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3.0 Identification of Candidate Graphical User Interface Packages <br />The second aspect of this Task 50.1 evaluation is to identify and describe modeling GUI <br />packages that are candidates for future use under the SPDSS. This was undertaken to identify <br />whether other software packages might exist that represent significant advantages for the SPDSS <br />groundwater modeling over the currently implemented Data Centered Process described in <br />Section 2.0 of this TM. <br />A graphical user interface facilitates preparation of model input files and post-processing of <br />model output files. Some packages provide extensive visualization capabilities for both model <br />inputs and results. Control and data files for numerical models are voluminous and too complex <br />to prepare manually. Various commercial and public domain software packages have been <br />developed to increase the efficiency in preparing these files. A number of candidate software <br />packages have been identified for consideration in Task 50.1. The evaluation criteria for <br />preliminary screening are outlined in Section 3.1, while Section 3.2 identifies candidate packages <br />and screens those that will be retained for more detailed evaluation in Task 50.3. <br />3.1 Preliminary Evaluation Criteria <br />This evaluation is limited to approaches that have been implemented in commercially available <br />and well-supported software packages. Other data centered approaches have been documented <br />but either lack software support or an open source implementation so they will not be considered <br />further for use on the SPDSS. The following characteristics represent the minimum <br />requirements for selection of an interface package. <br />• The packages selected for evaluation must be flexible and able to pre- and post-process <br />data for numerous MODFLOW versions and the appropriate packages, including custom <br />versions of MODFLOW that have been developed by the State. <br />• Since much of the geographic-based data used in the SPDSS resides in GIS form using <br />ESRI software, the candidate packages selected for more detailed evaluation must be able <br />to exchange data using ESRI format shape files. <br />The interface packages must also be able to allow development of model information in a <br />grid-independent or conceptual model mode that can later be extended to a numerical <br />model form for execution. The ability of the interface to allow definition of conceptual <br />model elements independent of a particular model grid is considered the most critical <br />capability for the data centered modeling approach. This capability should include <br />elevations of unit boundaries, spatially distributed characteristics such as recharge, <br />evapotranspiration, hydraulic characteristics, surface water features and boundary <br />conditions. <br />• The interface packages must also provide the ability to interpolate data onto a model grid <br />and to provide graphical output of both model structure and results. <br />io <br />