Automatic calibration of groundwater models using global optimization techniques

The problem of a groundwater model calibration is posed as a multi-extremum (global) optimization problem, rather than the more widely considered single-extremum (local) optimization problem. Several algorithms of randomized search incorporated in the global optimization tool GLOBE are considered (including the canonical genetic algorithm and more recently developed adaptive cluster covering), and applied to the calibration of the groundwater model TRIWACO. The results show the usefulness of global optimization algorithms in the automatic calibration of even complex models having considerable running times.