Training & Workshops

Model Calibration, Uncertainty Analysis and PEST - A Brief Tour

This short course is targeted at both modellers and those who use the results of models to set policy and make decisions. Its purpose is to provide a broad overview of parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis in groundwater modelling. While examples will focus on PEST, and an introduction to PEST and its supporting software will be provided, the intention of the course is to discuss the principles behind PEST rather than its working details.

A number of broad subject areas will be covered, including why there is so much nonuniqueness in estimating parameters for groundwater models, and why and how numerically stable solutions to the inverse problem of groundwater model calibration problem can nevertheless be obtained. It will be shown that calibration should be only the first step in the history matching process, and that calibration-constrained uncertainty analysis should be the second.

The idea that a groundwater model (or any environmental model) can tell us what will happen in the future is self-evidently wrong. However a great deal of model-based environmental decision-making seems to imply that this is the case. Instead, a model should be asked to tell us what will NOT happen in the future, and how unwanted outcomes of planned management strategies can therefore be avoided. When a model is used in this way, implementation of the scientific method and the needs of decision-makers coincide. The course will show how the partnership of a model with high-end parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis software such as PEST can provide a much needed basis for scientifically-based decision-making.

Trainer: John Doherty

Training fee: 300 €, with current SMA 270 €

Introduction to flow and mass transport simulation in 2D and 3D

This three-day, hands-on course will provide you with an introduction to groundwater modelling using FEFLOW. You will learn the basic concepts of the software through building two and three-dimensional flow and solute-transport models applying the most important programme functions, including pre-processing, simulation and result evaluation.

FEFLOW is widely recognised as a most comprehensive software package for subsurface flow and transport simulation. The software is used by leading research institutes, universities, consulting firms and government organisations all over the world. FEFLOW’s scope of application ranges from simple local scale to complex large scale modelling. Application areas include water management, mine water, saltwater intrusion, geothermal energy, and variably saturated media.

Trainer: Björn Onno Kaiser

Training fee: 900 €, with current SMA 810 €

Introduction to integrated modelling on catchment scale

This three-day, hands-on course covers the physical and modeling aspects of all the processes in the hydrological cycle. It provides hands-on experience with MIKE SHE's easy to use, model independent graphical user interface, as well as time for discussion related to hydrologic projects relevant to the participants.

MIKE SHE is the most widely used software for fully coupled and fully integrated surface water and groundwater modeling. MIKE SHE includes process models for overland flow, unsaturated flow, vegetation-based evapotranspiration, groundwater flow, fully dynamic channel flow and integrated water quality.

MIKE SHE is being used in real projects around the world to solve engineering problems across the full hydrological spectrum-from detailed wetland studies to basin-wide water resource management studies to real-time flood forecasting. Embedded in MIKE SHE is DHI's world renowned hydrodynamic river model, MIKE 11.

Trainer: Douglas Graham

Training fee: 900 €, with current SMA 810 €