Area of Interest (AOI)
Long-Term Remediation Management and
Optimization
Ground Water
Modeling/Simulation Optimization
Traditionally, pump-and-treat systems are designed or
improved by applying a “trial and error” approach that attempts
to identify the “best” well and flow configuration following
numerous iterative runs of the flow and transport model.
Simulation-optimization models link mathematical optimization
techniques with simulations of groundwater flow and/or solute
transport to determine, in a largely automated fashion, the
“best” combination of well locations and pumping rates. The
optimal solution is defined by an explicit measure, such as
life-cycle cost or mass remaining, termed the objective
function. The optimal solution must meet site-specific constraints, such as limits on pumping rates, costs,
concentrations, or well locations. Together, the objective
function and constraints comprise the “formulation” which
defines the problem to be solved.
Optimization can be
applied to models of only groundwater flow or to coupled ground
water flow and contaminant transport models. The tool MODMAN
works with the MODFLOW ground water flow model and can be used
to optimize plume containment systems or resource development.
Various tools that can work with MODFLOW and the MT3D transport
model are available, including MGO from the University of
Alabama or the SOMOS suite of tools from Utah State University.
These tools have been applied to various Department of Defense
environmental restoration sites with significant potential
savings.
Resources
(available on the RSE Web Page):
- MODMAN
Flow (hydraulic) Optimization Software (free)
- MGO
Flow/Transport Optimization Software (free)
- SOMOS
Flow/Transport Optimization Software (public version)
- Other
software available on the Federal Remediation Technology
Roundtable Simulation Optimization web site
Results:
- EPA
Demonstration Project for Application of MODMAN – Vol I, Vol II
- Department of Defense / EPA Sponsored Demonstration Project
for Flow and Transport Modeling Optimization using MGA and
SOMOS - Report (includes links for the report, models, and
related documents)
Training:
- ESTCP/EPA Training on Simulation Optimization
- Related
EPA Training - Assessing Capture Zones for Ground Water
Extraction Systems
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