Solute Transport Modeling Assisted by a Knowledge-Based System

Abstract

The past several decades has seen the development of a large number of mathematical models for evaluating contaminant transport in soll and groundwater systems. Because of the many one- and multi-dimensional models now available, selection of a particular solute transport model, and its application to a site-specific problem, has become increasingly difficult for the non-expert user. A personal-computer-based expert system has been developed to facilitate the selection of a specific model as a function of the governing solute transport processes, the prevailing soll properties, and the applicable initial and boundary conditions. Among the processes presently considered in the expert system are convective transport with flowing water, molecular diffusion, hydrodynamic dispersion, equilibrium and kinetic sorption, degradation, production, and matrix diffusion for structured media. The program system, called EXSOLUTE, consists of three parts: a knowledge base for model selection, a database of information for an avallable transport models, and run-type computer programs of the different models. Once selected by the knowledge base, EXSOLUTE permits one to run individual models directly from the system. The expert system also permits one to include new models when they become avallable at a later date.