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international ground water modeling center
International Ground Water Modeling Center and the Hydrologic Science and Engineering Program at Colorado School of Mines hold a lecture on October 10, 2006.
History (and thoughts on the future) of Groundwater
Modeling
Thomas A. Prickett, P.E.
Urbana,
Illinois
Please bear with us. We adjusted the lighting when Tom began to speak, so the
screen goes black for a moment or so. You might want to adjust the sound via control panel on your
computer if you cannot hear it.
Models have been used for decades to study, analyze,
and forecast the response and impact of groundwater systems due to changes in
both natural and manmade conditions. Models were developed over the years by
devising a large number of techniques for both deriving and then solving the
equations of flow and mass transport that we deal with almost everyday in our
professional careers.
This presentation discusses most of
characteristics of the important types of groundwater models that have been used
in the profession over the past 150 years. The most popular models range from
the ordinary sand tank, to the large group of mechanical and electric analogs,
then on into the use of pure mathematical and numerical representations of
aquifer systems solved with a digital computer.
This presentation includes about 55 images of the vast majority of the important groundwater modeling techniques.
The models are generally presented in order of the dates of
use by hydrologists in the groundwater profession. Descriptions of model
characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages are given. No integral signs or
differential equations are shown.
An important aspect of the history of
model development was, and still is, the development of electronic equipment,
the digital computer, and the software that is used to drive the model. A
section of this presentation is thus devoted to some of the growing pains
related to electronics, special laboratory setups, and the positive impacts of
world-wide standardization of both equipment and methodology.
Today,
groundwater models are basic tools of the trade and almost every serious
groundwater hydrologist is capable of using them. The concluding remarks of the
presentation offer some of my opinionated reasons why we find ourselves with the
present day models. Final remarks allude to my opinion as to where future model
developments will take place.
Speaker Bio: Thomas Prickett has over 45 years of world-wide
experience in groundwater research, aquifer evaluation, well-field development,
mining impact analysis, mass transport problems and process investigations,
computer modeling, conducting modeling seminars, and litigation as an expert
witness at all levels of the judicial system.
Eileen Poeter, Director of the International Ground-Water Modeling Center, housed in the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering recently gave seven Darcy Lectures in Asia (two in Hong Kong: one in Chiang Mai, Thailand; and one each in Nanjing, Beijing, Xian and Wuhan in Mainland China). During her tour she met with the China Geologic Survey, with Chunmiao Zheng serving as the liaison and interpreter. The meetings led to a Memorandum of Understanding for IGWMC-USA and IGWMC-China to form a close partnership to foster collaboration in groundwater modeling research and information assimilation. IGWMC-China will translate the biannual groundwater modeling newsletters published by IGWMC-USA into Chinese for distribution in China and will host training courses offered by IGWMC-USA for Chinese hydrogeologists. IGWMC-USA will provide technical assistance to IGWMC-China in groundwater modeling related research and will train technical staff members for IGWMC-China at Colorado School of Mines. The Centers will jointly organize groundwater modeling related conferences in China, as well as jointly develop software for groundwater modeling. IGWMC-USA will assume advisory roles in the development of China Groundwater Information Systems for data storage, visualization, modeling, prediction, model archiving; statistical modeling, regression analysis, and time series analysis.
The lecture tour was part of the Darcy lecture tour.
For background on that see:
http://www.ngwa.org/ngwef/darcy.cfm#Current%20
Eileen will give 60 lectures around the world this year. 40 were completed by the time she left China. The schedule can be found at:
http://www.ngwa.org/pdf/darcy2006schedule.pdf
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