Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory DOE Vadose Zone Science and Technology Roadmap: A National Program of Research and Development

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory

DOE Vadose ZoneScience and TechnologyRoadmap: A National Program of Researchand Development

Stephen J. Kowall, Ph.D.

April 12, 2001

Program Manager, INEEL Complex-Wide Vadose Zone

NGA


The Vadose Zone in Context

Durability

Fate and Transport

Monitoring

Surveillance

Information for the Future


The Ultimate Vadose Zone Challenge: Reducing Uncertainty in Models & Decisions

• Models must be appropriate for the intended purpose -- not too complex or overly simplistic, and yet pertinent to the problem

• Models must be based on Continuous Improvements in Science and Data

• Uncertainty must be addressed• Quantifying Uncertainty will Assist in Environmental

Decision Making


CONCEPTUALIZATION & DECISION

MAKING PROCESS


ROADMAPPING DEFINED• Strategic Technology Planning Used by Industry and

Government to:

– Develop a Common Perspective on Possible Future (10-30 years) S&T Needs and

– Make Better Research and Development (R&D) Investment Decisions

• Intended To Serve as Pathways to the Future

• Identify Capability Gaps in S&T

• Provide a Structure for Organizing Technology Forecasts

• Communicate S&T Needs to Users and Research Community


The Decision-Making Process and the Roadmap


The Roadmap Team/FY 2000

r

The Executive CommitteeChair: Dan Stephens, DB Stephens & Assoc.Vice-chair: Steve Kowall, INEELFrank Parker, Vanderbilt UniversityLorne Everett, IT Group Ed Weeks, USGSCarl Enfield, EPACathy Vogel, DoDJohn Wilson, New Mexico TechDarwin Ellis, Schlumberger Corp.Dave Borns, SNLRien Van Genuchten, USDA

The Team(62 Representatives)

DOE Laboratories 41%

University 25%

Industry 16%

Other Federal Agency 11%

International 5% State Government 2%


Where Are We In The Planning Process

• Under Secretary Of Energy for Energy, Science and Environment Challenges INEEL to Lead Development of National Vadose Zone S&T Roadmap -

• Executive Committee Charted and Meets to Shape Project Scope and Direction - March 2000

• Preliminary Draft Roadmap Published - September 2000

• Briefing to DOE Management - October 2000• Stakeholder Meetings Initiated - March 2001• Final Roadmap to be Published - September 2001


Stakeholder Outreach

• To broaden public understanding of Vadose Zone issues and program concept

• To improve the draft Roadmap and Scope Implementation Plan by integrating the insights and wisdom of others

• To cultivate relationships for the long term with scientists, DOE staff, other agencies and a variety of interested stakeholders


National Vadose Zone S&T Roadmap Web Site

Website:http://vadosezone.inel.gov/

Program Manager e-mail:[email protected]


National Vadose Zone Challenges• Knowledge Gaps in Basic Subsurface Processes

Are Sources of Uncertainty to Address and Bound

• Stewardship Responsibilities Require Increased Monitoring of Subsurface Processes

• Our Vision: A Four-Dimensional Description of Relevant Vadose Zone Processes & Parameters


Vadose Zone Roadmap Research And Development Thrusts• Develop Better Methods to Identify and Track

(Monitor) Contaminants

• Achieve Better Measuring of Hydrologic Variables

• Better Integrate Geophysical and Hydrologic Data

• Develop Advances in Improved Sensors and Instrumentation


Research and Development Thrusts (cont’d)• Develop More Accurate Models & Simulations

• Develop A Vadose Zone Problem Solving Environment (PSE) - A Software Priority

• Develop A Dedicated High Power Computing Capability

• Develop Highly Accessible Data and Model Library


SUCCESS GOALS FOR IMPLEMENTATION• DOE’s R&D Capabilities to Support Solutions to

Major Environmental Management Problems Significantly Strengthened

• Reliable Approaches to Long Term Stewardship Monitoring and Predicting Established

• Strong Partnering with States and Other Federal Agencies

• Order of Magnitude (rather than incremental) Improvements over Existing Technologies

• Subsurface Science Base and Science Culture Built


BACK UP SLIDES


• These processes are complex (not just complicated) to study and understand because they do not occur in isolation.

• Processes that are closely associated (coupled) and nonlinear in their interactions include:– Flow of fluids through variably saturated media– Transport rates of contaminants– Biogeochemical processes

Knowledge Gaps in Basic Subsurface Processes Are Major Sources of Uncertainty to Address and Bound


Stewardship Responsibilities Require Increased Knowledge of Physical Properties & Processes

• Describe fundamental interactions among liquids-gases-solids

• Accurately represent processes across different spatial and time scales

• Describe flow & transport in macroporous soils and unsaturated fractured media

• Need data at a range of scales– hydraulic & solute transport

parameters– fluid properties– biogeochemical

parameters – fluxes, temperature,

pressures, compositions, mineral concentrations

– fluid & chemical sources and sinks


Our Vision: A Four-Dimensional Description of Relevant Vadose Zone Processes & Parameters • A multidisciplinary approach to data collection and

monitoring will help:– create and test models– confirm or alter theories– develop and verify simulations of past events – assess current conditions & site performance– support management decisions, regulatory

rulemaking and future predictions


Better Methods are Needed to Identify and Track Contaminants

• Fully explore monitoring technologies that are non-invasive and can distinguish various types of waste.

• Develop verification techniques for identifying character changes in a contaminant source

• Determine sensitivity limits of a measured chemicals in varied concentrations.


Advancements are Needed for Compliance Monitoring of the Vadose Zone

• Review state-of-the-practice in monitoring network design.

• Develop an optimization methodology for subsurface characterization to save $$

• Design decision support system to aid environmental managers in determining site and monitoring priorities


Software Priority: A Vadose Zone Problem Solving Environment (PSE)

• Would unify mathematical, scientific and engineering ideas in one framework

• Would allow for testing of more hypotheses and decision variables

• Would inspire greater confidence in decisions


High Power Computing Capability Will Be Essential for Vadose Zone Analyses

• Need priority access to state-of-the-art, massively parallel or distributed computers

• House machines at national lab(s) for ease of use by university/lab environmental scientist

• Dedicate a support staff to train & assist scientists & engineers in applications


The Ultimate Challenge: Reducing Uncertainty in Models & Decisions• Models must be appropriate for the

intended purpose -- not too complex or overly simplistic, and yet pertinent.

• Quantifying uncertainty relies on understanding the site character, its subsurface processes and the boundary effects beyond our control.

• Uncertainty -- always an issue in the complex vadose zone


•U.S. General Accounting Office, Report on Hanford, 1998 (GAO-RCED-98-80)•Research Needs in Subsurface Science, U.S. Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Program, National Research Council, 2000•Seeing Into the Earth, National Research Council, 2000•Long-Term Institutional Management of U.S. Department of Energy Legacy Waste Sites, National Research Council, 2000•Vadose Zone Science and Technology Solutions, Battelle Press, 2000•Conceptual Models of Flow and Transport in the Fractured Vadose Zone,National Research Council, 2001

Documents

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory DOE Vadose Zone Science and Technology Roadmap: A National Program of Research and Development