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The
objectives and achievements of the W-SAHaRA Consortium are to
1.
Gather and maintain a
database of information on existing research/technical
aspects/regulations in the field.
2.
Bring together researchers for exchange of information.
3.
Identify gaps in understanding and knowledge and direct the
research of the consortium to address them.
4.
Develop an integrated methodology for the quantification of the
concept of vulnerability of groundwater resources by approaching the
problem in a probabilistic framework.
We aim to:
(a)
develop algorithms for optimum, unbiased predictions of flow around
wells in heterogeneous formations, subject to uncertain forcing terms
together with a companion
algorithm for assessment of corresponding prediction errors;
(b)
lay the conceptual/theoretical/computational groundwork for the
prediction of a drinking pumping station capture-time and associated
prediction error;
(c)
analyse the applicability of conditional Monte Carlo techniques for
heterogeneous aquifers (with incorporation of inverse stochastic modelling)
and analyse the role of key hydrogeological parameters and of relevant
geological and hydrologeological data;
(d)
perform flow & transport investigations at laboratory scale in
heterogeneous media, so as to progress actual technology and produce data
sets suitable for calibration / validation and testing of stochastic
transport models / theory;
(e)
perform tracer experiments at field scale in a selected site in
South Germany with as much data as possible available (especially a site
with tracer experiments already performed) to reduce experimental costs;
5.
Analyse
practical flow situations around drinking wells by means of deterministic
models and interpretation of results in light of a probabilistic
framework; this objective will be achieved in strong connection with
partners of the consortium from Public/Private sectors.
The latter will (a) perform the (existing) data analysis and (b)
build and run the deterministic model of a site which is relevant to their
practical needs.
6.
Demonstrate the use of stochastic modelling for analysis of
laboratory scale problems and no less than one and no more than two
selected field sites.
7.
Define philosophy of risk assessment. Results of the various studies will converge in guidelines
for the development of criteria to use at the level of planning the
management of groundwater extraction by drinking wells.
8.
Disseminate the research findings and propose guidelines /
recommendations.
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