Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Large-scale GIS-based hydrogeological modeling of Flanders: a tool for groundwater management

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

For the implementation of the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD), technological and scientific support are required. This paper presents a methodology to support a first step of the implementation of WFD, which is the delineation of groundwater bodies. The methodology consists of (1) the development of a complete and generally-accepted hydrogeological classification system for Flanders, named the HCOV code, (2) the development of a geographic information systems (GIS)-managed borehole database, and (3) the development of aquifer and aquitard models by means of a solid modeling approach. For each unit of the hydrogeological classification code for Flanders unit, GIS maps are generated for the three basic characteristics of hydrogeological layers: extent, base level and thickness, such that combined, the volume and extent of a hydrogeological layer is unambiguously defined. This GIS-based hydrogeological database has become a useful tool for groundwater management purposes and to provide the input for groundwater modeling.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

WFD:

Water Framework Directive

CIS:

Common Implementation Strategy of WFD

GIS:

Geographic information systems

HCOV:

Hydrogeological classification code for Flanders

IRBD:

International River Basin District

AMINAL:

Environmental Authority for Flanders

EU:

European Union

DEM:

Digital elevation model

FGM:

Flemish groundwater model

References

  • Artimo A, Makinen J, Berg RC, Albert CC, Salonen VP (2003) Three-dimensional geologic modelling and visualisation of the Virttaankangas aquifer, southwestern Finland. Hydrogeol J 11(3):378–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Batelaan O, De Smedt F, Triest L (2003) Regional groundwater discharge: phreatophyte mapping, groundwater modelling and impact analysis of land-use change. J Hydrol 275(1–2):86–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coördinatiecommissie Integraal waterbeleid (2004) Karakterising van het Vlaamse deel van het internationale stroomgebiedsdistrict van de Schelde. December 2004. [Characterisation of the Flemish part of the International River Basin District of the Scheldt]. http://www.ciwvlaanderen.be/

  • Cools J, Meyus Y, Batelaan O, De Smedt F (2002) Building data-bases in view of the large-scale hydrogeological modelling of Flanders. In: Proceedings of geologica belgica international meeting, Leuven, 11–15 September 2002, Aardk Mededel 12:193–195

  • EMS-I (2005) GMS groundwater modeling system. http://www.ems-i.com

  • European Communities (2003) Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC). Identification of water bodies: horizontal guidance document on the application of the term “water body” in the context of the WFD. Available at WFD-CIRCA: http://www.forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/env/wfd/library

  • European Communities (2004) Common Implementation Strategy for the WFD (2000/60/EC). Moving to the next stage in the Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive. Progress and work programme for 2005 and 2006. Available at WFD-CIRCA: http://www.forum.europa.eu.int/Public/irc/env/wfd/library

  • Gogu RC, Carabin G, Hallet V, Peters V, Dassargues A (2001) GIS-Based hydrogeological databases and groundwatermodelling. Hydrogeol J 9:555–569

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Meuse Commission (2005) International River Basin District Meuse—analysis, roof report. http://www.meuse-maas.be

  • Henriksen HJ, Troldborg L, Nyegaard P, Sonnenborg RO, Refsgaard JC, Madsen B (2003) Methodology for construction, calibration and validation of a national hydrological model for Denmark. J Hydrol 280:52–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herzog BL, Larson DR, Albert CC, Wilson SD, Roadcap GS (2003) Hydrostratigraphic modeling of a complex, glacial-drift aquifer system for importation into MODFLOW. Groundwater 41(1):57–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemon AM, Jones NL (2003) Building solid models from boreholes and user-defined cross-sections. Comput Geosci 29:547–555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyus Y, De Smet D, De Smedt F, Walraevens K, Batelaan O, Van Camp M (2000) De hydrogeologische codering van de ondergrond van Vlaanderen [The hydrogeological code for Flanders]. @wel 8-water. http://www.wel.be

  • NITG-TNO (2000) REGIS version 3, for ArcView 3.2. http://www.nitg.tno.nl/ned/projects/regis/

  • Pastoors MJH (1992) Landelijk grondwater model; conceptuele modelbeschrijving [National groundwater model: conceptual model description]. RIVM report 714305004, Bilthoven

  • Quevauviller P, Balabanis P, Fragakis C, Weydert M, Oliver M, Kaschl A, Arnold G, Kroll A, Galbiati L, Zaldivar JM, Bidoglio G (2005) Science-policy integration needs in support of the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive. Environ Sci Policy 8:203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • RIZA (1996) Groundwater modeling of large domains with analytic elements, RIZA nota96.028, RIZA, http://www.tauw.nl/NL/producten/waterbeheer/nagrom/nagrom.htm

  • Scaldit (2004) Transnational analysis of the state of the aquatic environment of the International Scheldt River Basin District: pilot project for testing the European guidance documents. Scaldit report. December 2004, http://www.scaldit.org

  • Sophocleous M, Perkins SP (2000) Methodology and application of combined watershed and ground-water models in Kansas. J Hydrol 236:185–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sophocleous MA, Koelliker JK, Govindaraju RS, Birdie T, Ramireddygari SR, Perkins SP (1999) Integrated numerical modelling for basin-wide water management: the case of Rattlesnake Creek basin in south-central Kansas. J Hydrol 214:179–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sonnenborg TO, Christensen BSB, Nyegaard P, Henriksen HJ, Refsgaard JC (2003) Transient modelling of regional groundwater flow using parameter estimates from steady-state automatic calibration. J Hydrol 273(1–4):188–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research is financed by the Flemish Administration, Department Water, Environment and Nature (AMINAL). Furthermore, we acknowledge all institutes and companies that collected, shared, interpreted, and digitized the (hydro)geological data. Likewise, the Belgian experts of the steering committee are acknowledged for their valuable remarks.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium

    Jan Cools, Yves Meyus, Solomon Tuccu Woldeamlak, Okke Batelaan & Florimond De Smedt

  2. Soresma, Poortakkerstraat 41, 9051, Ghent, Belgium

    Jan Cools

Authors
  1. Jan Cools
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yves Meyus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Solomon Tuccu Woldeamlak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Okke Batelaan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Florimond De Smedt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jan Cools.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cools, J., Meyus, Y., Woldeamlak, S.T. et al. Large-scale GIS-based hydrogeological modeling of Flanders: a tool for groundwater management. Environ Geol 50, 1201–1209 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0292-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0292-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation