Summarize this topic: 4.6.2 Misuse of Models The three most common misuses of mo

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Summarize this topic:

4.6.2 Misuse of Models The three most common misuses of models are overkill, inappropriate prediction, and misinterpretation. Overkill is defined as using a more sophisticated model than is appropriate for the available data or the level of result desired. The temptation to apply the most sophisticated computational tool to a problem is difficult to resist. A question that often arises is: when should three-dimensional models be used as opposed to two-dimensional or one-dimensional models? Inclusion of flow in the third dimension, usually vertical, is recommended only in thick aquifers or if permeability changes drastically across the thickness of the aquifers. Inclusion of the third dimension requires substantially more data than one- and two- dimensonal models. For example, saturated-unsaturated flow through a shallow land burial site is truly a three-dimensional problem. However, the data are seldom available to consider more than one dimension above the water table. In many cases, sophisticated models are used too early in analysis of a problem. One should begin with the simplest model appropriate to the problem and program toward the more sophisticated models until the desired level of results is achieved. In transport problems the flow modeling should be completed and checked against the understanding of site hydrology before a transport model is applied Misinterpretations usually arise because inappropriate boundary conditions were selected or the hydrologic history of a site has been misread. Under either

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   The topic describes the three main misuses of the models used to describe any situation, in this case, the flow of water(saturated/unsaturated) through burial sites. The three main misuses mentioned are overkill, inappropriate prediction, and misinterpretation.

    The first paragraph describes the first misuse of the model, overkill. The definition of overkill states that the most sophisticated model is preferred over the appropriate one. This may lead to wrong results. For example, to describe the above situation, when one should use the three-dimensional (which complicates the situation), two-dimensional or one-dimensional data. The solution to this problem is to use a simple model in the early stage and then move to a sophisticated model to get desired results.

    The second misuse is the misinterpretation of the data, which arises due to the choice of inappropriate boundary conditions used to describe the situation. The incorrect description of the land site may lead to wrong interpretations of the data.

    The third and the worst misuse is the blind faith in the model results. If the input boundary conditions or the inappropriate interpretations are used then one may get wrong results. One should always cross-check and second guess their results. Sometimes the data is small or the inputs may be incorrect. This leads to wrong results. Various methods are given by many authors to validate the results for the transport of water through land burial sites.

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