Delta Hydro

MODFLOW 6

DHS VerifiedActive

The USGS groundwater model — the world standard for aquifer simulation, rebuilt as a modular multi-model framework.

by US Geological Survey

Pricing
Gov-Public
License
US Government (public domain / CC0)
Commercial use
Permitted
Ecosystem
Fortran, Python (FloPy)
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux

About MODFLOW 6

MODFLOW 6 is the current core of the USGS's modular hydrologic model, in continuous development since 1984 and the reference against which groundwater software is judged. The 6.x framework couples multiple models in one simulation: structured or unstructured-grid flow (GWF), solute transport (GWT), energy transport (GWE), particle tracking (PRT), with advanced packages for streams, lakes, multi-aquifer wells and land subsidence.

It is public domain, rigorously documented and versioned, and virtually every regulator, court and reviewer on earth accepts it. Combined with FloPy for scripted model building, it forms the least-risk groundwater modelling stack available at any price.

Where it fits in the workflow

TerrainCatchmentRainfallRunoffRoutingHydraulicsMappingReporting

Alternatives to MODFLOW 6

Other groundwater & hydrogeology tools covering similar workflow stages.

FloPy

Open SourceVerified

The Python interface to MODFLOW — build, run and post-process groundwater models entirely in code.

Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveMODFLOWGroundwater Modelling

FEFLOW

Commercial

DHI's finite-element groundwater platform — unstructured meshes, density-driven flow, heat and mine dewatering.

Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveGroundwater ModellingContaminant Transport

Veteran commercial MODFLOW GUI with deep PEST integration — a consultant favourite for calibration-heavy work.

Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveMODFLOWGroundwater Modelling

HYDRUS

Freemium

The standard for vadose-zone modelling — variably saturated flow and transport by Richards' equation.

Groundwater & HydrogeologyActiveGroundwater ModellingContaminant Transport

MODPATH

Gov-Public

USGS particle tracking for MODFLOW — pathlines, travel times and capture zones from flow solutions.

Groundwater & HydrogeologyStableMODFLOWGroundwater Modelling

MT3D-USGS

Gov-Public

Multi-species solute transport for MODFLOW — advection, dispersion, sorption and reactions in aquifers.

Groundwater & HydrogeologyStableContaminant TransportMODFLOW