TC Chamberlin Modeling Center

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The TC Chamberlin Modeling Center is a founding partner of the USGS Advanced Computing Cooperative (ACC). The ACC provides one-stop access to advanced computing so that no work is limited by a lack of computer power. The TC Chamberlin Modeling Center is funded in part by the Core Science Systems Mission Area of the USGS to provide access to computer hardware and assistance for moving problems from local desktops to larger systems. Depending on the needs of the modeler, assistance can include implementing powerful new computational and analytical techniques, and training others in the skills needed for future modeling projects. Within the larger ACC, the TC Chamberlin Modeling Center also develops, tests, and disseminates state-of-the-art techniques and tools so that models are more effectively applied to today’s decision-making. Use the contact information on the overview tab to start the process to move your problem to advanced computing.

Problem

Modeling has become the language of quantitative scientific problem solving. Yet increases in computing power, parallel computing, and the availability of diverse sources of data have increased the complexity of models, and training on these new capabilities has not kept pace.  As a result, it has become impractical for practitioners to develop expertise in the wide-ranging aspects of parallel computing, software customization, modeling, calibration, and uncertainty analysis.  

Objectives

1. Provide advanced computing assistance to modelers to implement powerful new computational and analytical techniques
2. Provide training to others so they can gain the skills necessary to apply to their projects in the future
3. Develop, implement, and disseminate state-of-the-art techniques and tools so that models are more effectively applied to today’s decision-making

Examples of Advanced Computing

A complex natural world means that there can never be certain that a simple representation such as a model captures its important characteristics. One way to handle uncertainty is to run a model many times where each run has slightly different model input. When finished, the runs can be summarized to identify which outcomes are likely and which are not. Likewise, visualization of model results can be importing for efficiently conveying what the many hours of model runs produced. Examples of these types of advanced computing outputs are shown here.

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details

The TC Chamberlin Modeling Center has assisted projects throughout the world, including: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, the Great Lakes Basin, Native American tribes, Australia, Denmark, and Canada.  Past work focuses primarily on water issues but also includes a range of models - from temperature to pathogens to populations. Examples of some of this work are shown in the figures on the right, along with some of our key publications.

BOOKS:

• Anderson, M.P., Woessner, W.W. and Hunt, R.J., 2015, Applied Groundwater Modeling: Simulation of Flow and Advective Transport (2nd Edition). Academic Press, Inc. 564 p. ISBN 9780120581030. 
• Jakeman, A.J., Barreteau, O., Hunt, R.J., Rinaudo, J-D., and Ross, A., (editors) 2016, Integrated Groundwater Management: Concepts, Approaches, Challenges.  Springer International Publishing, Switzerland. 953 p. ISBN 978-3-319-23575-2.

GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTED PRACTICES:

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• Hunt, R.J., Anderson, M.P., and Kelson, V.A., 1998, Improving a complex finite difference groundwater-flow model through the use of an analytic element screening model. Groundwater 36(6), p.1011-1017.
• Anderson, M.P., Hunt, R.J., Krohelski, J.T., and Chung, K., 2002, Using high hydraulic conductivity nodes to simulate seepage lakes.  Groundwater 40(2): 119-124.
• Kelson, V.A., Hunt, R.J., and Haitjema, H.M., 2002, Improving a regional model using reduced complexity and parameter estimation. Groundwater 40(2), p. 138-149.
• Hunt, R.J., Haitjema, H.M., Krohelski, J.T., and Feinstein, D.T., 2003, Simulating ground water-lake interactions: Approaches and insights, Groundwater 41(2): 227-237.
• Feinstein, D.T., Hart, D.J., and Krohelski, J.T., 2004, The value of long-term monitoring in the development of ground-water-flow models: USGS Fact Sheet 116-03, 4 p.
• Hunt, R.J., Doherty, J., and Tonkin, M.J., 2007, Are models too simple? Arguments for increased parameterization. Groundwater 45(3): 254-263.
• Hunt, R.J., Prudic, D.E., Walker, J.F., and Anderson, M.P., 2008, Importance of unsaturated zone flow for simulating recharge in a humid climate. Groundwater 46(4):551-560.
• Fienen, M.N., Muffels, C.T., and Hunt, R.J., 2009, On constraining pilot point calibration with regularization in PEST.  Groundwater 47(6): 835-844.
• Hunt, R.J., Luchette, J., Schreüder, W.A., Rumbaugh, J.O., Doherty, J., Tonkin, M.J., and Rumbaugh, D.B., 2010a, Using a Cloud to replenish parched groundwater modeling efforts. Groundwater 48(3): 360-365.
• Fienen, M.N., Doherty, J.E., Hunt, R.J., and Reeves, H.W., 2010, Using prediction uncertainty analysis to design hydrologic monitoring networks—Example applications from the Great Lakes Water Availability Pilot Project: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5159, 44 p.
• Doherty, J., Fienen, M.N., and Hunt, R.J., 2010, Approaches to Highly Parameterized Inversion:  Pilot-point theory, guidelines, and research directions: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5168, 36 p.
• Doherty, J., and Hunt, R.J., 2010, Approaches to Highly Parameterized Inversion: A Guide to Using PEST for Groundwater-Model Calibration. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5169, 59 p.
• Doherty, J., Hunt, R.J., and Tonkin, M.J., 2010, Approaches to Highly Parameterized Inversion: A Guide to Using PEST for Model-Parameter and Predictive-Uncertainty Analysis. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5211, 71 p.
• Barnett, B., Townley, L.R., Post, V., Evans, R.E., Hunt, R.J., Peeters, L., Richardson, S., Werner, A.D., Knapton, A. and Boronkay, A., 2012, Australian Groundwater Modelling Guidelines. Waterlines Report Series No. 82, National Water Commission, Canberra, Australia. 191 p. ISBN: 978-1-921853-91-3.
• Hunt, R.J., 2012, Uncertainty, pp. 92-105 in Australian Groundwater Modelling Guidelines. Waterlines Report Series No. 82, National Water Commission, Canberra, Australia. 191 p. ISBN: 978-1-921853-91-3.
• Fienen, M.N., and Hunt, R.J., 2015, High-Throughput Computing vs. High-Performance Computing for groundwater applications. Groundwater 53(2), p. 180-184. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12320.
• Hunt, R.J., 2017, Applied uncertainty. Groundwater 55(6), p. 771-772. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/gwat.12604
• Erickson, R.A., Fienen, M.N., McCalla, S.G., Weiser, E.L., Bower, M.L., Knudson, J.M., and Thain, G., 2018, Wrangling distributed computing for high-throughput environmental science: An introduction to HTCondor. PLOS Computational Biology 14(10): e1006468. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006468

SOFTWARE DEVELOPED:

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• Doherty, J., and Hunt, R.J., 2009, Two statistics for evaluating parameter identifiability and error reduction.  Journal of Hydrology 366: 119-127.
• Westenbroek, S.M., Kelson, V.A., Dripps, W.R., Hunt, R.J., and Bradbury, K.R., 2010, SWB—A modified Thornthwaite-Mather Soil-Water-Balance code for estimating groundwater recharge: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods 6–A31, 60 p.
• Fienen, M.N., Kunicki, T.C., and Kester, D.E., 2011, cloudPEST – A python module for cloud-computing deployment of PEST, a program for parameter estimation. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1062, 22 p.
• Westenbroek, S.M., Doherty, J.E., Walker, J.F., Kelson, V.A., Hunt, R.J., and Cera, T.B., 2012, Approaches in Highly Parameterized Inversion: TSPROC, A General Time-Series Processor to Assist in Model Calibration and Result Summarization. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 7, Section C7, 73 p.
• Welter, D.E., Doherty, J.E., Hunt, R.J., Muffels, C.T., Tonkin, M.J., and Schreüder, W.A., 2012, Approaches in Highly Parameterized Inversion: PEST++, A Parameter ESTimation Code Optimized For Large Environmental Models. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 7, Section C5, 47 p.
• Muffels, C.T., Schreüder, W.A., Doherty, J.E., Karanovic, M., Tonkin, M.J., Hunt, R.J., and Welter, D.E., 2012, Approaches in Highly Parameterized Inversion: GENIE, A General Model-Independent TCP/IP Run Manager. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 7, Section C6, 26 p.
• Karanovic, M., Muffels, C.T., Tonkin, M.J., and Hunt, R.J., 2012, Approaches in Highly Parameterized Inversion:  PESTCommander, A Graphical User Interface for File and Run Management Across Networks. U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 7, Section C8, 9 p.
• Fienen, M.N., D’Oria, Marco, Doherty, J.E., and Hunt, R.J., 2013, Approaches in highly parameterized inversion: bgaPEST, a Bayesian geostatistical approach implementation with PEST—Documentation and instructions: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 7, Section C9, 86 p.
• Welter, D.E., White, J.T., Hunt, R.J., and Doherty, J.E. , 2015, Approaches in highly parameterized inversion—PEST++ Version 3, a Parameter ESTimation and uncertainty analysis software suite optimized for large environmental models: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 7, Section C12, 54 p.
• Muffels, C.T., Hayes, D.A., Tonkin, M.J., and Hunt, R.J., 2015, GENIE Version 2 – A General Model-Independent TCP/IP Run: pp. 24-37 in Welter, D.E., White, J.T., Hunt, R.J., and Doherty, J.E., 2015, Approaches in highly parameterized inversion—PEST++ Version 3, a Parameter ESTimation and uncertainty analysis software suite optimized for large environmental models: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, Book 7, Section C12, 54 p.
• White, J.T., Fienen, M.N., and Doherty, J.E., 2016,  A python framework for environmental model uncertainty analysis. Environmental Modelling and Software 85, p. 217-228. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.08.017
• White, J. T., Fienen, M. N., Barlow, P. M., and Welter, D.E., 2017, A tool for efficient, model-independent management optimization under uncertainty. Environmental Modeling and Software.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2017.11.019
• Westenbroek, S.M., Engott, J.A., Kelson, V.A., and Hunt, R.J., 2018, SWB Version 2.0—A soil-water-balance code for estimating net infiltration and other water-budget components: U.S. Geological Survey Techniques and Methods, book 6, chap. A59, 118 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/tm6A59