Learning objectives
Knowledge and understanding: learn the basics of numerical modeling of groundwater flow and advective transport of contaminants.
Applied knowledge and understanding: ability to read and understand how to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to examples of real case studies to be modeled.
Autonomy of judgment: know how to evaluate the content of novelty and innovation present in the examples of case studies based on the theoretical knowledge acquired.
Communication skills: know how to present and organize the presentation of a specialized topic of in-depth study on the themes developed.
Learning skills: know how to deepen a topic starting from previous knowledge applied to similar examples and applications of modeling of a flow problem and the transport of contaminants.
Prerequisites
No
Course unit content
The course aims to introduce the numerical modeling of groundwater flow (fluid flow in porous media) and solute/contaminant transport in aquifers. The course consists of a theoretical part where the basics of the necessary modeling will be exposed and a practical part during which hydrogeological modeling exercises will be performed with the help of open source software: MODFLOW, MODPATH, MT3DMS, SEAWAT. The acquired knowledge will then be applied to three real case studies in the field of contaminant migration and safety and remediation of contaminated sites. At the end of the course, students will have the necessary skills to address numerical modeling problems of interest starting from the present conceptual model.
Full programme
Fundamentals of modeling.
Purpose of modeling.
Definition of the conceptual model and characteristics.
Components of the conceptual model: boundary conditions, hydrogeological properties, hydraulic conductivity.
Darcy's law.
Generalization to three dimensions.
Equation governing groundwater flow.
Derivation.
Presence of external sources.
Analytical models.
Examples of analytical models and solutions.
Boundary conditions.
Numerical models.
Finite difference method.
Example of approximate solutions.
Grid discretization and boundary conditions.
Numerical methods.
Steady-state and transient regime.
Particle tracking.
Interpolation rates.
Spatial and temporal discretization effects.
Capture zones.
Advective transport of contaminants.
Equations of advective and dispersive transport and migration of contaminants in aquifers.
Transport of multicomponents in a single-phase fluid.
Multiphase immiscible fluids: LNAPL and DNAPL.
Hydrogeological modeling exercise with the help of open-source software: MODFLOW, MODPATH, MT3DMS, SEAWAT. The acquired knowledge will then be applied to three real case studies in the field of contaminant migration and safety, remediation, of contaminated sites.
Bibliography
Applied Groundwater Modeling, Simulation of Flow and Advective Transport.
Mary P. Anderson, William W. Woessner, Randall J. Hunt.
The material provided by the teacher (slides) that you will find on Elly, together with all the material needed for practical activities.
Teaching methods
Frontal teaching is where key concepts are exposed, and case studies are presented. Laboratory activities include modeling and numerical simulations of real case studies using the tools mentioned above. All the necessary material and the teacher's slides will be provided before each lesson.
Assessment methods and criteria
The ability to independently use, integrate, and communicate the student's knowledge is verified in different phases of the course through problems assigned and solved by the students.
The acquisition of knowledge is verified through a final oral exam, during which theoretical knowledge is applied to real case studies.
Honors are awarded in cases where an extraordinary ability to address and solve the problems posed is demonstrated. For foreign students, the English language is used.
Other information
No
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
The course is related to the following objectives: 6, 11, 13, 14 and 15
