Managerial Considerations in the use of groundwater models

The management of using the groundwater models consists of different
subjects, the most important of which have been mentioned and briefly
discussed in the present article.
Here the most important subjects is the successful use of mathematical
models which depends on the training and experiences of the technical
support staff, applying the model to a problem, and on the degree of
communication between these technical persons and management.
The other subject is the cost of different hardwares and softwares in a
groundwater modeling process. A" a general rule, costs are greatest for
personnel, moderate for hardware, and minimal for software. Managers
need to seriously consider which level of maintaining of above
mentioned factors are appropriate.
Having criteria in selection of modeling programs is also a matter of
importance. Technical criteria for selecting groundwater modeling
codes formulated by U.S. EPA (1988) is presented. These technical
criteria correspond roughly to the hydrogeologic model parameters.
Fundamentaly, using of programs should be based in accordance with
performance standards and accepted criteria.
The increasing use of modeling and computer codes, in regulatory
settings where decisions may be contested in court, requires careful
attention on quality assurance and quality control (QNQC) in both
model development and application.
Considering the limitations of computer codes is also a matter of
importance. Managers should have enough knowledge of capability
limitations of codes used appropriate for the region under study, and
then make proper decisions regarding the requirements.
In general the largest number of codes are in the saturated 110w
category (97), followed by the saturated solute-transport category (73).