ASTM D5981-96(2008)
Standard Guide for Calibrating a Ground-Water Flow Model Application

Standard No.

ASTM D5981-96(2008)

Release Date

1996

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Status

Be replaced

Replace By

ASTM D5981/D5981M-18

Latest

ASTM D5981/D5981M-18

Scope

Most site-specific ground-water flow models must be calibrated prior to use in predictions. In these cases, calibration is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition which must be obtained to have confidence in the model''s predictions.

Often, during calibration, it becomes apparent that there are no realistic values of the hydraulic properties of the soil or rock which will allow the model to reproduce the calibration targets. In these cases the conceptual model of the site may need to be revisited or the construction of the model may need to be revised. In addition, the source and quality of the data used to establish the calibration targets may need to be reexamined. For example, the modeling process can sometimes identify a previously undetected surveying error, which would results in inaccurate hydraulic head targets.

This guide is not meant to be an inflexible description of techniques for calibrating a ground-water flow model; other techniques may be applied as appropriate and, after due consideration, some of the techniques herein may be omitted, altered, or enhanced.

1.1 This guide covers techniques that can be used to calibrate a ground-water flow model. The calibration of a model is the process of matching historical data, and is usually a prerequisite for making predictions with the model.

1.2 Calibration is one of the stages of applying a ground-water modeling code to a site-specific problem (see Guide D 5447). Calibration is the process of refining the model representation of the hydrogeologic framework, hydraulic properties, and boundary conditions to achieve a desired degree of correspondence between the model simulations and observations of the ground-water flow system.

1.3 Flow models are usually calibrated using either the manual (trial-and-error) method or an automated (inverse) method. This guide presents some techniques for calibrating a flow model using either method.

1.4 This guide is written for calibrating saturated porous medium (continuum) ground-water flow models. However, these techniques, suitably modified, could be applied to other types of related ground-water models, such as multi-phase models, non-continuum (karst or fracture flow) models, or mass transport models.

1.5 Guide D 5447 presents the steps to be taken in applying a ground-water modeling code to a site-specific problem. Calibration is one of those steps. Other standards have been prepared on environmental modeling, such as Guides D 5490, D 5609, D 5610, D 5611, D 5718, and Practice E 978.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.7 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project''s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

ASTM D5981-96(2008) Referenced Document

• ASTM D5447 Standard Guide for Application of a Numerical Groundwater Flow Model to a Site-Specific Problem*， 2017-12-15 Update
• ASTM D5490 Standard Guide for Comparing Ground-Water Flow Model Simulations to Site-Specific Information*， 1998-10-13 Update
• ASTM D5609 Standard Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Ground-Water Flow Modeling*， 1998-10-13 Update
• ASTM D5610 Standard Guide for Defining Initial Conditions in Ground-Water Flow Modeling*， 1998-10-13 Update
• ASTM D5611 Standard Guide for Conducting a Sensitivity Analysis for a Ground-Water Flow Model Application*， 1998-10-13 Update
• ASTM D5718 Standard Guide for Documenting a Groundwater Flow Model Application
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids*， 1997-04-19 Update
• ASTM E978 

ASTM D5981-96(2008) history

• 2018 ASTM D5981/D5981M-18 Standard Guide for Calibrating a Groundwater Flow Model Application
• 1996 ASTM D5981-96(2008) Standard Guide for Calibrating a Ground-Water Flow Model Application
• 1996 ASTM D5981-96(2002) Standard Guide for Calibrating a Ground-Water Flow Model Application
• 1998 ASTM D5981-96e1 Standard Guide for Calibrating a Ground-Water Flow Model Application