JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

Modeling of flow and transport processes in variably saturated porous media requires detailed knowledge of the soil hydraulic properties. The hydraulic properties to be determined by the inverse problem solution are the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity K(h) and the water retention curve θ(h). The inverse modeling approach assumes that both θ(h) and K(h) as well as transport parameters can be determined simultaneously from transient flow data by numerical inversion of the governing flow and transport equations. In order to find answers to the questions of uniqueness, identifiability and stability of different experimental setups, a new numerical experiment of redistribution was carried out. To study the shape of the objective function near its minimum, response surfaces for the estimated parameters were generated. The sensitivity of model outputs with respect to changes in input parameters was also computed and analyzed. Results of the redistribution experiment suggest that the non-uniqueness increases when the model output variables are not sensitive enough to the optimized parameters. As expected, the estimated values of parameters were sensitive to the magnitude of error in the measured data. In this experiment, the parameter estimation based on the pressure head observations provides unique solution. Due to preferential flow in the sample, tensiometric observations may provide poor results for inverse problem solution. Taking into account information about saturated hydraulic conductivity, Ks improved the likelihood of uniqueness and reduced the errors in parameter estimation of the shape parameters (α, n). It was found that the sensitivity analysis could be a useful tool to design the optimal time and location distribution of experimental observations.

Underground dams are structures built in underground and are capable of saving and making the underground water available. In this research, by using the SWOT analysis model, suitable locations were investigated for the development of an underground dam in the Keriyan area of Hormozgan province.  At first, the necessary data and information were provided by visiting the region and presenting a questionnaire to the residents of the area and experts to investigate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the region for the underground dams. In the final step, by using the SWOT model and QSPM matrix, a comprehensive and appropriate strategy for underground dams was determined. The results showed that among the internal factors, not decreasing the volume of the reservoir due to deposits and reducing the evaporation from the reservoir with a final value of 0.85 and 0.66, and among the external factors, the willingness and cooperation of the relevant organizations and the disruption of downstream water rights with a final value of 0.68 and 0.66 had the greatest impact on selecting the strategy. Based on the results related to the internal and external factors, the strategy was placed in the maximum-maximum quadrant; in line with the strategy, by using the strengths and opportunities, the weaknesses should be overcome and the threats should be tackled. Some strategies were presented. In order to prioritize these strategies, the quantitative matrix QSPM was used. Finally, the hydrological, economic, social and environmental evaluating strategies of underground dams, before and after the construction, with a final score of 19.3 were prioritized.