 available for download.	Updated as features are added to other models.
OSTRICH (formerly MACT)	Model independent calibration tool, three calibration algorithms, (regression and heuristic), C++.	Extensively revised and tested. Manual in internal review.	Several new schemes for weighting observations are under development.
ArcFlow 2	User interface for SPLIT/BlueBird based on ArcGIS.	Complete, manuals under internal review prior to Web release.	Updates to GUI to support calibration and various line simplification algorithms.

In addition to the publications listed in this report, project members were directly involved in establishing a special AEM session at the Spring 2002 American Geophysical Union Meeting, as well as a special theme issue of Ground Water (scheduled for publication in 2004). Also, co-Principal Investigator Jankovic and European collaborators (G. Dagan, A. Fiori) presented/submitted 11 publications in which the AEM and the State University of New York at Buffalo software were used to study groundwater flow and transport in heterogeneous aquifers.

Future Activities:

We will continue to develop and test algorithms and software as indicated in Table 1. A no-cost extension was processed to extend the project period to 4 years. The Niagara Falls case study has been abandoned because of the inability to establish a contractual relationship with the proposed U.S. Geological Survey 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).

Journal Articles on this Report : 7 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	Flewelling DM, Becker M, Fredrick K, Silavisesrith W. Integration of geographic information systems and the analytic element method for ground water modeling. Geographical and Environmental Modelling.	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, Flewelling DW, Becker MW, Silavisesrith W, Craig JR, Matott LS. High performance system for modeling regional groundwater flow. Advances in Water Research.	R827961 (2002)	not available
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, element method, AEM, calibration, GIS, high performance computing, parallel processing, graphic user interface, GUI, Visual Basic, BlueBird, SPLIT, ESRI, beta testing, nonlinear regression, genetic algorithm, USGS.,

Relevant Websites:

http://www.groundwater.buffalo.edu Exit

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.