REMEDIATE Work Package 5

Computational modelling and prediction approaches to estimate contamination profile, forecast contamination development and assessing remediation options

The work package leader is the Technical University of Dortmund, with SUPREN also participating.

Computer based modelling is an important complementary component of planning, operation, and assessment of remediation of contaminated land sites. Where contaminated sites are adjacent to water protection zones or drinking water wells, specific protection targets should be considered.

The objective of this work package is to develop an easily transferable methodology and 'toolbox' that can be applied across a range of field sites. A broad range of remediation activities and technologies currently exist for polluted sites. Experts in this area base their planning and process selection on data obtained by selective drilling samples. However, in situ circumstances are influenced by spatially distributed internal and external conditions like aquifers, spatial and time dependent ground water flow, artificial precipitated liquid or gas flow into the site, chemical potentials of different soil layers, diffusion and convection driven propagation of pollutants and more. Based on a thermodynamically consistent model, a finite element simulation tool will be used to model the time and space depending coupled problems in contaminated soils. In order to evaluate the sustainability of contaminated land remediation, a dedicated LCA software tool will be developed according to the rules of the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD), in line with international standards.

Fellows will receive training and hands on experience in these processes through a modelling workshop during Summer School 3.

Early Stage Researchers working in this work package are: