Linkage to process models

Groundwater transport modeling techniques have been adapted to assess geothermal heating and cooling capabilities. This chapter discusses the role of 3-D geological models for groundwater flow and transport predictions. Geological models provide critical information on how geological materials and structures may affect the storage and movement of water through the subsurface. The geological framework must be transformed to define relevant hydrogeological parameters that constrain numerical flow and transport simulations. The broad spectrum of surface water and groundwater process models may be classified into four categories according to how they represent physical processes: conceptual models; black-box models; white-box models; and gray-box models. The chapter also discusses the calibration of such integrated catchment models, especially when they are linked with 3-D geological models to improve subsurface characterization. Hydrogeological and geotechnical applications of spatiallydetailed process models require information across the entire model domain.