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Introduction

ArcHydro Groundwater (AHGW) is a set of analysis tools and geodatabase design schema for representing groundwater datasets within ESRI ArcGIS platform.  The data model enables users to archive, display and analyse multidimensional groundwater data in ArcGIS. There are several components to represent different types of datasets and these include the representation of aquifers, boreholes, 3D hydrogeologic models and temporal information.

AHGW suite of analysis tools  help user to import, edit, analyse and manage groundwater data stored in an AHGW geodatabase.

This technical tip illustrates how the AHGW tool can be used to edit the cross section of borehole data efficiently.

Data Component

To visualise the cross section of borehole data the following data components are required:

1. A Borehole Log table which stores the log for the different  hydrogeologic unit level within each bore.
   
   
   
   
2. A Hydrogeologic unit table which stores all the possible geology units for the borehole.
   
   
   
   

Data Preparation

The AHGW tool for cross section editing is very slow if it is attempted on a large dataset (e.g 200 thousands points).  To efficiently use the AHGW for borehole cross section editing, it is best to subset the borehole log table and borehole log points in manageable size.  The best guide is to work with only bores within a  Groundwater management area.  This may equate to several thousand points.

When sub-dividing the borehole point data, make sure that the borehole log table is also reduced to contain only the relevant records for the subsetted borehole points. This will ensure that maximum efficiency is gained in the cross section editing task.

For the borehole log table it is extremely important that the hydrogeologic levels within each bore are in the correct order. An incorrectly ordered borehole log table will result in incorrect cross sections being displayed on the editing interface of the AHGW tool.

The Hydrogeologic Colour Table will need to have the colours assigned first.  This is done using the  HGU colour manager within the AHGW tool interface in ArcGIS.

Borehole Cross Section Editor tool

Once all the data and tables have been prepared, the borehole log, hydrogeologic unit table and the bore point can be loaded into ArcMap to edit each of the bore point cross section.

The bore hole Hydrogeologic unit and depth elevations can be interactively edited in the above simple interface.

Error with borehole log table

If the borehole log table is out of order, the editor interface will display an incorrect cross section. Note the cross section for the same borehole point is very different because the TopElev and BottomElev are out of order.

Summary

To get the most out of the borehole editor tool:

1. The data and table need to be subsetted to an area of interest.
2. The borehole log table needs to have all hydrogeologic unit depth levels in order.

The bore hole Hydrogeologic unit and depth elevations can be interactively edited in the above simple interface.

Error with borehole log table

If the borehole log table is out of order, the editor interface will display an incorrect cross section. Note the cross section for the same borehole point is very different because the TopElev and BottomElev are out of order.