VS2DRTI - A Graphical Software Package for Simulating Water Flow, Heat Transport, and Reactive Solute Transport

Overview of VS2DRTI

The VS2DRTI package contains all the tools that a user needs to create, run, and view results for a simulation of flow and heat and reactive solute transport through variably saturated porous media. The package seamlessly integrates a graphical user interface--within which the user can draw the simulated domain and enter or modify model parameters--with existing USGS models of flow, heat transport (VS2DH), solute transport (VS2DT), and geochemical reaction (PHREEQC). A postprocessor can display simulation results. VS2DRTI extends the capabilities of software package VS2DI Version 1.3.

The VS2DRTI software package includes two applications:

1. VS2DRTI for simulation of water and heat and solute transport
2. VS2POST a standalone postprocessor for viewing results saved from previous simulation runs

Experienced users of VS2DI will find that it is now easy to construct simulations of reactive solute transport.

New users will find that the VS2DRTI package allows for easy and rapid examination of water and contaminant (or heat) movement through various different hydrologic regimes. It is an excellent tool for hypothesis testing (for example, for looking at the influence that the shape, position, and hydraulic characteristics of a layer of low permeability have on the movement of a contaminant infiltrating from the soil surface). VS2DRTI is also very useful for teaching the basics of soil physics and subsurface contaminant transport. Typical applications of the programs are for studies of ground-water recharge, surface-water-ground-water exchange, and contaminant transport from waste disposal sites. An extensive on-line help manual provides all the information necessary to run the programs.

Summary of VS2DRTI

Download Current Version of VS2DRTI

VS2DRTI Version 1.5 is currently available for computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems. Example problems and tutorials are contained in a zip file. The examples are designed to help the user learn the software and to allow testing of the software after installation.

VS2DRTI Version 1.6 compiled for Microsoft Windows (38 MB)

Windows Installation Instructions

VS2DRTI Examples and Tutorial (35 MB)

Some users may wish to run the numerical model VS2DRT independently from the graphical user interface. A Windows executable file (VS2DRT.exe) is included in the download for users who wish to run simulations in batch mode. Instructions for VS2DRT separately (from a DOS command prompt window) are given in Windows Batch Instructions. Instructions for modifying the ascii input file vs2drt.dat are given in VS2DRT_Input_Instructions.pdf.

Users can also download the source code from which a batch version of VS2DRT can be built on computers using the Linux operating system. Instructions for building the Linux batch version are given in Linux Batch Instructions.

VS2DRT source for building Linux batch version (14 MB)

Additional Information

The software package includes on-line help manuals that provide detailed information on how to set up and run a simulation. To access the on-line help manual, run the software and select "Contents" form the "Help" menu. In addition, the following reports are available:

Parkhurst, D.L., and Wissmeier, L. 2015. PhreeqcRM: A reaction module for transport simulators based on the geochemical model PHREEQC. Advances in Water Resources 83: 176–189. DOI: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2015.06.001. Parkhurst and Wissmeier (2015) Portable Document Format (PDF) (116K)

Haile, Sosina S. 2013. VS2DRT: Variable saturated two dimensional reactive transport modeling in the vadose zone. (Doctoral dissertation) Freiberg Online Geoscience 34: 1–152.

Parkhurst, D.L., and Appelo, C.A.J. 2013. Description of input and examples for PHREEQC Version 3—a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport, and inverse geochemical calculations. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 6-A43. An electronic version of this report can be downloaded from: https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/tm6A43

Hsieh, P.A., Wingle, William, and Healy, R.W., 2000, VS2DI--A graphical software package for simulating fluid flow and solute or energy transport in variably saturated porous media: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4130, 16 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/wri994130

Healy, R.W., and Ronan, A.D., 1996, Documentation of computer program VS2DH for simulation of energy transport in variably saturated porous media -- modification of the U.S. Geological Survey's computer program VS2DT: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96-4230, 36 p. An electronic version of this report can be downloaded from: http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri964230

Healy, R.W., 1990, Simulation of solute transport in variably saturated porous media with supplemental information on modifications to the U.S. Geological Survey's Computer Program VS2D: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 90-4025, 125 p. An electronic version of the report can be downloaded from: http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri904025

Lappala, E.G., Healy, R.W., and Weeks, E.P., 1987, Documentation of computer program VS2D to solve the equations of fluid flow in variably saturated porous media: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 83-4099, 184 p. An electronic version of the report can be downloaded from: http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/pubs/wri/wri834099