Related Experiment Videos
Validation of numerical ground water models used to guide decision making
1Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, University and Community College System of Nevada, 755 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA. hassan@dri.edu
Ground Water
|March 24, 2004
Summary
Model validation is a crucial, iterative process for building confidence in complex groundwater models used for site closure. It ensures models are suitable for decision-making, not necessarily a perfect reality representation.
Area of Science:
- Hydrogeology
- Environmental Engineering
- Numerical Modeling
Background:
- Groundwater contamination sites heavily rely on complex numerical models for closure plans.
- The complexity necessitates tools to build confidence in model predictions for decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review model validation studies for groundwater flow and transport modeling.
- To provide a starting point for hydrogeologists and stimulate development of practical validation tools.
Main Methods:
- Review of definitions, literature debates, and proposed validation strategies.
- Discussion of conferences and symposia focused on subsurface model validation.
- Focus on site-specific, predictive groundwater models for remediation and closure decisions.
Main Results:
- Lack of established practices and agreement on terms like validation, verification, and confirmation in groundwater modeling.
- Model validation is presented as a process, not an end result, offering a safeguard against faulty models.
Conclusions:
- Model validation provides evidence of a model's suitability for decision-making.
- Reviving the issue of model validation is essential for the hydrogeologic community to develop better predictive tools.