HR: 0830h
AN: H11C-0879 [PDF]
TI: Enhancement of Aquifer Vulnerability Indexing Using the Analytic Element Method
AU: * Fredrick, K C
EM: kcf2@buffalo.edu
AF: Department of Geology, University at Buffalo
876 Natural Sciences
North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260 United States
AU: Becker, M W
EM: mwbecker@buffalo.edu
AF: Department of Geology, University at Buffalo
876 Natural Sciences
North Campus, Buffalo, NY 14260 United States
AU: Flewelling, D M
EM: dougf@geog.buffalo.edu
AF: Department of Geography, University at Buffalo
105 Wilkeson Quad, Buffalo, NY 14261 United States
AU: Silavisesreth, W
EM: ws23.buffalo.edu
AF: Department of Geography, University at Buffalo
105 Wilkeson Quad, Buffalo, NY 14261 United States
AB:
Indexing methods are used for the evaluation of aquifer vulnerability and establishing guidelines for the protection of
ground-water resources. The principle of the indexing method is to use map layers of various influences on ground water to
determine the overall vulnerability of an aquifer to anthropogenic stresses. The analytic element method (AEM) of
ground-water flow modeling can be used to enhance indexing methods by rapidly calculating a potentiometric surface based
primarily on surface water features. This potentiometric map can be combined with a digital elevation model to produce a map
of depth to the water table. This is an improvement over simple water table interpolation methods because it is physically
based and properly represents surface water features, hydraulic boundaries, and changes in hydraulic conductivity. The AEM
software, SPLIT, is used in a geographic information system based graphical user interface to improve an aquifer
vulnerability assessment for a valley-fill aquifer in western New York State. A GIS-based graphical user interface allows
automated conversion of hydrography vector data into analytic elements.
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1831 Groundwater quality
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting