The 1 Layer Sandbox Simulator

Nobody likes learning new software. So we have created this very simple, practical and interactive groundwater simulator that will allow you to jump into the 1 layer “sandbox” and start simulating groundwater problems with minimal commitment.

To get started with your first Anaqsim model, get your 14 day free-trial and then download the first input file

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What is the 1 Layer Sandbox Simulator?

All groundwater simulations are constrained by available resources. These resources include time, money, and knowledge (data). Most, if not all, groundwater projects start with very little data which forces us to start with a simple simulation.

The Sandbox Simulator is specifically designed for simple groundwater assessments. It allows you to prototype your ideas quickly and easily so that you can move onto the next stage of your project.

Let’s Go!

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Ignore the details!

There are lots of tools available in Anaqsim. However for this Exploration Guide you only need visit 5 tabs: File, Model Input, Plot Input, Solve and Make Plot

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Jump into the Sandbox

1. Open the Sand Box file [Open Anaqsim. Then open the Sand Box file.]
2. Run the Simulation [Hit “Solve” on the menu bar]
3. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

What am I looking at?

At first glance this appears to be an uninteresting dodecagon (… it’s a funny word so we had to include it) with a lot of parallel lines covering it. And that is exactly what it is.

The slightly more interesting facts are that the green outline of the dedecagon is the boundary and the blue parallel lines are the equipotential lines indicating the groundwater flow field for this sandbox simulation. With the basic Sandbox Simulator up and running, let’s add something more visually interesting to the simulation.

The slightly more interesting facts are that the green outline of the dedecagon is the boundary and the blue parallel lines are the equipotential lines indicating the groundwater flow field for this sandbox simulation. With the basic Sandbox Simulator up and running, let’s add something more visually interesting to the simulation.

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Add something interesting

The Sandbox Simulator has four groundwater wells already included. You just need to “turn them on” in the simulation to see the effects of pumping. Turn on the existing wells in five steps:

1. Go to well input [Model Input > Pumping Wells > Discharge Specified]
2. “Turn on” the wells [change Discharge from 0 to -200]
3. Save your changes [File > Save]
4. Re-run the Simulation [Hit “Solve” on the menu bar]
5. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

Your simulation should look something like this:

1. Go to well input [Model Input > Pumping Wells > Discharge Specified]
2. “Turn on” the wells [change Discharge from 0 to -200]
3. Save your changes [File > Save]
4. Re-run the Simulation [Hit “Solve” on the menu bar]
5. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

Your simulation should look something like this:
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It looks grainy. Is there higher resolution?

You bet! Roll your mouse in on the area of interest and then reset the viewer with these steps:

1. Roll your mouse to zoom in on an area of interest
2. Reset the view field [Plot Input > Set Plot Window to Current View]
3. Replot the view [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

You will then see a higher resolution image of the results for your area of interest. As an example I have zoomed in to see all four wells in greater detail.

1. Roll your mouse to zoom in on an area of interest
2. Reset the view field [Plot Input > Set Plot Window to Current View]
3. Replot the view [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

You will then see a higher resolution image of the results for your area of interest. As an example I have zoomed in to see all four wells in greater detail.

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Need to reset the zoom?

To zoom the field of view out again, all you need to do is reset the field of view to see the whole domain and then replot the image like this:

1. Zoom out using the mouse roller until you reach the level of zoom you want (or the green boundary is in view again)
2. Reset the view field [Plot Input > Set Plot Window to Current View]
3. Replot the view [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

Or:

1. Reset the view field [Plot Input > Set Plot Window to Entire Model]
3. Replot the view [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

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Who doesn’t like particle lines?

If groundwater wells are interesting, then you are truly are a groundwater professional and therefore particle paths will be also be appealing to you. So let’s plot those. In the spirit of this Exploration Guide, I have already set up the particle lines to speed things up. You just need to switch them on like this:

1. Switch particle paths on by “check marking” the Pathlines box [Plot Input > What to Plot > Pathlines]
2. Save your changes [File > Save]
3. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

You should now see the particle lines in red. Try zooming in for higher resolution. Notice how the particles reporting to the upper right well bypass the other three wells.

Very interesting.

1. Switch particle paths on by “check marking” the Pathlines box [Plot Input > What to Plot > Pathlines]
2. Save your changes [File > Save]
3. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

You should now see the particle lines in red. Try zooming in for higher resolution. Notice how the particles reporting to the upper right well bypass the other three wells.

Very interesting.

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Want some more interaction?

The results of this simulation show the cumulative effects of all four wells based on where somebody at Anaqsim placed them. Now you can move them where you want them. You can move them by clicking on them and dragging them to the new location or you can move them by changing the coordinates of the wells. The choice is yours.

Move those wells by following these steps:

1. Left click on the well and then left click on the new location…Or
2. Change well coordinates [Model Input > Pumping Wells > Discharge Specified > X,Y]
3. Save your changes [File > Save]
4. Rerun the Simulation [Hit “Solve” on the menu bar]
5. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

*Pro tip: if you specify coordinates then make sure that those coordinates actually exist within the boundary of the simulation. Granted that this is hardly a “pro-tip” but it’s important, so don’t mess it up.

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Did someone say “Add a barrier?”

Let’s add an impermeable barrier through the middle of the wellfield by following these steps:

1. Go to the input area [Model Input > Line Boundaries > Normal Flux Specified]
2. Add the input details for a barrier

You will see these input requirements

• Label: any name you like
• Domain: click the dropdown and there is only 1 option
• Parameters per line: set to 6 (or experiment)
• Domain Boundary: Unchecked
• Normal Flux Start and End: 0 (zero)
• Coordinates (2 pairs will suffice): 4800, 5000 and 5200, 5000

1. Go to the input area [Model Input > Line Boundaries > Normal Flux Specified]
2. Add the input details for a barrier

You will see these input requirements

• Label: any name you like
• Domain: click the dropdown and there is only 1 option and that is ‘Aquifer’
• Parameters per line: set to 6 (or experiment)
• Domain Boundary: Unchecked (our barrier is not part of the outer domain)
• Normal Flux Start and End: 0 (zero)
• Coordinates (2 pairs will suffice): 4800, 5000 and 5200, 5000

3. Save your changes [file > save]
4. Rerun the Simulation [Hit “Solve” on the menu bar]
5. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

At full zoom view it looks like the piezometric lines pass through the no flow barrier. Zoom in on the barrier (as we did before) and see how the piezometric lines run along the no flow barrier when viewed at higher resolution.

3. Save your changes [file > save]
4. Rerun the Simulation [Hit “Solve” on the menu bar]
5. Plot the results [Make Plot >All Selected Features/Choose Level/Time > 1]

At full zoom view it looks like the piezometric lines pass through the no flow barrier. Zoom in on the barrier (as we did before) and see how the piezometric lines run along the no flow barrier when viewed at higher resolution.

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What’s Next?

This Exploration Guide for the Sandbox Simulator has covered some basic features of Anaqsim. We have a lot more material becoming available soon from pre-built customizable simulations to deep dive academic papers and videos.

Contact us to find out more

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