Summary
    TRAC is an application designed to interpret and represent hydrogeological tracer test results (graph plots).

    TRAC is a freeware application to aid interpretation of hydrogeological tracer tests, developed by the BRGM for scientists and engineering consultancies, in particular for the prevention of accidental pollution. 

    Interpreting hydrogeological tracer tests for pollution prevention 

    Hydrogeological tracing is frequently used to track groundwater movements. The reappearance of a substance (usually a tracer dye) at one or more outlets of an underground water system, after injection at a given point upstream, is usually interpreted in terms of flow direction and speed of transfer. 

    However, it is possible to obtain further information in addition to direct tracer results. The tracer signal at the outlet  can be interpreted to provide information on the behaviour of the tracer underground, its exchanges with the environment and its dispersal. These parameters help to assess the properties of the underground environment when it is affected by accidental or diffuse pollution. 

    Injecting a fluorescent tracer

    Injecting a fluorescent tracer upstream from a leak to track the groundwater flow. © Bruno Leclerc 

    © Bruno Leclerc

    Assistance to groundwater protection agencies 

    TRAC is designed primarily to help prepare a tracing operation by simulating the underground propagation of a tracer based on existing data and any previous tracing results. 

    It is intended as a means of assisting water protection agencies, especially in defining the protection perimeter of drinking water abstraction points. 

    TRAC software.

    TRAC software. 

    © BRGM

    A new version of TRAC in 2024

    In September 2024, TRAC is getting a facelift with a new version 2.2 to make it even easier to simulate and interpret trackings:

    • improved user interface ergonomics,
    • unified interface (instead of two windows in version 1.7),
    • improved automatic management of graph boundaries and parameters,
    • addition of the Kreft and Zuber (1978) analytical solution,
    • addition of a pre-defined plotter list,
    • addition of a list of keyboard shortcuts,
    • improved print preview,
    • simplification of the tree structure,
    • reworked the schematics of the plotting systems.

    Notice d’utilisation du logiciel TRAC

    Rapport de validation du logiciel TRAC

    Publications, posters and presentations

    Publication

    Practical information 

    • Operating system: Windows
    • Programming language:VB.NET 
    • Languages: French, English (translations may be provided in other languages) 
    The lake of the Franco-Swiss dam, Switzerland

    Download TRAC

    Fill out the form below. You will then receive an email containing a link to download the software.
    * Indicates required field

    Your need

    Your message

    Please tick the boxes for the type of information you would like to receive

    Your contact details

    Validate the form

    To validate this form, read our data protection policy and validate the security test to confirm that you are a human user.

    About the personal data collected on this form

    • Purpose of the form: enable BRGM to reply to you following a request for information on its software, or to enable you to download software made available by BRGM.
    • Users of the data provided: the departments in charge of communication and user of information systems reception, support and assistance, and software management, who may share the data with persons or departments concerned by your request in-house at BRGM and/or with subcontractors or service providers.

    Your rights

    Within the limits of the Regulation, in particular Articles 15 to 22 of the GDPR and having provided proof of identity, you have:

    • the right of information and access to your personal data,
    • the right to have your personal data rectified,
    • the right to delete or limit processing of your personal data.

    To exercise these rights, please contact our data protection officer at: dpo@brgm.fr.
    Any request that constitutes an abuse of current laws and regulations may be rejected.
    More information on the policy for third-party personal data protection

    Other software

    Deep architecture of the Vosges massif compared with geophysical data, realized with Geomodeller 3D (2013)
    Software
    GeoModeller: the 3D geological modelling software
    The GeoModeller software is used to define the 3D geological architecture (lithologies and faults) of an area, using data of different types and formats (maps, cross-sections, boreholes, geophysical …
    A karstic spring, Pahalgam
    Software
    XLKarst: an Excel application for the hydrodynamic characterisation of karst systems
    XLKarst rapidly implements various methods classically used in karst hydrology for the hydrodynamic characterisation of karst systems.
    All the software