GGU-PLGW: "Potentials" menu item

You can visualise e.g. lines of equal water level (potentials) using this menu item. After selecting the parameter you will see the following dialog box, in which you can specify the type of presentation.

The program shows you the existing smallest and largest values and the spacing of the contour lines. If you want the visualisation to begin at a different value, the initial value can be entered here. You can also vary the spacing, for example, in order to reduce the number of contour lines drawn.

When you select this menu item the settings displayed here are always those automatically selected by the program. After clicking on "Min/Max" the two values are updated. Using the "Old values" button, the preferences used for the previous contour line diagram are adopted. This information is saved with the record.

You can also select from three smoothing out procedures:

• "Do not smooth"
  As a linear method is implemented within the triangle elements, this will provide modelling results without smoothing performed by the program.

• "Method 1" and "Method 2"
  these smoothing out procedures employ two different Bezier splines. Smoothing out intensities can be given for both in order to acquire smooth contour lines. Method 2 creates very "round" contours, with the danger that the true results may be falsified.

You can specify the type of visualisation for the contour lines by means of the "Dash preferences" and "Further preferences" buttons. By activating the appropriate check box the soil colour can be used as fill.

Because the program uses unsaturated permeabilities for its analysis of vertical-plane systems, potentials for the unsaturated zone are also acquired; physically, this is absolutely correct. Experience shows that this confuses some clients. In order to avoid lengthy discussions, simply switch off the potentials in the unsaturated zone using the appropriate check box.