Postprocessing the output of HBGC123D

There is currently no graphical postprocessor for HBGC123D. However, beginning with release version 1.1, we offer a non-graphical postprocessor in order to prepare the simulation data for third-party software like Excel, Gnuplot, Surfer, and GMS.

Overview
Usage instructions
Installation instructions

Overview

The postprocessing of HBGC123D simulation data is performed in two steps:

  1. The binary output file created by HBGC123D can be read by the postprocessor PostHBGC. This is an interactive menu-driven program that allows the user to create various output files (concentration-time curves and concentrations in space at fixed times). It also allows to view (as text output on the screen) geometry and hydrology data as well as concentrations for all nodes and elements, respectively.
  2. The output files written by PostHBGC can be used as input data for programs like Excel, Gnuplot, Surfer, and GMS.
Usage instructions
  1. PostHBGC is an interactive menu-driven program. It will return to the main menu after one of the available options was completed.
    The first step in running PostHBGC is to read the binary output file produced by HBGC123D. (The number of output time steps for this file is specified by the variables KDSK0 and KDSK(I) in Data Set 4.)
    (Note: PostHBGC can only process the binary output files written by HBGC123D, release version 1.1. Since the input files for HBGC123D are upward compatible from V1.0 to V1.1 of HBGC123D, you can easily rerun the program to create the binary output file in the correct format.)
    You may read as many of these files in one session of PostHBGC as you want, but especially with large simulations you may run out of computer memory. In this case, quit PostHBGC and restart it to process the remaining files.
    After you have read an HBGC123D output file, PostHBGC presents this menu:
    (Please click on any of the menu options to view its description.)


    ********** PostHBGC **********

    1 output file was already read.

    Please choose one of the following options:
    0 - Quit PostHBGC
    1 - Display short help text
    2 - Read HBGC123D binary output file
    3 - Select an output file
    4 - Display general information about output files
    5 - Display time step data
    6 - Display geometry data of nodes
    7 - Display geometry data of elements
    8 - Display hydrology data of nodes (velocity, density)
    9 - Display hydrology data of elements (water content)
    10 - Display all concentration data for individual nodes
    11 - Define a list of nodes for histories (option 12) or a profile (option 13)
    12 - Create history files for Excel, Gnuplot, etc.
    13 - Create profile files for Excel, Gnuplot, etc.
    14 - Create input data files for Surfer (2D only!)
    15 - Create input data files for GMS (2D and 3D)
    16 - Find closest nodes to a given location

    Option:


    0 - Quit PostHBGC
    This option exits the program. If you started it from the Windows Explorer, its window will disappear. If you started it from a Windows command prompt or a UNIX shell, you return to command mode.

    1 - Display short help text
    A short help text with an overview of the available options is displayed.

    2 - Read HBGC123D binary output file
    You may read as many HBGC123D output files as you like. The only restriction comes from the available computer memory. If you run out of memory, quit PostHBGC and restart it to process the remaining output files.
    The HBGC123D superfiles for the samples have been set up to use ".binout" as the extension for the binary output file. However, there is no restriction on the name of this file.
    If you try to read a file that is not a binary output file of HBGC123D (version 1.1), an error message is displayed and the program returns to the main menu.

    3 - Select an output file
    If you have read more than one file, you can select one of them as the currently active file. Otherwise you will be prompted in most options to select one of the available output files. The difference between these two choices is that the selection made from the main menu will be in effect for all options, while the selection of one file within an option will not effect other options.

    4 - Display general information about output files
    PostHBGC will display general information (simulation title, number of nodes, elements, components, and species, and names of components and species).

    5 - Display time step data
    PostHBGC will display the available output time steps.

    6 - Display geometry data of nodes
    PostHBGC will display the geometry data of nodes (coordinates and connected elements).

    7 - Display geometry data of elements
    PostHBGC will display the geometry data of elements (node vertices and material types).

    8 - Display hydrology data of nodes (velocity, density)
    PostHBGC will display hydrology data of nodes (velocities and densities).

    9 - Display hydrology data of elements (water content)
    PostHBGC will display hydrology data of elements (water contents).

    10 - Display all concentration data for individual nodes
    PostHBGC will display all concentrations (components and species, also temperature if available) for one node.

    11 - Define a list of nodes for histories (option 12) or a profile (option 13)
    This option allows you to enter a list of nodes (in arbitrary order) that can be used for the creation of history files and profile files.
    The order of input is irrelevant for history files since one file will be created for each node you have selected. However, the order of input will be maintained for the profile files. PostHBGC does not verify whether the order of nodes represents a geometric profile across the model domain.

    12 - Create history files for Excel, Gnuplot, etc.
    PostHBGC allows the output of history curves (concentration-time curves) for all simulations. If you run PostHBGC on Windows, the output will be a comma-separated file (CSV). If you run it on UNIX, the data columns are separated by spaces (Gnuplot compatible).
    You can either use a list of nodes that was created by a call to option 11 or define the list in this option. You can also save the new or extended list of nodes in a file.

    13 - Create profile files for Excel, Gnuplot, etc.
    Profiles (concentrations in space at fixed times) can also be created from all simulations. For one-dimensional simulations, a profile is automatically defined as the sequence of concentrations along nodes, from 1 to the highest node number. For 2D and 3D simulations, however, the user needs to define the profile. (PostHBGC does not verify whether or not the entered data represent a profile in a geometric sense.)
    For instance, suppose you have a regularly numbered mesh in two dimensions with 20 nodes in x-direction and 50 nodes in z-direction, with the inner loop of node numbering being in z-direction. You may enter "26" as the first node, "976" as the last node, and "50" as the increment, if you want to create a profile in x-direction along the medium value of the z-direction.
    You can also use a list of nodes that was created by a call to option 11.

    14 - Create input data files for Surfer (2D only!)
    For 2D simulations you can create Surfer compatible input data. (This option is also available for the UNIX version of PostHBGC.)

    15 - Create input data files for GMS (2D and 3D)
    For 2D and 3D simulations you can create GMS (Groundwater Modeling System) input data (super file, mesh file, concentration data files for all components and species separately, and a velocity file).

    16 - Find closest nodes to a given location
    You can also find the closest node to a location within the model domain. This is useful e.g. if you want to compare data for a well with your simulation data.

    Option:
    Whenever you return to the main menu, enter the number of the option you want to invoke on the keyboard, followed by ENTER.
    If you entered invalid characters or a number that does not correspond to an available option, an error message is issued and the program allows you to enter an option number again.

  2. Programs like Excel and Gnuplot can be used to visualize history curves (concentration-time curves, available for 1D, 2D, and 3D simulations) and profile data (concentrations in space at fixed times) created from 1D, 2D, or 3D simulations.
    On Windows systems, Surfer may be used to visualize concentrations at fixed times in space for 2D simulations.
    GMS can be used to visualize concentrations at fixed times in space for 2D and 3D simulations.
    Since the entire source code for PostHBGC is released, you may add additional output formats that correspond to the required format for other visualization software you would like to use. You are invited to send us your changes so that we can make them available for other users as well.
Installation instructions
  1. Microsoft Windows: The HBGC123D distribution includes source code and executable for PostHBGC. If you want to include new and/or modify the current output formats of PostHBGC, you will need to recompile this program. You will need both a Fortran 77 and a C compiler to recompile PostHBGC.
  2. UNIX systems: The HBGC123D distribution includes source code and a Makefile for PostHBGC. You have to compile the executable code by yourself. You will need both a Fortran 77 and a C compiler to do this.

v1.1 - 6/17/1999

Jin-Ping Gwo, email: jgwo@umbc.edu