Steady-state hydraulic tomography in a laboratory aquifer with deterministic heterogeneity: Multi-method and multiscale validation of hydraulic conductivity tomograms

Finding the right balance between groundwater model complexity and experimental effort via Bayesian model selection

“…Several approaches are available for validation, such as collecting additional data from core samples, single-hole pumping tests or flux measurements. Studies by Liu et al (2007) and Illman et al (2007) have indicated that, for large-scale groundwater models, validation with independent cross-hole pumping tests is most appropriate, because they provide more integral information about the adequacy of the models in large regions of the model domain.…”

Improved predictions of saturated and unsaturated zone drawdowns in a heterogeneous unconfined aquifer via transient hydraulic tomography: Laboratory sandbox experiments

“…This material was packed to match a heterogeneity pattern drawn on the glass side of the sandbox. The sand was slowly added to the sandbox through a tube to create thin layers (approximately 0.5-1 cm thick) and packed between each addition to achieve uniform compaction (e.g., Illman et al, 2007Illman et al, , 2010Berg and Illman, 2011).…”

Joint interpretation of sequential pumping tests in unconfined aquifers

“…They include numerical studies [e.g., Gottlieb and Dietrich, 1995;Yeh and Liu, 2000;Bohling et al, 2002;Yeh, 2005, 2006;Fienen et al, 2008;Ni and Yeh, 2008;Castagna and Bellin, 2009;Xiang et al, 2009;Liu and Kitanidis, 2011], followed by laboratory sandbox studies [e.g., Liu et al, 2002;Brauchler et al, 2003;Illman et al, 2007;Liu et al, 2007;Illman et al, 2008;Yin and Illman, 2009;Illman et al, 2010;Berg and Illman, 2011a;Illman et al, 2012] and then experimental field studies [e.g. Bohling et al, 2007;Li et al, 2007;Straface et al, 2007;Cardiff et al, 2009;Illman et al, 2009;Berg and Illman, 2011b;Brauchler et al, 2011;Huang et al, 2011].…”