Featured Research Project_
The goal of this research project is to develop a Model Management System
(MMS) for numerical models that deal with subsurface fluid flow, contaminant
transport and chemical and biological reactions. Each model will be associated
with model metadata and stored in a relational database that supports
Standard Query Language. The subsurface simulations MMS will be accessible
through a web site we will develop in the course of the project.
Over the past several decades, researchers in government laboratories universities and private industry have developed an impressive arsenal of tools for simulating subsurface fluid flow and many related subsurface physical processes. For example, there are models for simulating transport of contaminants, thermal energy, air, oil, gas and biomass. Some models are capable of describing complex interactions between multiple chemical and biological species. Many of the models have several common features in both mathematical approaches and modeling capabilities. Some models apply to only a very specific problem and have a narrow range of application, for example software to analyze the results of a pump test.
In an optimal scenario, decision makers would not rely on the predictions of a single model, but instead would make informed decisions based on predictions produced by multiple models, if available. For a specific field application how can decision makers know if multiple models are available? If the groundwater problem under study is not one that can be modeled using highly cited, commonly used models, how can decision makers find appropriate and practical simulation tools?
The U.S. Department of Energy funded this research project under SBIR Contract DE-FG02-06ER84661.
