ASTM D5718-13
Standard Guide for Documenting a Groundwater Flow Model Application

Standard No.

ASTM D5718-13

Release Date

2013

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM D5718-13

Scope

4.1 Groundwater flow models are tools frequently applied for the analysis of hydrogeologic systems. Due to the significance of many decisions based upon modeling results, quality assurance measures need to be applied to model applications. Complete model documentation is a mechanism to ensure the quality of the effort.

4.2 Several federal and state agencies have developed policies regarding model documentation. This guide provides consistency amongst current policies, and should be used as a framework for model documentation.

1.1 This guide covers suggested components to be included in documenting and archival of numerical groundwater flow model applications. Model documentation includes a written and graphical presentation of model assumptions and objectives, the conceptual model, code description, model construction, model calibration, predictive simulations, and conclusions. Model archival refers to a file or set of files (in both written and digital format) that contains logs of significant model simulations (that is, calibration, sensitivity and prediction simulations), supplemental calculations, model documentation, a copy of the model source code(s) or executable file(s) used, or both, and input and output data sets for significant model simulations.

1.2 This guide presents the major steps in preparing the documentation and archival for a groundwater flow model application. Additional information on groundwater model documentation can be found in EPA-500-B-92-006.²

1.3 This guide is specifically written for saturated, uniform density, groundwater flow model applications. The elements presented for documentation and archival are relevant and applicable to a wide range of modeled processes (in and out of the realm of groundwater flow) and can be tailored for those applications.

1.4 This guide is not intended to be all inclusive. Each model application is unique and may require supplementary documentation and archival.

1.5 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.

1.6 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 D5718-13 Referenced Document

• ASTM D5490 Standard Guide for Comparing Ground-Water Flow Model Simulations to Site-Specific Information
• ASTM D5609 Standard Guide for Defining Boundary Conditions in Ground-Water Flow Modeling
• ASTM D5610 Standard Guide for Defining Initial Conditions in Ground-Water Flow Modeling
• ASTM D5611 Standard Guide for Conducting a Sensitivity Analysis for a Ground-Water Flow Model Application
• ASTM D653 Standard Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained Fluids

ASTM D5718-13 history

• 2013 ASTM D5718-13 Standard Guide for Documenting a Groundwater Flow Model Application
• 1995 ASTM D5718-95(2012) Standard Guide for Documenting a Groundwater Flow Model Application
• 1995 ASTM D5718-95(2006) Standard Guide for Documenting a Ground-Water Flow Model Application
• 1995 ASTM D5718-95(2000) Standard Guide for Documenting a Ground-Water Flow Model Application