NGEK10029U Groundwater Exploitation and Protection

Volume 2013/2014
Education
MSc programme in Geology and Geoscience
Content

Groundwater modeling principles, model types, terminology. Development of conceptual geological and hydrogeological models. Mathematical and numerical principles, boundary conditions. Development of 3D groundwater models. Data requirements. Discretization, parameterization, accuracy criteria. Calibration and validation of groundwater models. Inverse modeling. Simulation of particle pathways and travel times. Infiltration areas, capture zones, groundwater protection. Scale issues and heterogeneity. Stochastic analysis and uncertainty assessments. Examples.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge:

  • Groundwater modeling principles, model types, terminology
  • Development of conceptual geological and hydrogeological models
  • Mathematical and numerical principles, boundary conditions
  • Data requirements
  • Discretization, parameterization, accuracy criteria
  • Inverse modeling
  • Stochastic analysis and uncertainty assessments.


Skills:

  • development of 3D groundwater models
  • calibration and validation of groundwater models
  • Simulation of particle pathways and travel times; infiltration areas, capture zones, groundwater protection
  • identification of scale issues and heterogeneity
  • development of geological and hydrogeological conceptual models as a basis for development of groundwater models
  • calibration and validation of groundwater models
  • application of groundwater models for assessment of groundwater recharge, flow pathways, travel times, capture zones, groundwater zonation
  • application of groundwater models for assessment of groundwater exploitation and protection


Competences:

  • Upon completion of the course, students should be able
  • to collect and analyze relevant data in relation to assessments of groundwater utilization and protection
  • to analyze incoming and outgoing fluxes to an aquifer system
  • to analyze the response of an aquifer system to external forcings
  • to develop geological and hydrogeological conceptual models
  • to setup and calibrate a groundwater model
  • to derive accuracy criteria for calibration of a groundwater model
  • to calibrate and validate a groundwater model
  • to apply a groundwater model for resources and protection assessments
Literature

Please see Absalon course page.

BSc in Geology and Geoscience or equivalent
The form of teaching is class teaching mixed with lectures and PC based exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Preparation
  • 136
  • Project work
  • 35
  • Theory exercises
  • 35
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Oral examination, 20 minutes
The written assignment is prepared during the course and must be handed in prior to the exam week. The oral exam uses the written assignment as its point of departure. It includes the titles listed in the officially approved reading list.
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

See description of learning outcome