Automatic calibration of pumping test data with MODFLOW 6, Model Muse and Pest - Tutorial

This tutorial walks hydrogeologists through the full workflow of automatic calibration of pumping test data using MODFLOW 6, ModelMuse, and PEST. A real pumping test scenario — comprising a 6-hour pumping phase and an 18-hour recovery phase — is set up in ModelMuse, where the well is conceptualized as a Multinode Aquifer Well (MAW) boundary condition to accurately represent multilayer aquifer interactions. PEST is then implemented to automatically estimate key hydraulic parameters including hydraulic conductivity, specific storage, and specific yield, eliminating tedious manual calibration and delivering reproducible, optimized results. Whether you're new to parameter estimation or looking to streamline your existing workflow, this tutorial offers a practical, hands-on guide to modern groundwater model calibration.

Tutorial

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