The new Wetland-Groundwater Modelling feature in VO 6.3 allows users to simulate groundwater (GW) levels as part of hydrologic modelling. This is especially useful when historical groundwater data are no longer sufficient due to land-use changes, climate variability, or urban development.
Groundwater plays a critical role in the hydrologic behavior of wetlands, influencing water levels, storage, and ecological function. However, in many projects, historical groundwater data are limited, outdated, or no longer representative due to land-use changes, climate variability, and urban development. This creates a gap in continuous hydrologic modelling, where surface processes are well represented but subsurface contributions are often simplified or ignored. The Wetland-Groundwater Modelling feature in VO 6.3 was developed to address this challenge by enabling users to simulate groundwater levels and incorporate them directly into their models.
This feature is designed to provide users with a practical, accessible, and integrated approach to Wetland-groundwater modelling. By allowing simulated groundwater data to be linked directly with the Wetland command, users can better represent the interaction between surface water and groundwater, leading to more accurate hydrologic and ecological assessments. The tool also offers a simple interface for uploading datasets and generating results, along with visual outputs that make it easier to interpret predicted groundwater elevations.
To use the Groundwater Simulation Tool:
1. Go to the Simulation tab and click on the Groundwater Simulation icon.
2. In the Groundwater Simulation window, click + to add a new simulation.
3. (Optional) Rename the simulation for easier identification.
4. Under Train File Name, click … to select the Excel file for training data.
5. Under Predict File Name, click … to select the Excel file for prediction data.
6. Under Route Wetland:
a. Select a specific wetland to assign the predicted GW data, or
b. Leave as All to apply the data to all wetlands.
7. Under Save File Location, choose a path to save the results of the groundwater simulation.
The tool requires correctly formatted Excel files for both training and prediction. For more detailed guidance on groundwater simulation, refer to: Using simulated Groundwater (GW) in Wetland Modelling, A Case Study. For detailed instructions on the file format, refer to: Using Groundwater Simulation Tool.
When you run the Groundwater Simulation tool, the progress of the simulation can be viewed under the Groundwater Processing tab, provided the tab is already active. To activate this tab, go to the Home tab, open the Windows dropdown, and select Groundwater Processing.
After the simulation has finished running, the predicted groundwater data will be available in the Project Manager. You can find the results under the Groundwater Data.
