SimHydro2010: Programme

June, 2nd 2010 - Hydraulic engineering, water management, and modeling

Do models ensure reliable results or rather, are results subject to uncertainty? What are the sources of uncertainty: choice of tools? Uncertainty and error inherent to the methodology? To the data? To calibration? To the skills of users? And above all, how to determine the range of uncertainty? What sensitivity studies are useful for model calibration and for determining the range of uncertainty?

Simulation

Choice of model as a function of the goals of the study and the data (1D, 2D, 3D, scale models)

Multi-scale and multi-domain modeling

Complementarities between different models, joint use of models

Uncertainty

Power of prediction of calibrated models and integration of new data. Model calibration or validation of results

Uncertainty of modeling to simulate future issues and their impacts (feasibility studies, business)

Quantification and ranking of sources of uncertainty, dependence of sensitivity of results upon relevant parameters

Determining the range of uncertainty in results

June, 3rd 2010 - Stakeholders and models, hydroinformatics

One group of stakeholders are users of the results of modeling: decision-makers such as elected representatives, NGOs, investors, governments, local and central, and in general, citizens. Another group are those who run the models themselves, e.g. engineers carrying out feasibility studies, businesses, water-related service and utilities managers. With the help of models, can all the stakeholders understand each other? Do they use hydroinformatics technology? Do they have the means to dialog directly or indirectly with the model developers? Do the developers and researchers on the one hand, and the stakeholders on the other, know each other well enough to exchange information and clearly express concerns about the limits and the potential of the models?

Engineering applications

Role of hydroinformatics:

Decision-making: impact studies, use of models and uncertainty in the results

Implementation and application, participation of stakeholders in construction works monitoring and follow-up: project conformance with original requirements and QA standards

Communication between players (technical, government, elected representatives, NGOs, etc.):

Role of models, power of prediction, uncertainty in results

Use of modeling results, engineering ethics

Stakeholder and modeler: relationship, understanding, confidence, communication of mutual points of view.

[Details of the programme]

June, 4th 2010 - Numerical fluid mechanics and modeling

What is the state-of-the-art in research and development in the domain of numerical fluid mechanics? What numerical problems are only poorly solved or unsolved for more and more complex approaches such as 2D, 3D: the links between hydrodynamics, turbulent diffusion, transport phenomena? What is the state-of-the-art in multi-scale modeling and multi-physics modeling?

Coupling modeling and uncertainty

Multi-scale problems and multi-model simulations (nested computations, coupling between models and methods).

Sensitivity and stability studies by parameterized computation following an experimental protocol (brute-force or more sophisticated methods on unreliable input data).

Boundary-value problems, the existence of solutions.

Sensitivity of algorithms to errors, propagation of errors. Sensitivity to parameters and probabilistic methods.

Validation strategies, establishing reliability-range of models and best-practice guidelines.

Pathologic cases, limits to modeling and practical applications.