Use of Geographic Information Systems in Ground-Water Flow Modeling

Geographic information systems (GISs) offer data management and spatial analysis capabilities that can be useful in ground-water modeling. Many regional ground-water models require large, unwieldy data sets, and calibrating them has traditionally been a trial-and-error, hit-or-miss process. GIS provides automatic data collection, systematic model parameter assignment, spatial statistics generation, and the visual display of model results, all of which can improve and facilitate modeling. To utilize these abilities, however, GIS and ground-water models must be able to communicate. Researchers and practitioners have achieved this interface in three ways: (1) linking a GIS to a ground-water model through data-transfer programs; (2) integrating a model with a GIS database; and (3) embedding modeling capabilities within a GIS. This paper emphasizes the usefulness of GIS in ground-water modeling and evaluates these three methods of GIS-model interfacing. Current needs are identified, and suggestions for future work are made.