14/03/2026
📢 Seminar Highlight | Geological and Groundwater Modeling of the Mekong Delta
On March 05, Dr. Schorpp Ludovic from the University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, delivered a talk on “Geological and Groundwater Modeling of the Mekong Delta.” The presentation introduced a novel modeling framework developed within the DeltAs project to better understand arsenic mobilization in deltaic aquifers.
The team is developing an integrated and fully open-source workflow that combines geological modeling, groundwater simulation, and data-driven analysis to investigate the processes controlling arsenic contamination in the Mekong Delta.
The workflow includes several key components:
🧭 Stochastic geological modeling
Heterogeneous subsurface architectures are generated using ArchPy, enabling the rapid construction of multiple plausible geological realizations.
🌊 Groundwater flow simulation
These geological models are translated into ensembles of MODFLOW 6 groundwater models using ArchPy2Modflow and FloPy, allowing simulation of regional groundwater dynamics.
⚙️ Model calibration and uncertainty analysis
The models are calibrated using the Iterative Ensemble Smoother algorithm implemented in PEST++, optimizing parameters such as horizontal and vertical hydraulic conductivity as well as groundwater abstraction rates across provinces and aquifer layers.
🔎 **Particle tracking and lithological controls**
Particle tracking simulations are conducted to reconstruct groundwater flow paths and identify the **lithological units encountered by groundwater before reaching monitoring wells**.
The ultimate goal is to **quantify the lithological composition influencing each groundwater sample**. These indicators will then be integrated into a **machine-learning workflow** to identify the most influential factors controlling **arsenic concentrations in groundwater**.
By linking **geological architecture, groundwater flow dynamics, and data-driven analysis**, this approach provides a powerful framework for understanding arsenic mobilization in delta aquifers and improving **groundwater risk assessment in vulnerable regions**.
🌏 *Understanding the subsurface architecture of deltas is key to mitigating arsenic contamination and protecting groundwater resources.*
