ASTM D5981-96e1

Standard Guide for Calibrating a Ground-Water Flow Model Application

SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers techniques that can be used to calibrate a ground-water flow model. The calibration of a model is the process of matching historical data, and is usually a prerequisite for making predictions with the model.
1.2 Calibration is one of the stages of applying a ground-water modeling code to a site-specific problem (see Guide D 5447). Calibration is the process of refining the model representation of the hydrogeologic framework, hydraulic properties, and boundary conditions to achieve a desired degree of correspondence between the model simulations and observations of the ground-water flow system.
1.3 Flow models are usually calibrated using either the manual (trial-and-error) method or an automated (inverse) method. This guide presents some techniques for calibrating a flow model using either method.
1.4 This guide is written for calibrating saturated porous medium (continuum) ground-water flow models. However, these techniques, suitably modified, could be applied to other types of related ground-water models, such as multi-phase models, non-continuum (karst or fracture flow) models, or mass transport models.
1.5 Guide D 5447 presents the steps to be taken in applying a ground-water modeling code to a site-specific problem. Calibration is one of those steps. Other standards have been prepared on environmental modeling, such as Guides D 5490, D 5609, D 5610, D 5611, D 5718, and Practice E 978.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, 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 use.
1.7 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 the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 12-Oct-1998
• Technical Committee: D18 - Soil and Rock
• Drafting Committee: D18.21 - Groundwater and Vadose Zone Investigations

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D5981-96(2002) - Standard Guide for Calibrating a Ground-Water Flow Model Application
• Effective Date: 10-Jul-1996

Standards Content (Sample)

e1
Designation: D 5981 – 96
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS
100 Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, PA 19428
Reprinted from the Annual Book of ASTM Standards. Copyright ASTM
Standard Guide for
1
Calibrating a Ground-Water Flow Model Application
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 5981; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
e NOTE—Paragraph 1.7 was added editorially October 1998.
1. Scope a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
1.1 This guide covers techniques that can be used to
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
calibrate a ground-water flow model. The calibration of a
document means only that the document has been approved
model is the process of matching historical data, and is usually
through the ASTM consensus process.
a prerequisite for making predictions with the model.
1.2 Calibration is one of the stages of applying a ground-
2. Referenced Documents
water modeling code to a site-specific problem (see Guide
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D 5447). Calibration is the process of refining the model
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
representation of the hydrogeologic framework, hydraulic
2
Fluids
properties, and boundary conditions to achieve a desired
D 5447 Guide for Application of a Ground-Water Flow
degree of correspondence between the model simulations and
3
Model to a Site-Specific Problem
observations of the ground-water flow system.
D 5490 Guide for Comparing Ground-Water Flow Model
1.3 Flow models are usually calibrated using either the
3
Simulations to Site-Specific Information
manual (trial-and-error) method or an automated (inverse)
D 5609 Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in
method. This guide presents some techniques for calibrating a
3
Ground-Water Flow Modeling
flow model using either method.
D 5610 Guide for Defining Initial Conditions in Ground-
1.4 This guide is written for calibrating saturated porous
3
Water Flow Modeling
medium (continuum) ground-water flow models. However,
D 5611 Guide for Conducting a Sensitivity Analysis for a
these techniques, suitably modified, could be applied to other
3
Ground-Water Flow Model Application
types of related ground-water models, such as multi-phase
D 5718 Guide for Documenting a Ground-Water Flow
models, non-continuum (karst or fracture flow) models, or
3
Model Application
mass transport models.
E 978 Practice for Evaluating Mathematical Models for the
1.5 Guide D 5447 presents the steps to be taken in applying
4
Environmental Fate of Chemicals
a ground-water modeling code to a site-specific problem.
Calibration is one of those steps. Other standards have been
3. Terminology
prepared on environmental modeling, such as Guides D 5490,
3.1 Definitions:
D 5609, D 5610, D 5611, D 5718, and Practice E 978.
3.1.1 application verification—using the set of parameter
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
values and boundary conditions from a calibrated model to
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
approximate acceptably a second set of field data measured
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
under similar hydrologic conditions.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.1.1.1 Discussion—Application verification is to be distin-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
guished from code verification, which refers to software
1.7 This guide offers an organized collection of information
testing, comparison with analytical solutions, and comparison
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
with other similar codes to demonstrate that the code represents
course of action. This document cannot replace education or
its mathematical foundations.
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
3.1.2 calibrated model—a model that has achieved a de-
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all
sired degree of correspondence between the model simulations
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre-
and observations of the physical hydrogeologic system.
sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
2
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Ground Water and Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
3
Vadose Zone Investigations. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09.
4
Current edition approved July 10, 1996. Published November 1996. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.05.
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D 5981
3.1.3 calibration (model application)—the process of refin- to be re
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