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Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications
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Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydrogeology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2023) | Viewed by 11857

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Rui Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Interests: aquifer characterization; hydraulic and heat tomography; numerical modelling; hydrogeological field investigation
Dr. Linwei Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geosciences, Applied Geosciences-Geohydromodelling, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
Interests: hydraulic and tracer tomography; multiphase flow; gas storage; numerical modelling
Prof. Dr. Zhi Dou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Interests: groundwater flow and transport; solute transport; numerical modelling; DNAPL transport; groundwater remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The investigation of the heterogeneity of subsurface hydrogeological properties is essential for many underground engineering applications, such as the groundwater resource management, groundwater remediation, and geothermal applications. Over the last decades, new techniques for both numerical modelling and field investigation of hydrogeological parameters have evolved due to the development of computer power and modern sensing technology.

This Special Issue aims to present advanced techniques applied to aquifer characterization. Numerical modelling, laboratory experiments, and field investigations are main components of this Special Issue.  Research on these subjects helps to improve the understanding of aquifer characteristics and thus the accuracy of simulation and prediction of groundwater flow and transport. You are encouraged to submit papers related to aquifer characterization, inverse problems of subsurface hydrology, hydraulic, thermal and solute tracer tomography, hydrogeophysics, numerical model development, field investigations and applications, aquifer heterogeneity on different scales and multidisciplinary studies. We are also interested in studies that incorporate supercomputer platforms, computer clusters, or other hardware, which can be useful tools for calibrating big data obtained from field investigations or highly resolved laboratory experiments.

Prof. Dr. Rui Hu
Dr. Linwei Hu
Prof. Dr. Zhi Dou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aquifer characterization
  • aquifer heterogeneity
  • inverse problem
  • numerical modelling
  • tomographical method
  • groundwater flow and transport
  • groundwater remediation
  • well and aquifer testing

Published Papers (7 papers)

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15 pages, 2499 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Hydraulic Travel Time and Attenuation Inversions, Thermal Tracer Tomography and Geostatistical Inversion for Aquifer Characterization: A Numerical Study
by Yang Song, Rui Hu, Quan Liu, Huiyang Qiu, Xiaolan Hou, Junjie Qi and Bernard Konadu-Amoah
Water 2023, 15(13), 2401; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132401 - 29 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1070
Abstract
For the characterization of heterogeneous aquifers, transient hydraulic tomography (THT) was proposed as a promising method to obtain the distribution of hydraulic parameters with satisfying spatial resolution using different approaches. These include hydraulic travel time, attenuation inversions, thermal tracer tomography, and geostatistical inversion [...] Read more.
For the characterization of heterogeneous aquifers, transient hydraulic tomography (THT) was proposed as a promising method to obtain the distribution of hydraulic parameters with satisfying spatial resolution using different approaches. These include hydraulic travel time, attenuation inversions, thermal tracer tomography, and geostatistical inversion with successive linear estimator (SLE). For the same hydrogeological test, different inversion methods tend to use different sub-data sets to obtain different hydraulic parameters. Up to now, however, few studies have focused on revealing the respective characteristics of these inversion methods and attempted to improve the accuracy of aquifer characterization by bridging the shortcomings of the inversion methods. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of multiple inversion techniques on aquifer heterogeneity characterization. A series of warm water injection tests were first simulated in a fluvial aquifer analogue outcrop. The calculated head and temperature datasets from these tests were fully utilized to reveal the aquifer heterogeneity by using all of the four above-mentioned inversion methods. The results show that the thermal tracer tomography, hydraulic travel time, and attenuation tomography characterized the high permeability zones more accurately within the well area, whereas the geological statistical method tended to depict the overall distribution of K values for a larger area. By comparison analysis and combinations of the individual inversion results, the scientific and economic complementarity can be studied and some valuable advice for the choice of different inversion methods can be recommended for future practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications)
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24 pages, 26901 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Prospecting Using a Multi-Technique Framework in the Lower Casas Grandes Basin, Chihuahua, México
by Alfredo Granados-Olivas, Ezequiel Rascon-Mendoza, Francisco Javier Gómez-Domínguez, Carlo Ivan Romero-Gameros, Andrew J. Robertson, Luis Carlos Bravo-Peña, Ali Mirchi, Ana Cristina Garcia-Vasquez, Alexander Fernald, John W. Hawley, Luis Alfonso Gandara-Ruiz, Luis Carlos Alatorre-Cejudo, Maryam Samimi, Felipe Adrian Vazquez-Galvez, Adan Pinales-Munguia, Oscar Fidencio Ibañez-Hernandez, Josiah M. Heyman, Alex Mayer and William Hargrove
Water 2023, 15(9), 1673; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091673 - 25 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1748
Abstract
Groundwater is a strategic resource for economic development, social justice, environmental sustainability, and water governance. The lower Casas Grandes River Basin, located in the state of Chihuahua, México, is in a semi-arid region with increasing groundwater demand and regional challenges such as drought [...] Read more.
Groundwater is a strategic resource for economic development, social justice, environmental sustainability, and water governance. The lower Casas Grandes River Basin, located in the state of Chihuahua, México, is in a semi-arid region with increasing groundwater demand and regional challenges such as drought and depletion of aquifers. Even though there is official information about the availability of groundwater, a comprehensive aquifer characterization requiring an interdisciplinary investigation using a diverse suite of tools and multiple data sources has yet to be carried out. This study presents a multi-technique framework to evaluate potential sites to drill for groundwater resources and reduce the risk of unsuccessful drilling. The main components of the methodology include wellhead leveling correction with a differential global positioning survey to define piezometric levels, principal component analysis using LANDSAT-8 images, application of geospatial tools, geophysics analysis using time domain electromagnetic surveys (TDES) and vertical electric soundings (VES), and structural geohydrology to define aquifer characteristics. The results showed that using the proposed framework steps improved the possibility of identifying subsurface layers with lower resistivity values that could be related to groundwater. Low resistivity values (35 Ohm-m) were found at depths from 50 to 85 m at sites where the regional static water level reached a depth of 245 m, indicating the potential location of a shallow groundwater resource at a site where the intersection of a fracture trace was identified. This procedure can be used in other regions in the world where limited information is available for groundwater exploration, thus reducing the risk of drilling dry wells in complex hydrogeological environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications)
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20 pages, 11153 KiB  
Article
Study on the Mechanism and Prevention Method of Frozen Wall Maldevelopment Induced by High-Flow-Rate Groundwater
by Bin Wang, Yi Cao, Chuanxin Rong and Hua Cheng
Water 2022, 14(13), 2077; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132077 - 29 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1520
Abstract
In order to solve the engineering problem of the increase in closure time or even the failure of closure of the frozen wall in the high-velocity permeable stratum, the maldevelopment mechanism of frozen walls induced by high-flow-rate groundwater was studied by a similar [...] Read more.
In order to solve the engineering problem of the increase in closure time or even the failure of closure of the frozen wall in the high-velocity permeable stratum, the maldevelopment mechanism of frozen walls induced by high-flow-rate groundwater was studied by a similar physical model test. The results show that the flowing groundwater reduced the heat transfer efficiency of the freezing pipes and changed the spatial distribution of the frozen area. The closure time of the frozen wall and the non-uniformity coefficient of the frozen wall thickness increased with the increase of the groundwater velocity. Based on the maldevelopment mechanism of frozen wall induced by groundwater, the artificial freezing scheme of permeable stratum with high seepage velocity was optimized. For the scheme of single-circle freezing holes, the optimization method of reducing the spacing between freezing holes and adding auxiliary freezing holes upstream of water flow was proposed. For the scheme of double-circle freezing holes, the optimization method of local variable pipe spacing was proposed. The optimization effect of several schemes was predicted and analyzed by numerical calculation, the results show that: in the optimized design scheme of single-circle freezing holes, both methods of local compaction and adding auxiliary freezing holes upstream could effectively shorten the closure time of frozen walls, and increase the maximum velocity at which the frozen wall can be closed. The optimum spacing of auxiliary freezing pipes under different groundwater velocity was obtained by calculation. In the optimized design scheme of double-circle freezing holes, the spacing of freezing holes in different regions was optimized and adjusted according to the degree of influence of water flow on freezing temperature fields under the condition that the number of freezing holes was kept constant. After adopting this optimization scheme, the limit flow velocity of frozen walls can be closed increased significantly. This study could provide reference for the arrangement of freezing holes in high-velocity permeable formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications)
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23 pages, 9153 KiB  
Article
INV-FLOW: New Possibilities to Evaluate the Technical Condition and Function of Extraction Wells
by Jan Kukačka, Pavel Pech, Václav Ficaj and Daniel Kahuda
Water 2022, 14(13), 2005; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132005 - 23 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1375
Abstract
The declining supply of available groundwater resources is increasing the importance of extraction wells. To maximize the yield of extraction wells, the operators do not always respect the sustainable use of groundwater resources. These efforts can affect water quality and impact the service [...] Read more.
The declining supply of available groundwater resources is increasing the importance of extraction wells. To maximize the yield of extraction wells, the operators do not always respect the sustainable use of groundwater resources. These efforts can affect water quality and impact the service life of an extraction well, mainly through the clogging process. As part of the INV-FLOW project, an apparatus for evaluating the functionality of an extraction well by measuring the vertical water flow through its screen and filter was designed and tested. The apparatus consists of two electromagnetic induction flowmeters, two pneumatic seals, and a pump with the possibility of regulation. After an initial laboratory verification of the fundamental concept, the apparatus was successfully tested in real conditions. Two extraction wells, HJ-3 and HJ-4, intended for water supply to an agricultural production plant, were measured at a pilot site in the Czech Republic using the INV-FLOW apparatus. Although the HJ-3 extraction well is at the end of its service life, the HJ-4 extraction well is a newly installed well. In the new extraction well, HJ-4, a high proportion of water flowing through the gravel pack relative to the total pumping flow (93–97%) was measured using the INV-FLOW apparatus at different pumping rates. In the case of the HJ-3 extraction well, screen and filter clogging contributed significantly to the limited water flow through the gravel pack. In the most affected parts of the extraction well (15–20 m b.g.l.), the proportion of water flowing through the gravel pack relative to the total pumping flow ranged from 10 to 20%. The pilot tests confirmed the functionality of the apparatus and the possibility of using it to evaluate the degree of clogging and incrustation of an extraction well. The pilot tests thus demonstrated the usability of the INV-FLOW apparatus. The extraction well operator can assess the level of clogging or incrustation of the extraction well and decide on the need for the rehabilitation of an extraction well, or the termination of its operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications)
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17 pages, 3547 KiB  
Article
Detection and Quantification of Dam Leakages Based on Tracer Tests: A Field Case Study
by Huiyang Qiu, Rui Hu, Yong Huang and Willis Gwenzi
Water 2022, 14(9), 1448; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14091448 - 01 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2235 | Correction
Abstract
Leakage is a common phenomenon in dams, and its early detection is critical for dam safety. In the present study, a new method based on tracer tests is applied to detect and quantify leakage in the Wanyao Dam, Jiangshan City, China. The objective [...] Read more.
Leakage is a common phenomenon in dams, and its early detection is critical for dam safety. In the present study, a new method based on tracer tests is applied to detect and quantify leakage in the Wanyao Dam, Jiangshan City, China. The objective is to detect the leakage zone of a dam wall by combining the natural tracer test and the artificial tracer test. Temperature, electrical well-logging tests with nature tracers, and the artificial tracer test with salt (NaCl) were conducted using 48 and 5 pre-existing boreholes, respectively. Using natural tracer tests, the 48 boreholes are categorized into 4 leakage classes: (1) Class 1, high connectivity within whole borehole; (2) Class 2 high connectivity at lower depths; (3) Class 3, weaken connectivity; and (4) Class 4, safe boreholes with no connectivity. Using the proposed method, specific leakage rates of some boreholes were estimated. The results of the new method are validated by comparison with those from natural tracer tests, site-investigation, and historical observation data. Overall, the new tracer test has the following merits: (1) low cost, (2) environment friendliness, and (3) is simple to apply. Moreover, the proposed method improves the accuracy of traditional tracer tests for detecting leakage zones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications)
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20 pages, 5661 KiB  
Article
Design of Groundwater Level Monitoring Networks for Maximum Data Acquisition at Minimum Travel Cost
by Juana Cázares Escareño, Hugo Enrique Júnez-Ferreira, Julián González-Trinidad, Carlos Bautista-Capetillo and Cruz Octavio Robles Rovelo
Water 2022, 14(8), 1209; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14081209 - 09 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2061
Abstract
Groundwater monitoring networks represent the main source of information about water levels and water quality within aquifers. In this paper, a method is proposed for the optimal design of monitoring networks to obtain groundwater-level data of high spatial relevance at a low cost. [...] Read more.
Groundwater monitoring networks represent the main source of information about water levels and water quality within aquifers. In this paper, a method is proposed for the optimal design of monitoring networks to obtain groundwater-level data of high spatial relevance at a low cost. It uses the estimate error variance reduction obtained with the static Kalman filter as optimization criteria, while simultaneously evaluating the optimal routes to follow through the traveling salesman problem. It was tested for a network of 49 wells in the Calera aquifer in Zacatecas, Mexico. The study area was divided into three zones, and one working day (8 h) was taken to visit each one, with an average speed of 40 km/h and a sampling time of 0.5 h. An optimal network of 26 wells was obtained with the proposal, while 21 wells should be monitored if the optimal routing is neglected. The average standard error using 49 wells of the original network was 35.01 m, an error of 38.35 m was obtained for 21 wells (without optimal routing) and 38.36 m with the 26 wells selected using the proposal. However, the latter produce estimates closer to those obtained with the 49 wells. Following the proposal, more field data can be acquired, reducing costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications)
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1 pages, 156 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Qiu et al. Detection and Quantification of Dam Leakages Based on Tracer Tests: A Field Case Study. Water 2022, 14, 1448
by Huiyang Qiu, Rui Hu, Yong Huang and Willis Gwenzi
Water 2022, 14(12), 1871; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14121871 - 10 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1083
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Hydrogeological Investigations: From Numerical Modelling to Field Applications)
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