FEFLOW – Getting started with groundwater modelling

INVESTMENT

Fee: No charge*

Time commitment — approximately two hours of self-study: 

• Modules 1-11 (includes online video lectures, demonstration videos, quizzes, hands-on exercises and reading materials)   

PRODUCT

FEFLOW

Groundwater hydrologists or hydrogeologists are often asked questions about groundwater flow, aquifer hydraulics, management of water resources, fate of contamination plumes or feasibility of geothermal systems, plus others.

Proving answers to all these questions requires specific field information and a general understanding of hydrogeological processes. Nature is not simple and even simple tasks require state-of-the-art supporting tools. A groundwater model provides a quantitative framework for synthesizing field information and for conceptualising hydrogeologic processes. The model is used as tool to assist consultants and engineers for getting possible answers to a specific groundwater problem.

This self-paced course will introduce you to the basic concept of groundwater modelling using FEFLOW. 

About FEFLOW

FEFLOW is the most intuitive and comprehensive software package for groundwater and porous media modelling. It can simulate a multitude of processes involving fluid flow, groundwater age, contaminant and heat transport under fully or variably saturated conditions - from local to regional scale.

IS THIS COURSE RIGHT FOR ME?

The course has been designed for consultants, engineers, hydrogeologists and geologists with some basic understanding of hydrogeological concepts. If you are interested to get started with groundwater modelling and/or are not yet familiar with the methods behind FEFLOW, then this free, self-paced course is perfect for you.

WHAT ARE MY EXPECTED OUTCOMES?

Upon course completion, you will be able to start building your first groundwater model with FEFLOW. You will learn how to implement a conceptual model through the FEFLOW Supermesh concept, how to build a finite-element mesh suitable for groundwater calculations and to verify its quality, to completely parametrize the model (materials and boundary conditions). You will also be able to run the model, do a basic visualisation and check the model results such as Hydraulic-head and global water budgets.

HOW WILL I LEARN?

Each module includes videos, materials and handouts that you need for model examples, short quizzes and assignments to reinforce the course knowledge. It will take you around two hours to complete the course at a time that fits your needs and requirements - and in the comfort of your own office, home or any location convenient for you.

MODULE DETAILS

The self-paced course includes 12 modules that introduce you to the basic steps of groundwater modelling with FEFLOW. 

• Module 1 - Introduction
• Module 2 - Theory of FEFLOW Supermesh
• Module 3 - Starting a new model
• Module 4 - Supermesh
• Module 5 - Finite-element mesh
• Module 6 - Problem Settings
• Module 7 - Boundary Conditions
• Module 8 - Material properties
• Module 9 - Simulation run
• Module 10 - Post-processing
• Module 11 - Final remarks

PRESENTER
Dipl.-Ing. (FH), Civil Engineering, University of Piura, Peru; MSc, Desert Studies - Water Resources Management, Ben-Gurion University, Israel; PhD, Hydrology, University of Potsdam, Germany

Dr. Carlos Rivera Villarreyes, DHI, works as Global Product Specialist for FEFLOW. Dr. Rivera has profound knowledge of groundwater and unsaturated-zone modelling as well as parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis (e.g., with PEST), all these in the context of mining applications among others. He has carried several groundwater modelling projects and trained professionals in groundwater modelling around the globe. Dr. Carlos is an authorised DHI trainer.

REQUIREMENTS

• Reliable internet connection
• Access to FEFLOW software. DHI demo version is sufficient for the material covered in this course.
• If you are not familiar with the basic terminology of hydrogeology, e.g. definitions of aquifer properties (confined/unconfined systems, transmissivity, conductivity, etc.) and principles of groundwater flow (e.g. Darcy Law), it is strongly recommended to do a pre-reading of standard textbooks of Hydrogeology. Some literature is recommended in Module 1.

RESOURCES

• Software information: FEFLOW
• Webinar recording: "PEST++ in FePEST: A new era of groundwater model calibration and uncertainty quantification"
• Webinar recording: "Effectively boosting groundwater modelling: What’s new in FEFLOW 7.5 release?"
• THE ACADEMY Courses and Events Calendar - webinars
• THE ACADEMY's Training Calendar
  
  

INFORMATION AND CONTACT

If you have technical trouble with the course, please contact the course designer:

Carlos Andres Rivera Villarreyes cvi@dhigroup.com

academy@dhigroup.com

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