Visual MODFLOW


Visual MODFLOW is a software program developed by Waterloo Hydrogeologic. Originally released in 1994, Visual MODFLOW was the first commercially available graphical interface for the open source groundwater modeling engine called MODFLOW. As of May 2012, a newer.NET version of the software was rebranded as Visual MODFLOW Flex. The program also combines proprietary extensions, such as MODFLOW-SURFACT, MT3DMS and a three-dimensional model explorer. Visual MODFLOW supports MODFLOW-2000, MODFLOW-2005, MODFLOW-NWT, MODFLOW-LGR, MODFLOW-SURFACT, and SEAWAT.
The software is used primarily by hydrogeologists to simulate groundwater flow and contaminant transport.

History

The original version of Visual MODFLOW was first released in August 1994, and was developed for DOS by Nilson Guiguer, Thomas Franz and Bob Cleary. It was based on the USGS MODFLOW-88 and MODPATH codes, and resembled the FLOWPATH program that was also developed by Waterloo Hydrogeologic Inc. The first Windows based version was released in 1997 and the main programmers were Sergei Schmakov, Alexander Liftshits, and Sean Wilson. A.NET version that included non-grid-based, graphical conceptual modelling features was released in 2012.
On January 10, 2005, Waterloo Hydrogeologic was acquired by Schlumberger's Water Services Technology Group.
On May 1, 2012, Waterloo Hydrogeologic released its next generation of Visual MODFLOW called Visual MODFLOW Flex.
On March 13, 2015, Waterloo Hydrogeologic was acquired by Nova Metrix.