Manufacturer: SEEP3D is part of GeoStudio’s suite of geotechnical analysis software. GeoStudio is from Seequent, The Bentley Subsurface Company.
Use Case: SEEP3D is used for groundwater dewatering analysis in civil, mining, and environmental projects. It aids in the design and analysis of dewatering systems and their effects on lowering the water table, which is critical for foundation work in construction.
Price: Not explicitly stated, but GeoStudio 2D software licenses are priced on their website, ranging from USD $2,720 to $5,440 (excl. tax) for 12-month named licenses.
System Requirements: Windows is recommended, with a reasonably fast processor, mid-range graphics, and 32GB of system memory.
Key Features:
Modeling Toolbox: Ability to simulate dewatering systems, including pressure relief wells and deep well systems, and their effects on seepage flow and groundwater levels.
Boundary Condition Exploration: SEEP3D allows users to input field data or functional relationships to explore hydrographs, reservoir fluctuations, rainfall cycles, vegetation effects, and land-climate interactions on groundwater.
Saturated/Unsaturated Formulation: The tool can model both simple saturated and complex unsaturated flow scenarios, including infiltration into dry soil and seepage through tailings dams.
Dewatering System Design: The software assists in understanding the rate of pumping for wells, the pore-water pressure distribution, and the extent of drawdown.
Integration with Other GeoStudio Tools: Data from other GeoStudio applications, like SLOPE/W and SLOPE/W, can be incorporated for stability analyses and to study changes in pore-water pressure.
Hydraulic Function Estimation: SEEP3D includes built-in functions to estimate hydraulic conductivity and volumetric water content with minimal input.
Advanced Analysis: Users can model and analyze extreme scenarios like flood events, rapid drawdown, and severe climate events’ effects on dams and levees.
Density and Temperature Considerations: With integration to specific modules, users can incorporate density-dependent effects on groundwater for frozen ground or water movement, and heat transfer effects on flow dynamics.
Environmental Impact Assessment: SEEP3D is useful for assessing the impact of dewatering systems and flow dynamics on the environment and safety, such as slope stability near excavations
