TECHNICAL PAPERS
Aug 1, 1987

Performance Evaluation of Surface Water Transport and Dispersion Models

Publication: Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 113, Issue 8

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to identify, collate, and define the procedures required to evaluate the performance of an analytical or numerical surface water model. The essential elements are: Identification of the problem; relationship of the model to the problem; solution scheme examination, model response studies, model calibration; and model validation. Codification is not attempted, rather literature examples are used to define the techniques that have been used to address each of the elements above. Emphasis in the six elements is placed on moving the evaluation of models, particularly those in journal publications, towards more quantitative or objective measures of calibration and validation. Also recognized, however, is that such objective measures can only be meaningful when placed in context with all the performance elements.

Get full access to this article

View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.

References

1.
Abbott, M. (1979). Computational Hydraulics, Pittman Pub. Ltd., London, U.K.
2.
Abbott, M., McCowan, A., and Warren R. (1981). “Numerical modeling of freesurface flows that are two‐dimensional in plan.” Transport Models for Inland and Coastal Waters. H. B. Fischer, Ed., Academic Press, New York, N.Y., 222–283.
3.
Abraham, G., van Os, A., and Verboom, G. (1981). “Mathematical modelling of flows and transport of conservative substances: requirements for predictive ability.” Transport Models for Inland and Coastal Waters. H. B. Fischer, Ed., Academic Press, New York, N.Y., 1–31.
4.
Alam, A., Harleman, D., and Colonell, J. (1982). “Evaluation of selected initial dilution models.” J. Environmental Engrg., ASCE, 108(1), 159–186.
5.
Allender, J. (1976). “Review and appraisal of numerical circulation models for Lake Michigan.” ANL/WR‐76‐6, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Ill.
6.
Bedford, K., and Babajimopoulos, C. (1980). “Verifying lake transport models with special statistics.” J. Hydraulics Div., ASCE, 106(1), 21–38.
7.
Bedford, K. (1981). “Spectra preservation capabilities of Great Lakes transport models.” Transport Models for Inland and Coastal Waters. H. B. Fischer, Ed., Academic Press, New York, N.Y., 172–221.
8.
Bella, D., and Grenney, W. (1970). “Finite‐difference convection errors.” J. Sanitary Engrg. Div., ASCE, 96(6), 1361–1375.
9.
Chapra, S., and Reckhow, K. (1983). Engineering Approaches for Lake Management, Volume 2: Meclumistic Modeling, Ann Arbor Science, Butterworth Publ., Boston, Mass., 435–459.
10.
Ditmars, J., Paddock, R., and Frigo, A. (1979). “Observations of thermal plumes from submerged discharges in the Great Lakes and their implications for modeling and monitoring.” Waste Heat Management and Utilization. S. S. Lee and S. Sengupta, Eds., Hemisphere Publ. Corp., New York, N.Y., 1307–1328.
11.
Dingman, S., and Bedford, K. (1986). “Skill tests and parametric statistics for model evaluation.” J. Hydraulic Engrg., ASCE, 112(1), 124–141.
12.
Fischer, H., List, E., Koh, R., Imberger, J., and Brooks, N. (1979). Mixing in Inland and Coastal Waters, Academic Press, New York, N.Y.
13.
Ford, D., and Thornton, K. (1979). “Time and length scales for the one‐dimensional assumption and its relation to ecological models.” Water Resources Research, 15, 113–120.
14.
Hall, R., and Chapman, R. (1982). “Comparison of third‐order transport schemes.” Proc. Applying Research to Hydraulic Practice, Jackson, Miss., P. E. Smith, Ed., ASCE, 510–514.
15.
Haltiner, G., and Martin, R. (1980). Numerical Prediction and Dynamic Meteorology. John Wiley and Sons Co., Inc., New York, N.Y.
16.
Hern, S., Flatman, G., Kinney, W., Pollard, J., and Crockett, A. (1983). “Guidelines for field testing aquatic fate and transport models: final report.” U.S. EPA Report EPA‐600/4‐83‐030.
17.
Ho., E., and Adams, E. (1984). “Final calibration of the coding lake model for Nath Anna Power Station.” Report No. 295. R. M. Parsons Lab. for Water Resources and Hydrodynamics, Dept. of Civil Engineering, MIT, Cambridge, Mass.
18.
Holley, E., Harleman, D., and Fischer, H. (1970). “Dispersion in homogeneous estuary flow.” J. Hydraulics Div., ASCE, 96(8), 1691–1709.
19.
House, P. (1974). “Diogenes revisited—the search for a valid model.” SIMULATION, 117–125.
20.
James, L., and Burges, S. (1982). “Selection, calibration, and testing of hydrologic models.” Hydrologic Modeling of Small Watersheds. C. T. Haan, H. P. Johnson, and D. L. Brakensiek, Eds., Am. Soc. Agric. Engrs. Monograph No. 5, 437–474.
21.
Leendertse, J., and Liu, S. (1975). “A water‐quality simulation model for well mixed estuaries and coastal seas: vol. vii, A hindcast.” R‐1774‐NYC. Rand Corp.
22.
Leendertse, J., and Liu, S. (1977). “A three‐dimensional model for estuaries and coastal seas: vol. iv, turbulent energy computation.” R‐2187‐OWRT. Rand Corp.
23.
Leendertse, J., Langerak, A., and de Ras, M. (1981). “Two‐dimensional tidal models for the delta works.” Transport Models for Inland and Coastal Waters. H. B. Fischer, Ed., Academic Press, New York, N.Y., 408–450.
24.
Libicki, C., and Bedford, K. (1985). “Computer animation of storm surge predictions.” J. Hydraulic Engrg., ASCE, 111(2), 284–299.
25.
Mankin, J., O'Neill, R., Shugart, H., and Rust, B. (1977). “The importance of validation in ecosystem analysis.” New Directions in the Analysis of Ecological Systems. G. S. Innis, Ed., Soc. for Computer Simulation, Vol. 5, 63–71.
26.
McRae, G., Goodin, W., and Seinfeld, J. (1982). “Numerical solution of the atmospheric diffusion equation for chemically reacting flows.” J. Computational Physics 45, 1–42.
27.
Mesinger, F., and Arakawa, A. (1976). “Numerical methods used in atmospheric models.” Global Atmospheric Program Pub. No. 17, Vol. 1, World Meteorological Assoc.
28.
Mills, M., Vogt, D., and Mann, B. (1983). “Benchmark Problems for Radiological Assessment Codes.” Nuclear Regulatory Commission Report NUREG‐CR‐3451.
29.
Prych, E. A., and Chidley, T. (1969). Discussion of “Numerical studies of unsteady dispersion in estuaries.” by D. R. F. Harleman, C. H. Lee and L. C. Hall. J. Sanitary Engrg., ASCE, 95(5), 959–964.
30.
Roache, P. (1982). Computational Fluid Dynamics, Hermosa Publishers, Albuquerque, N.M.
31.
Rodi, W. (1982). “Testing and calibration of turbulence models for transport and mixing.” Proc., Applying Research to Hydraulic Practice, Jackson, Miss., P. E. Smith, Ed., ASCE, 584–593.
32.
Shaeffer, D. (1980). “A model evaluation methodology applicable to environmental assessment models.” Ecological Modelling 8, 275–295.
33.
Silling, S. (1983). “Final technical position on documentation of computer codes for high‐level waste management.” Nuclear Regulatory Commission Report NUREG‐0856.
34.
Simons, T. (1976). “Analysis and simulation spatial variations of physical and biochemical processes in Lake Ontario.” J. Great Lakes Res., 2, 215–233.
35.
Thomann, R. (1980). “Measures of verification.” Proc., Workshop on Verification of Water Quality Models, EPA 600/9‐80‐016.
36.
Thomann, R. (1982). “Verification of water quality models.” J. Environmental Engrg., ASCE, 108(5), 923–940.
37.
TRC‐Environmental Consultants, Inc. (1980). “Protocol for plume model validation.” Electric Power Research Inst., Report No. EPRI EA‐1638.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Journal of Hydraulic Engineering
Volume 113Issue 8August 1987
Pages: 961 - 980

History

Published online: Aug 1, 1987
Published in print: Aug 1987

Permissions

Request permissions for this article.

Authors

Affiliations

John D. Ditmars
Argonne National Lab., 9700 S. Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439
E. Eric Adams
Prin. Res. Engr. Energy Lab and Lect., Dept. of Civ. Engrg., Massachusetts Inst., of Tech., Cambridge, MA 02139
Keith W. Bedford
Prof., Civ. Engrg. Dept., Ohio State Univ., 2070 Neil Ave., Columbus, OH 43210
Dennis E. Ford, Members, ASCE
Ford, Thornton and Norton, Inc., 3 Innwood Circle, Suite 220, Little Rock, AR 72211

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Download citation

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

Cited by

View Options

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Get Access

Access content

Please select your options to get access

Log in/Register Log in via your institution (Shibboleth)
ASCE Members: Please log in to see member pricing

Purchase

Save for later Information on ASCE Library Cards
ASCE Library Cards let you download journal articles, proceedings papers, and available book chapters across the entire ASCE Library platform. ASCE Library Cards remain active for 24 months or until all downloads are used. Note: This content will be debited as one download at time of checkout.

Terms of Use: ASCE Library Cards are for individual, personal use only. Reselling, republishing, or forwarding the materials to libraries or reading rooms is prohibited.
ASCE Library Card (5 downloads)
$105.00
Add to cart
ASCE Library Card (20 downloads)
$280.00
Add to cart
Buy Single Article
$35.00
Add to cart

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Copy the content Link

Share with email

Email a colleague

Share