ModelMuse is a graphical user interface (GUI) for the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) models MODFLOW 6, MODFLOW–2005, MODFLOW-LGR, MODFLOW-LGR2, MODFLOW-NWT,
MODFLOW-CFP, MODFLOW-OWHM versions 1 and 2, MODPATH versions 5, 6, and 7, ZONEBUDGET, PHAST, 
SUTRA 2.2, SUTRA 3.0, SUTRA 4.0, MT3D-USGS, and WellFootprint and the non-USGS model 
MT3DMS.  This software package provides a GUI for creating the flow and 
transport input file for PHAST and the input files for the other models. 
ModelMuse supports parameter estimation with UCODE in MODFLOW–2005 and 
MODFLOW-NWT models and with PEST in MODFLOW and SUTRA models except for 
MODFLOW-LGR models.
 
In ModelMuse, the spatial data for the model are independent of the grid or mesh, 
and the temporal data are independent of the stress periods. Being able to input 
these data independently allows the user to redefine the spatial and temporal 
discretization at will. The associated model reports and the ModelMuse help 
describe the basic concepts required to work with ModelMuse. These basic concepts 
include the model grid, data sets, formulas, objects, the method used to assign 
values to data sets, and model features.

The ModelMuse main window has a top, front, and side view of the model that can 
be used for editing the model, and a 3–D view of the model that can be used to 
display properties of the model. The side view is hidden for SUTRA models and 
for MODFLOW 6 models that use discretization by vertices (DISV). Only the top view 
is visible for WellFootprint projects.

ModelMuse has tools to generate and edit the model grid or mesh. 
It also has a variety of interpolation methods and geographic 
functions that can be used to help define the spatial variability of the model. 
ModelMuse can be used to execute the models and can also display the results of 
all the models except PHAST and ZONEBUDGET. Examples of using ModelMuse with  
MODFLOW, SUTRA, WellFootprint, and PEST are included in the reports on various 
ModelMuse releases. Additional examples are described in the help system for 
ModelMuse, which can be accessed from the Help menu.

ModelMuse works with two types of spatial discretization in MODFLOW 6: 
structured grids (DIS) and discretization by vertices (DISV). Quadtree 
refinement is used to generate a DISV model from a structured-grid model. The locations 
and weights for ghost nodes used to improve DISV model accuracy are computed automatically 
by ModelMuse using a new algorithm. ModelMuse does not support other types of DISV grids 
and unstructured grids. ModelMuse supports options in MODFLOW 6 that designate individual 
cells as confined or convertible and remove inactive cells associated with discontinuous 
layers, thereby reducing the computational burden. ModelMuse can specify fully 
three-dimensional (3D), spatially variable anisotropy in hydraulic conductivity. Although 
MODFLOW 6 does not support the parameters supported by MODFLOW–2005, ModelMuse emulates 
that capabililty by allowing ModelMuse parameters to specify scale-factor variables 
in MODFLOW 6 time-series files within packages that support time-series files. ModelMuse 
can automatically convert the data for many of the packages from other MODFLOW models to 
the new data for these packages in MODFLOW 6. Some packages, such as the Streamflow 
Routing (SFR) package, changed significantly enough that only a partial conversion is 
possible. The user is responsible for ensuring that the converted model is a good 
representation of the modeled region. 
Head and flow observations in older models are also converted to observation 
locations in the MODFLOW 6 Observation Utility. ModelMuse accommodates the ability of 
MODFLOW 6 to store specific discharge components by allowing the user to visualize the 
components of specific discharge on the model grid. ModelMuse supports the versions 
of MODPATH and ZONEBUDGET compatible with MODFLOW 6.

ModelMuse can generate the input files for PEST when used with MODFLOW 
or SUTRA models, run PEST, and view the updated model inputs after parameter estimation 
with PEST. 

After a parameter has been defined in ModelMuse, it can be applied to all or part of a 
model data set. Pilot points can be used to assign spatially variable distributions of 
model inputs. Parameters can be applied to temporally varying features such as boundary 
conditions either by applying them to all the values in a series in one step or by 
applying separate parameters to individual members of a series. ModelMuse allows the 
definition of many different sorts of observations from a variety of model output files. 
For MODFLOW 6 and SUTRA models, new options were added to ModelMuse to allow it to display 
the changed input after parameter estimation is complete. For MODFLOW-2005 and MODFLOW-NWT 
models, ModelMuse can import an entire model to allow it to be visualized.