Water Resources Applications Software
Summary of MFI
NAME
mfi - Data input program for MODFLOW, MODPATH, and MOC3D
SYNOPSIS
mfi [dataset]
ABSTRACT
MFI is a data input (entry) program for the U.S. Geological Survey
modular three-dimensional finite-difference ground-water flow model
commonly referred to as MODFLOW. Data for MODPATH, a particle
tracking program for use with MODFLOW, can also be entered using
MFI. MFI is designed to be easy to use and portable. It can also
be used in conjunction with other programs so that the different
parts of a model data set can be entered using the most suitable
program. Data are entered in MFI interactively through a series of
display screens. MFI interfaces to a commercial spreadsheet program
for entering two-dimensional arrays and lists of stress data. This
report provides instructions for using MFI and information about
making MFI run on different computers.
OPTIONS
dataset The name of the dataset to be created/updated by MFI. It
may consist of up to 8 characters and must represent a
valid filename for the operating system used. If the
dataset name is not entered as part of the command, then
the first screen will prompt for it. Output filenames for
running MODFLOW are generated as the dataset name followed
by a dot and a 2- or 3-character suffix. The following
suffixes define some of the files that MFI can generate:
dataset.nam - Names of all files used in the MODFLOW simulation.
dataset.bas - Basic Package file of MODFLOW.
dataset.bcf - BCF Package file for MODFLOW.
If the file dataset.nam exists, it is read and the specified files
are read and can be updated.
HISTORY
Version 2.3 1996/12/06 - Revised version that includes support for
the following:
STR Package -- MODFLOW Stream Package
MODFLOW-96 -- Updated version of MODFLOW
MOC-3D -- Addition of Method of Characteristics Transport
capability to MODFLOW
Version 1.1 1994/11/22 - Initial version of MFI
DATA REQUIREMENTS
The data requirements are the same as for MODFLOW; the system being
simulated must be described.
OUTPUT OPTIONS
The output consists of a set of files that can be used to run
MODFLOW, including use of the Method of Characteristics Transport
capability. If desired, MODPATH files can also be prepared.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
MFI is written in Fortran 77 with the following extensions: use of
include files, greater than 19 continuation lines, use of adjustable
size concatenation of strings, use of integer*2 declarations, use of
nonstandard intrinsic functions (GETARG and SYSTEM), and variable
names longer than 6 characters. To compile MFI the AIDE interactive
library (AIDE, ADWDM, and UTIL libraries from the LIB software
distribution) is required. For execution either a Lotus 123
revision 2 or Tactitian compatible spreadsheet is required.
Generally, the program is easily installed on most computer systems.
The code has been used on UNIX-based computers and DOS-based 386 or
greater computers having a math coprocessor and 4 mb of memory.
APPLICATIONS
MFI should be useful for preparing MODFLOW and MODPATH input data in
a wide variety of situations.
DOCUMENTATION
Harbaugh, A.W., 1994, A data input program (MFI) for the U.S.
Geological Survey modular finite-difference ground-water flow
model: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 94-468, 24 p.
The following information describes changes made to MFI after the
published documentation was released.
MFI Version 2.3 includes the following enhancements:
1. Main menu item ABORT has been added. This allows a user to exit
from MFI without saving any data. Previously the only way a user
could exit without saving data was to use the operating system
abort command, which could leave some of the files not properly
closed.
2. Support for the D4 Direct solver has been added. This capability
is accessed through a new option within the SOLVER option. The D4
solver is documented in "Direct Solution Package Based on
Alternating Diagonal Ordering for the U.S. Geological Survey
Modular Finite-Difference Ground-Water Flow Model," U.S.
Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-288 by Arlen W. Harbaugh.
3. Support for the STR Package has been added. This capability is
accessed through a new option within the STRESS option. The STR
Package is documented in "Documentation of a Computer Program to
Simulate Stream-Aquifer Relations Using a Modular, Finite-
Difference, Ground-Water Flow Model," U.S. Geological Survey
Open-File Report 88-729 by David E. Prudic.
4. Support for MODFLOW-96 has been added. MODFLOW-96 is an update
to MODFLOW documented in "User's Documentation for MODFLOW-96, An
Update to the U.S. Geological Survey Modular Finite-Difference
Ground-Water Flow Model," U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report
96-485 by Arlen W. Harbaugh and Michael G. McDonald.
MFI version 2.3 can write output files that make use of the new
options of MODFLOW-96 or it can write files exactly as required
by the original MODFLOW. When a new model data set is created,
the screen that is used to specify the grid dimensions has a new
field allowing the choice of whether to write output for
MODFLOW-88 or MODFLOW-96. For an existing data set, MFI starts
by setting the type of output based on the use of the new "FREE"
option in MODFLOW-96. That is, if the data set includes the
"FREE" option in the 4th record of the BAS Package input file,
the data set is assumed to be a MODFLOW-96 data set and is read
using free format; further, the edited data set will be written
using all of the MODFLOW-96 options that are applicable to that
data set. If "FREE" is not found in the BAS Package file, fixed
format input will be used and a MODFLOW-88 fixed format data set
will be written. An option has been added to the MISCELLANEOUS
screen of the Basic Package menu that allows the type of output
to be switched at any time within MFI.
5. Support for the Method of Characteristics Transport option
(MOC3D) has been added. This capability is accessed through a
new MOC3D option in the MAIN menu. MOC3D is documented in "A
three-Dimensional Method-of-Characteristics Solute-Transport
Model (MOC3D)," U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources
Investigations Report 96-4267 by Leonard F. Konikow, Daniel J.
Goode, and George Z. Hornberger.
TRAINING
There is no separate training for using MFI, but MFI is used in the
course Modeling of Ground-Water Flow Using Finite-Difference Methods
(GW2096TC), offered annually at the USGS National Training Center.
CONTACTS
Operation:
U.S. Geological Survey
Office of Ground Water
Arlen Harbaugh
411 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
harbaugh@usgs.gov
Distribution:
U.S. Geological Survey
Hydrologic Analysis Software Support Program
437 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
h2osoft@usgs.gov
Official versions of U.S. Geological Survey water-resources analysis
software are available for electronic retrieval via the World Wide
Web (WWW) at:
http://water.usgs.gov/software/
and via anonymous File Transfer Protocol (FTP) from:
water.usgs.gov (path: /pub/software).
The WWW page and anonymous FTP directory from which the MFI software
can be retrieved are, respectively:
http://water.usgs.gov/software/mfi.html
--and--
/pub/software/ground_water/mfi If you would like to
obtain the price of and (or) order paper copies of USGS reports,
contact the USGS Branch of Information Services at:
U.S. Geological Survey
Branch of Information Services
Denver Federal Center, Box 25286
Denver CO 80225-0286
To inquire about Open-File Reports or Water-Resources Investigations
Reports:
Tel: 303-202-4210; Fax 303-202-4695
To inquire about other USGS reports:
Tel: 303-202-4700; Fax 303-202-4693
SEE ALSO
contour(1) - A contouring program for gridded data
moc3d(1) - Three-dimensional method-of-characteristics
ground-water flow and transport model
modflow(1) - Modular three-dimensional finite-difference
ground-water flow model
modpath(1) - Particle-tracking postprocessor program for the
modular three-dimensional finite difference
ground-water flow model
The URL for this page is: http://water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/man_wrdapp?mfi
Send questions or comments to h2osoft@usgs.gov