MIKE SHE | How to set up coupled water quality AD/ECO Lab simulations using MIKE SHE and MIKE+ Rivers

Description
This article describes the supported and recommended workflow for coupling MIKE SHE Advection–Dispersion (AD) with MIKE+ Rivers AD, and when to extend the setup with MIKE ECO Lab.  The approach follows the current MIKE modelling architecture and ensures mass conserving, fully dynamic catchment–river water quality simulations.
Use this coupling when:

• Catchment sources must dynamically drive river concentrations

• River water quality depends on:

  • Groundwater inflow

  • Diffuse overland loads

• A single, consistent river AD solution is required

The Coupling concept assumes that:

• MIKE SHE AD simulates pollutants transport in the catchment processes: 

  • Overland flow and/or

  • Unsaturated zone and/or

  • Saturated zone

• MIKE+ Rivers AD (MIKE 1D AD) simulates transport in the river network

• Mass exchange between catchment and river is automatic

• Both conservative and non-conservative (decay) pollutants can be modelled

Step‑by‑Step Workflow:


#01 – Build the River Model in MIKE+

In MIKE+ Rivers:

• Create the MIKE+ Rivers HD model

• Define an additional Result file with Content type set as “Decoupling” and “Include” at the “Results” tab of the “Simulation setup” editor (set a suitable storing time step at the ‘Save every’ field)

• Run the MIKE+ Rivers HD model to check stability

• Activate the “Coupling to MIKE SHE or FEFLOW” checkbox and go to ‘Model couplings’ and Groundwater couplings editor. There you need to define:  

  • The coupling reaches at the 'Location' tab

  • River network–overland links (if applicable) at the ‘Exchange attributes’ tab

  • River network–groundwater leakage (if applicable) at the ‘Exchange attributes’ tab

• Save and export the HD river model to MIKE 1D format (.m1dx) with same name as the HD model

Notes:

• .m1dx is the current river format required for coupling with MIKE SHE.

• Other compatible river formats include the decommissioned MIKE HYDRO River (.mhydro) and MIKE 11 (.sim11) models.

#02 – Clone MIKE+ Rivers setup and assign AD Properties 

In MIKE+ Rivers:

• Clone the MIKE+ Rivers model with new name and enable Advection–Dispersion for river reaches

• Define:

  • Longitudinal dispersion coefficients

  • Decay or reaction terms (for simple AD - if applicable)

  • Boundary concentrations

• Ensure WQ components names and concentration units are consistent with MIKE SHE

• Go to “Simulation setup” editor and click on the "AD and WQ" tab. Select the option “Run transport simulation using decoupling file” and browse to the decoupling file produced by the hydrodynamic river model

• Verify that the AD model runs correctly in stand‑alone mode

• Export the AD river model to MIKE 1D format (.m1dx) with same name as the AD model

#03 – Link the MIKE+ Rivers Model to MIKE SHE

In MIKE SHE:

• Activate “Rivers, Lakes, Sewers (OC)” checkbox and go to Rivers, Lakes and Sewers dialog

• Point to the exported “River/Sewer Simulation File” (HD) and “River Simulation File for Water Quality” (AD)

This establishes two‑way hydraulic coupling between catchment and river.

#04 – Activate MIKE SHE Advection–Dispersion

In MIKE SHE:

• Enable Water Quality → Advection–Dispersion at the "Simulation specification" dialog

• Select relevant transport domains at the "WQ Simulation Specification" dialog, e.g. 

  • Overland flow

  • Rivers, Lakes and Sewers

  • Unsaturated zone

  • Evapotranspiration

  • Saturated zone

• When simulating non-conservative pollutants activate also the “Include Water Quality Processes” and select either “Sorption and Decay” or “MIKE ECO Lab”
• Define:  

  • Dispersion parameters

  • Retardation/sorption factors (if relevant)

  • Initial concentrations

• Run the coupled model by sequentially clicking on the PP, WM and WQ buttons or simply click on the ‘Execute’ button

Note: MIKE SHE AD only handles catchment transport. River transport is handled in MIKE 1D.

#05 – River–Catchment Mass Exchange

Once both AD modules are enabled:

Mass enters the river via:

• Overland flow to river

• Groundwater baseflow to river

Mass leaves the river via:

• Infiltration

• Bank exchange

All exchange is handled automatically using the standard MIKE SHE–MIKE 1D mass‑conserving coupling. No additional configuration is required.

• MIKE SHE AD + MIKE+ Rivers AD is fully supported and mass‑conserving

• River AD is handled through MIKE 1D AD (.m1dx)

• Simple AD is appropriate for conservative substances and screening

• ECO Lab is required for reactions, oxygen, sediment, and regulatory ecology

FURTHER INFORMATION AND USEFUL LINKS

Manuals and User Guides

MIKE SHE Online User Guide

Training options