Groundwater Flow

Groundwater plays a number of very important roles in our environment and in our economies. It supports rivers, lakes and wetlands, especially through drier months when there is little direct input from rainfall. To that end, numerical models are an essential tool for the proper and sustainable management of this important resource. Models include parameters such as, e.g., hydraulic conductivity. These are uncertain, as aquifer properties are highly unknown. Parameter calibration, based upon available measurements, is a necessary step in any modelling exercise. TK Consult AG has developed a modelling strategy consisting of (1) review of existing information, (2) conceptualization of the system's behavior, (3) implementation of such concept into a numerical model, (4) model calibration and validation and (5) forecasting of anthropic actions over the aquifer. Such methodology has been successfully applied to a large number of projects all over the world.

Most popular related searches

numerical modeling

monitoring network

hydraulic conductivity

water resource modeling

sustainability management

Our services include, but are not limited to:

Inverse Modelling / Model calibration:
Hydraulic parameters governing model equations (e.g., hydraulic conductivity) are unknown or, in best case, uncertain. Unknown parameters can be estimated by means of inverse modelling (automatic calibration) upon available measurements.

Optimum management of water resources:
Numerical models can be used to optimize the management of groundwater (e.g., design of optimum pumping networks) or to forecast the effects of planned constructions (e.g., infiltrations to a tunnel).

Well catchment areas and protection zones:
The delineation of catchment areas and protection zones are prerequisite to the concessions of new wells. Numerical modelling of Particle Random Walk and back-transport are well suited to that end.

Drainage design:
Some structures like underground parkings or mines require dry conditions during the excavation and stabilization phases. Numerical modelling is an optimum tool to simulate different drainage scenarios (e.g., a pumping field or a geological drain) and optimize the drainage system.

Optimum design of monitoring networks:
The sustainagle use of groundwater resources must always be ensured. A monitoring network must be available to control the quality and quantity of the available resources. Such network is optimally designed by means of numerical modelling in such a way that amount and quality of the rendered data is maximized.