FloPy — The Complete Guide: Building MODFLOW Models in a Python Script
FloPy is a Python package to build, run and post-process MODFLOW-based groundwater models. Instead of entering data in a graphical interface, you define the grid, layers, boundary conditions and wells in code. That makes it easy to change parameters, run many scenarios and document the model.
FloPy
USGS and FloPy developers
Build, run and post-process MODFLOW groundwater models from a Python script.
Get it from the vendorWhat you get
- All MODFLOW versions — MODFLOW 6, MODFLOW-2005, NWT and USG.
- Companion models — MODPATH for particle tracking, MT3DMS for solute transport, and SEAWAT.
- Models as code — every input defined in Python, saved as code you can review and reproduce.
- Post-processing — reading heads and budgets and producing plots and maps.
- Scenarios in a loop — change pumping or parameters and rerun automatically.
Who it suits
Hydrogeologists and groundwater engineers who know MODFLOW and are comfortable in Python. It complements MODFLOW 6 and ModelMuse: you can build in a graphical interface and continue in code, or work in code from the start. The licence is CC0-1.0, free for any use including commercial work.
Related tools
For the model engine — MODFLOW 6. For a graphical interface to build the model — ModelMuse. For calibration against measurements — PEST++.
MODFLOW 6
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
The world standard for groundwater flow and solute transport modelling, from the USGS.
Get it from the vendorModelMuse
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
The free graphical interface to MODFLOW — build the model with a mouse instead of text files.
Get it from the vendor
PEST++
USGS
Parameter estimation, uncertainty analysis and optimisation for any numerical model — common for groundwater and surface water.
Get it from the vendor
PHREEQC
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Aqueous geochemical calculations — equilibrium, dissolution, precipitation and reactive transport.
Get it from the vendorThe bottom line
FloPy turns a groundwater model into transparent code you can repeat and modify. For anyone who runs MODFLOW regularly, it saves hours of manual data entry.