Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar
<div><p>In hydrogeological modelling, two approaches are commonly used for model calibration: zonation and the pilot-points method. Zonation assumes an abrupt spatial change in parameter values, which could be unrealistic in field applications. The pilot-points method produces smoothly d...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | , , |
| Published: |
2019
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1864513520721199104 |
|---|---|
| author | Husam Baalousha (18140608) |
| author2 | Marwan Fahs (18140611) Fanilo Ramasomanana (18140614) Anis Younes (18140617) |
| author2_role | author author author |
| author_facet | Husam Baalousha (18140608) Marwan Fahs (18140611) Fanilo Ramasomanana (18140614) Anis Younes (18140617) |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Husam Baalousha (18140608) Marwan Fahs (18140611) Fanilo Ramasomanana (18140614) Anis Younes (18140617) |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2019-04-02T03:00:00Z |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | 10.3390/w11040679 |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv | https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Effect_of_Pilot-Points_Location_on_Model_Calibration_Application_to_the_Northern_Karst_Aquifer_of_Qatar/25390969 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | Biological sciences Biochemistry and cell biology Engineering Chemical engineering groundwater flow model calibration PEST pilot-points MODFLOW Qatar |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Text Journal contribution info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion text contribution to journal |
| description | <div><p>In hydrogeological modelling, two approaches are commonly used for model calibration: zonation and the pilot-points method. Zonation assumes an abrupt spatial change in parameter values, which could be unrealistic in field applications. The pilot-points method produces smoothly distributed parameters compared to the zonation approach; however, the number and placement of pilot-points can be challenging. The main goal of this paper is to explore the effect of pilot-points number and locations on the calibrated parameters. A 3D groundwater flow model was built for the northern karst aquifer of Qatar. A conceptual model of this aquifer was developed based on MODFLOW software (United States Geological Survey). The model was calibrated using the parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis (PEST) package employing historical data of groundwater levels. The effect of the number and locations of pilot-points was examined by running the model using a variable numbers of points and several perturbations of locations. The calibration errors for all the runs (corresponding to different configurations of pilot-points) were maintained under a certain threshold. A statistical analysis of the calibrated parameters was then performed to evaluate how far these parameters are impacted by the pilot-point locations. Finally, an optimization method was proposed for pilot-points placement using recharge and observed piezometric maps. The results revealed that the pilot-points number, locations, and configurations have a significant effect on the calibrated parameter, especially in the high permeable regions corresponding to the karstic zones. The outcome of this study may help focus on areas of high uncertainty where more field data should be collected to improve model calibration. It also helps the placement of pilot-points for a robust calibration.</p><p> </p></div><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Water<br> License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11040679" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11040679</a></p> |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| id | Manara2_e31172d4bf301db4a57f8b4b2ebcb968 |
| identifier_str_mv | 10.3390/w11040679 |
| network_acronym_str | Manara2 |
| network_name_str | Manara2 |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:figshare.com:article/25390969 |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 |
| spelling | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of QatarHusam Baalousha (18140608)Marwan Fahs (18140611)Fanilo Ramasomanana (18140614)Anis Younes (18140617)Biological sciencesBiochemistry and cell biologyEngineeringChemical engineeringgroundwater flowmodel calibrationPESTpilot-pointsMODFLOWQatar<div><p>In hydrogeological modelling, two approaches are commonly used for model calibration: zonation and the pilot-points method. Zonation assumes an abrupt spatial change in parameter values, which could be unrealistic in field applications. The pilot-points method produces smoothly distributed parameters compared to the zonation approach; however, the number and placement of pilot-points can be challenging. The main goal of this paper is to explore the effect of pilot-points number and locations on the calibrated parameters. A 3D groundwater flow model was built for the northern karst aquifer of Qatar. A conceptual model of this aquifer was developed based on MODFLOW software (United States Geological Survey). The model was calibrated using the parameter estimation and uncertainty analysis (PEST) package employing historical data of groundwater levels. The effect of the number and locations of pilot-points was examined by running the model using a variable numbers of points and several perturbations of locations. The calibration errors for all the runs (corresponding to different configurations of pilot-points) were maintained under a certain threshold. A statistical analysis of the calibrated parameters was then performed to evaluate how far these parameters are impacted by the pilot-point locations. Finally, an optimization method was proposed for pilot-points placement using recharge and observed piezometric maps. The results revealed that the pilot-points number, locations, and configurations have a significant effect on the calibrated parameter, especially in the high permeable regions corresponding to the karstic zones. The outcome of this study may help focus on areas of high uncertainty where more field data should be collected to improve model calibration. It also helps the placement of pilot-points for a robust calibration.</p><p> </p></div><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Water<br> License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11040679" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11040679</a></p>2019-04-02T03:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.3390/w11040679https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Effect_of_Pilot-Points_Location_on_Model_Calibration_Application_to_the_Northern_Karst_Aquifer_of_Qatar/25390969CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/253909692019-04-02T03:00:00Z |
| spellingShingle | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar Husam Baalousha (18140608) Biological sciences Biochemistry and cell biology Engineering Chemical engineering groundwater flow model calibration PEST pilot-points MODFLOW Qatar |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar |
| title_full | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar |
| title_short | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar |
| title_sort | Effect of Pilot-Points Location on Model Calibration: Application to the Northern Karst Aquifer of Qatar |
| topic | Biological sciences Biochemistry and cell biology Engineering Chemical engineering groundwater flow model calibration PEST pilot-points MODFLOW Qatar |