Standard Guide for Selecting a Groundwater Modeling Code

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Groundwater modeling has become an important methodology in support of the planning and decision-making processes involved in groundwater management. Groundwater models provide an analytical framework for obtaining an understanding of the mechanisms and controls of groundwater systems and the processes that influence their quality, especially those caused by human intervention in such systems. Increasingly, models are an integral part of water resources assessment, protection, and restoration studies, and provide essential and cost-effective support for planning and screening of alternative policies, regulations, and engineering designs affecting groundwater.  
Many different groundwater modeling codes are available, each with their own capabilities, operational characteristics and limitations. Furthermore, each groundwater project has its own requirements with respect to modeling. Therefore, it is important that the most appropriate code is selected for a particular project. This is even more important for projects that require extensive modeling, or where costly decisions are based, in part, on the outcome of modeling-based analysis.
Systematic and comprehensive description of project requirements and code features provides the necessary basis for efficient selection of a groundwater modeling code. This standard guide is intended to encourage comprehensive and consistent description of code capabilities and code requirements in the code selection process, as well as thorough documentation of the code selection process.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers a systematic approach to the determination of the requirements for and the selection of computer codes used in a groundwater modeling project. Due to the complex nature of fluid flow and biotic and chemical transport in the subsurface, many different groundwater modeling codes exist, each having specific capabilities and limitations. Furthermore, a wide variety of situations may be encountered in projects where groundwater models are used. Determining the most appropriate code for a particular application requires a thorough analysis of the problem at hand and the required and available resources, as well as detailed description of the functionality of candidate codes.
1.2 The code selection process described in this guide consists of systematic analysis of project requirements and careful evaluation of the match between project needs and the capabilities of candidate codes. Insufficiently documented capabilities of candidate codes may require additional analysis of code functionality as part of the code selection process. Fig. 1 is provided to assist with the determination of project needs in terms of code capabilities, and, if necessary, to determine code capabilities.
1.3 This guide is one of a series of guides on groundwater modeling codes and their applications, such as Guides D5447, D5490, D5609, D5610, D5611, D5718, and D6025 .
1.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This guide cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgement. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This guide 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 guide 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.  
1.5 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.
FIG. 1 Checklist for Groundwater Modeling Nee...

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ASTM D6170-97(2010) - Standard Guide for Selecting a Groundwater Modeling Code
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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: D6170 − 97 (Reapproved 2010)
Standard Guide for
1
Selecting a Groundwater Modeling Code
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6170; 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 1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 This guide covers a systematic approach to the determi-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
nation of the requirements for and the selection of computer
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
codes used in a groundwater modeling project. Due to the
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
complex nature of fluid flow and biotic and chemical transport
in the subsurface, many different groundwater modeling codes
2. Referenced Documents
exist, each having specific capabilities and limitations.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Furthermore, a wide variety of situations may be encountered
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
in projects where groundwater models are used. Determining
Fluids
the most appropriate code for a particular application requires
D5447 Guide forApplication of a Groundwater Flow Model
athoroughanalysisoftheproblemathandandtherequiredand
to a Site-Specific Problem
available resources, as well as detailed description of the
D5490 Guide for Comparing Groundwater Flow Model
functionality of candidate codes.
Simulations to Site-Specific Information
1.2 The code selection process described in this guide
D5609 Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Ground-
consists of systematic analysis of project requirements and
water Flow Modeling
careful evaluation of the match between project needs and the
D5610 GuideforDefiningInitialConditionsinGroundwater
capabilities of candidate codes. Insufficiently documented
Flow Modeling
capabilities of candidate codes may require additional analysis
D5611 Guide for Conducting a Sensitivity Analysis for a
of code functionality as part of the code selection process. Fig.
Groundwater Flow Model Application
1 is provided to assist with the determination of project needs
D5718 Guide for Documenting a Groundwater Flow Model
in terms of code capabilities, and, if necessary, to determine
Application
code capabilities.
D6025 Guide for Developing and Evaluating Groundwater
1.3 This guide is one of a series of guides on groundwater
Modeling Codes
modeling codes and their applications, such as Guides D5447,
D5490, D5609, D5610, D5611, D5718, and D6025.
3. Terminology
1.4 This guide offers an organized collection of information
3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
3.1.1 analytical model—in groundwater modeling, a model
course of action. This guide cannot replace education or
that uses closed form solutions to the governing equations
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
applicable to groundwater flow and transport processes.
judgement. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in
3.1.2 code selection—the process of choosing the appropri-
all circumstances. This guide is not intended to represent or
ate computer code, algorithm, or other analysis technique
replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given
capable of simulating those characteristics of the physical
professional service must be judged, nor should this guide be
system required to fulfill the modeling project’s objective(s).
applied without consideration of a project’s many unique
3.1.3 computer code (computer program)—assembly of nu-
aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document
merical techniques, bookkeeping, and control language that
means only that the document has been approved through the
represents the model from acceptance of input data and
ASTM consensus process.
instructions to delivery of output.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D18 on Soil and Rock
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater and
2
Vadose Zone Investigations. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved July 1, 2010. Published September 2010. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as D6170 – 97 (2004). Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
DOI: 10.1520/D6170-97R10. the ASTM website.
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