Groundwater Modelling for Decision Makers

This course is designed for water resources and environmental managers who need to understand how groundwater models operate, their strengths and weaknesses, and the range of uncertainty that may be associated with model predictions.  It is suitable for those who need to understand modelling results and the effects of uncertainties on decision making, including those who may be involved in preparing tender documents for modelling projects and the technical evaluation of tender responses. The course will cover different types of models, the methodology for groundwater model development, how models are calibrated and how their uncertainty is assessed. Specific lectures will also be given on preparing tender documents and reviewing model reports.

Presenters:

Dr Chris Li, Associate Groundwater Modeller at CDM Smith Australia

Hugh Middlemis, Principal Groundwater Engineer (Director) at HydroGeoLogic Pty Ltd

Dr Juliette Woods, Principal Groundwater Modeller, Water Science and Monitoring Branch for the Government of South Australia

Prof. Okke Batelaan Strategic Professor, College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University

More about the Presenters:

Dr Chris Li, Associate Groundwater Modeller at CDM Smith Australia

Chris has extensive experience across the consulting, government, and academic research sectors. He has a broad range of modelling experience in areas such as mining impact assessment, salinity impact assessment, environmental watering, surface water-groundwater interactions, water resource management, climate change, and managed aquifer recharge.

Through his work in the government sector, Chris has developed a thorough understanding of regulatory requirements for various types of modelling. From his research work, he has also developed advanced modelling techniques such as stochastic and highly-parameterised modelling, automated calibration, and non-linear uncertainty analysis. Chris excels at modelling complex groundwater systems and processes, and he is particularly skilled at synthesising and effectively communicating model findings to stakeholders.

Hugh Middlemis, Principal Groundwater Engineer (Director) at HydroGeoLogic

Hugh is a specialist groundwater modeller and peer reviewer, with a masters degree and a background in engineering and hydrology, and more than 40 years’ experience. Hugh established the HydroGeoLogic independent consultancy in 2013, working in mining/energy, natural resources and the built environment sectors, and specialising in flow and solute modelling, stream-aquifer interactions, groundwater dependent ecosystems and uncertainty analysis. He was principal author of the 2001 best practice modelling guideline (foundational to the 2012 guideline, which he reviewed), and he co-authored the 2018 and 2023 IESC guides on uncertainty analysis for groundwater modelling. Hugh has extensive project management, business and leadership skills and experience (eg. Operations Manager, Aquaterra, Adelaide 2002-10). Other technical experience includes bore drilling, testing and headworks; design, construction and operation of pumping and pipeline systems; drainage designs for open cut pits, railway and road creek crossings, and related risk analysis/management. Hugh has completed projects across Australia, and in Africa, Indonesia, Ireland, Mongolia, Oman, NZ, South America, USA, and in the UK where he was based for 4 years in the early 1990s.

Dr Juliette Woods, Principal Groundwater Modeller, Department for Environment and Water SA

Juliette Woods has specialised in groundwater modelling for more than twenty-five years, from theoretical aspects to the very practical. She has developed and reviewed groundwater models built for many different purposes across Australia, advising state and federal agencies on water allocation planning, environmental programs, mining applications, climate change impacts, managed aquifer recharge, salinity, industrial project assessments, and research programs. She has lead modelling teams in academia, industry and government, often fostering knowledge transfer across these sectors.  She has a particular interest in the interconnections between groundwater, surface water, agriculture and ecology.

Hosted by, Strategic Professor Okke Batelaan, Flinders University

Okke holds a PhD in Engineering from the Free University Brussels and an MSc in Hydrogeology from the Free University of Amsterdam. He is a Strategic Professor in Hydro(geo)logy, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, since 2012. At Flinders University, he is Chief Investigator in the National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training. He teaches courses on groundwater hydrology, groundwater modelling, and integrated water resources management. Previously, he worked for more than 20 years at the Free University Brussels and the KU Leuven, Belgium. He is passionate about guiding students in their research; he has supervised more than 200 MSc/PhD students from all continents. Professor Batelaan has research expertise and an extensive publication record in shallow groundwater hydrology, recharge-discharge estimation, urban hydrology, distributed hydrological/groundwater modelling, ecohydrology, impacts of landuse and climate change on groundwater systems, and the history of hydrology. His main interest is advancing hydro(geo)logy at the interface with other sciences through transdisciplinary collaboration. He has collaborated with many researchers and institutes on projects in Australia, Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. He is the Education and Training Lead for the One Basin CRC, member of the Board of the Goyder Institute for Water Research and Chair of Editors-in-Chief of Journal of Hydrology.