Models for Ground Water Flow and Contamination: Survey and Classification

This paper summaries the activities of the ASCE Environmental Engineering Division's Groundwater Quality Committee related to survey and classification of most commonly used ground water flow and contamination models. Results are presented from a survey of the committee combined with the similar surveys conducted by other private and government agencies. Fourteen of the commonly used models, identified in these surveys, were classified according to characteristics of usage (prediction, management, or parameter identification), function (flow, contaminant or energy transport), and simulation (domain representation, dimensionality, and solution technique). The surveys indicated the level of usage of models in the ground water industry and identified concerns in selection of models. In a companion paper to be published in the next edition of this periodical, guidance is provided to the practicing professionals on the evaluation and usage of these models.