Newcastle University

Groundwater Modelling

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The Water Framework Directive and its daughter directive on groundwater place importance on the development of understanding of groundwater bodies and their interaction with the surface environment. Groundwater modelling plays an important role by bringing together conceptual understanding and quantitative data in a systematic framework to help understand and manage groundwater systems.

The course develops basic understanding of the mathematical representation of flow processes in models through practical applications from very simple models constructed in spreadsheets through to industry standard finite difference models. A strong emphasis is placed on understanding the broader aspects of groundwater models including their limitations, with Environment Agency staff contributing to the teaching using real world regional groundwater models as case study examples. The course is focused on developing practical skills and knowledge with significant time spent with hands on examples, and is suitable for people who may commission or use results from groundwater models as well as those needing to develop their own models.

The Course is focused strongly on providing regulators, developers, engineers and scientists with the skills and tools necessary to conceptualise a groundwater system and to develop a numerical model of the flow and contaminant transport within a groundwater body. The skills gained should permit the assessment of a resource and its vulnerability to contamination.

The Course will:

• develop groundwater modelling skills and develop an understanding of subsurface flow regimes, the way in which conceptual models of a groundwater system can be built, and how appropriate modelling software can be used to test and refine that understanding;
• provide a sound introduction to MODFLOW, MODPATH and MT3D within industry-standard graphical user interfaces.

On completion of the course participants will understand:

• good practice in groundwater flow and transport modelling;
• the nature of conceptual, mathematical and numerical models of groundwater systems;
• how data is used in groundwater modelling;
• the processes of model calibration, validation and sensitivity analysis.

Participants will be able to:

• develop a conceptual model of a groundwater flow system from typical data sets;
• translate a conceptual mode into a numerical model;
• set up and run groundwater flow problems using MODFLOW and transport problems using MT3D and MODPATH within industry-standard graphical user interfaces.

Course Outline

• Groundwater flow processes
• Numerical methods for groundwater modelling
• Conceptual model development
• Introduction to groundwater modelling software
• Model calibration
• Contaminant transport theory
• Modelling speciation and geochemical reactions
• Environment Agency approach to groundwater Modelling
• Case Study

Presenters

School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

• Dr Geoff Parkin (Course Leader)

Industry Professionals

• To be confirmed

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