To use this tool, users must prepare two datasets. The first dataset, called training data, consists of historical records of precipitation, pan evaporation, and flow data as independent variables, along with observed groundwater level data as the dependent variable. This data should be structured in an Excel file following the specified format:
The second dataset, known as prediction data, includes historical precipitation, pan evaporation, and post-development flow data as independent variables, but it does not contain observed groundwater level data, as the purpose of this dataset is to simulate these levels. Like the training data, the prediction data should also be structured in an Excel file in the required format:
To access the Groundwater Simulation tool, users should navigate to the Simulation Tab and select Groundwater Simulation.
This action opens the Groundwater Simulation window, where users can create and configure simulations.
To add a new simulation, click on the “+” button to generate a new entry. The simulation name can be modified by clicking it, and simulations can be enabled or disabled using the provided checkboxes.
Once a simulation is created, users must select the Training Data File and Prediction Data File. By clicking the “…” button, they can navigate to the location of the prepared Excel files and assign them to the simulation. The tool also offers an optional feature to select a specific wetland from the Route Wetland dropdown menu. If left as “All”, the groundwater level will be simulated for every wetland in the dataset. However, if a specific wetland is selected, the generated groundwater level will be assigned only to that wetland. Users can also modify groundwater IDs under Wetland Properties if needed.
Before running the simulation, an output file location must be specified. The user must define the path where the output files will be saved. Once all necessary inputs are configured, clicking the Start button will initiate the simulation process.
If Groundwater Processing is enabled under Home Tab → Windows, users can monitor the progress of the simulation under the Groundwater Processing section at the bottom of the VO interface. This section provides details such as the simulation name, start time, progress percentage, output file path, and training file path, allowing users to track the status of their simulations efficiently.
Groundwater Simulation Outputs
After running a groundwater (GW) simulation, VO not only adds the predicted groundwater data to your model but also generates four CSV files and three graphs that provide detailed information about the quality and accuracy of the simulation.
- ***_groundwater_statistical_summary.csv – Provides statistical summaries for comparison.
- ***_performance_metrics.csv – Reports key performance indicators such as R² and RMSE for the simulation.
- ***_training_data_daily_results.csv – Contains detailed daily results for the training dataset.
- ***_validation_data_daily_results.csv – Contains detailed daily results for the predicted (validation) dataset.
The three graphs display visual comparisons between the imported data and the simulated data, making it easier to assess how well the simulation has performed.
