Standard Guide for Application of a Ground-Water Flow Model to a Site-Specific Problem

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
According to the National Research Council (1),3 model applications are useful tools to:
5.1.1 Assist in problem evaluation,
5.1.2 Design remedial measures,
5.1.3 Conceptualize and study ground-water flow processes,
5.1.4 Provide additional information for decision making, and
5.1.5 Recognize limitations in data and guide collection of new data.
Ground-water models are routinely employed in making environmental resource management decisions. The model supporting these decisions must be scientifically defensible and decision-makers must be informed of the degree of uncertainty in the model predictions. This has prompted some state agencies to develop standards for ground-water modeling (2). This guide provides a consistent framework within which to develop, apply, and document a ground-water flow model.
This guide presents steps ideally followed whenever a ground-water flow model is applied. The ground-water flow model will be based upon a mathematical model that may use numerical, analytical, or any other appropriate technique.
This guide should be used by practicing ground-water modelers and by those wishing to provide consistency in modeling efforts performed under their direction.
Use of this guide to develop and document a ground-water flow model does not guarantee that the model is valid. This guide simply outlines the necessary steps to follow in the modeling process. For example, development of an equivalent porous media model in karst terrain may not be valid if significant ground-water flow takes place in fractures and solution channels. In this case, the modeler could follow all steps in this guide and not end up with a defensible model.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers the application and subsequent documentation of a ground-water flow model to a particular site or problem. In this context, "ground-water flow model" refers to the application of a mathematical model to the solution of a site-specific ground-water flow problem.
1.2 This guide illustrates the major steps to take in developing a ground-water flow model that reproduces or simulates an aquifer system that has been studied in the field. This guide does not identify particular computer codes, software, or algorithms used in the modeling investigation.
1.3 This guide is specifically written for saturated, isothermal, ground-water flow models. The concepts are applicable to a wide range of models designed to simulate subsurface processes, such as variably saturated flow, flow in fractured media, density-dependent flow, solute transport, and multiphase transport phenomena; however, the details of these other processes are not described in this guide.
1.4 This guide is not intended to be all inclusive. Each ground-water model is unique and may require additional procedures in its development and application. All such additional analyses should be documented, however, in the model report.
1.5 This guide is one of a series of standards on ground-water model applications. Other standards have been prepared on environmental modeling, such as Practice E 978.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to us
1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word "Standard" in t...

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Publication Date
31-Oct-2004
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5447 – 04
Standard Guide for
Application of a Ground-Water Flow Model to a Site-Specific
1
Problem
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5447; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope experienceandshouldbeusedinconjunctionwithprofessional
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
1.1 This guide covers the application and subsequent docu-
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
mentation of a ground-water flow model to a particular site or
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
problem. In this context, “ground-water flow model” refers to
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
the application of a mathematical model to the solution of a
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
site-specific ground-water flow problem.
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
1.2 This guide illustrates the major steps to take in devel-
document means only that the document has been approved
oping a ground-water flow model that reproduces or simulates
through the ASTM consensus process.
an aquifer system that has been studied in the field. This guide
does not identify particular computer codes, software, or
2. Referenced Documents
algorithms used in the modeling investigation.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.3 This guide is specifically written for saturated, isother-
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
mal, ground-water flow models.The concepts are applicable to
Fluids
a wide range of models designed to simulate subsurface
E978 Practice for Evaluating Mathematical Models for the
processes, such as variably saturated flow, flow in fractured
3
Environmental Fate of Chemicals
media, density-dependent flow, solute transport, and mul-
tiphase transport phenomena; however, the details of these
3. Terminology
other processes are not described in this guide.
3.1 Definitions:
1.4 This guide is not intended to be all inclusive. Each
3.1.1 application verification—using the set of parameter
ground-water model is unique and may require additional
values and boundary conditions from a calibrated model to
procedures in its development and application. All such addi-
approximate acceptably a second set of field data measured
tional analyses should be documented, however, in the model
under similar hydrologic conditions.
report.
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Application verification is to be distin-
1.5 This guide is one of a series of standards on ground-
guished from code verification, that refers to software testing,
water model applications. Other standards have been prepared
comparison with analytical solutions, and comparison with
on environmental modeling, such as Practice E978.
other similar codes to demonstrate that the code represents its
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
mathematical foundation.
safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.2 boundary condition—a mathematical expression of a
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
state of the physical system that constrains the equations of the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
mathematical model.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to us
3.1.3 calibration (model application)—the process of refin-
1.7 This guide offers an organized collection of information
ing the model representation of the hydrogeologic framework,
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
hydraulic properties, and boundary conditions to achieve a
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
1 2
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeD18onSoilandRock For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Ground Water and contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Vadose Zone Investigations. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2004. Published November 2004. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 1993. Discontinued in 2002 and reinstated in 2004 as D5447–04. DOI: Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced
10.1520/D5447-04. on www.astm.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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D5447 – 04
desired degree of correspondence between the model simula- 5. Significance and Use
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