California Water and Environmental   
Modeling Forum  

Deadline for priority registration was August 15, 2014.  WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL.

Overview
PEST is a nonlinear parameter estimation package with a difference. The difference is that PEST can be used to estimate parameters for just about any existing computer model, whether or not a user has access to the model's source code. PEST is able to "take control" of a model, running it as many times as it needs to while adjusting its parameters until the discrepancies between selected model outputs and a complementary set of field or laboratory measurements is reduced to a minimum in the weighted least squares sense. Additional information on PEST can be found at: www.sspa.com/software/pest.  An excellent article on the role of modeling in environmental decision making can be found at www.pesthomepage.org/Decision_Support.php.

The three-day course combines 1.5 days "Introduction to PEST" with 1.5 days "Advanced Analysis using PEST". During the Introductory section participants with limited inverse modeling experience and those refreshing their knowledge will be exposed to lectures and hands-on-exercises providing inverse theory and practical implementation. Lectures include groundwater and other environmental applications to introduce modelers to sensitivity analysis, regularization and the use of pilot points and other parameterization devices. The newest generation of PEST++ and associated utilities will be discussed, as will applications of PEST/PEST++ to regional California projects.  The Advanced section emphasizes highly parameterized model calibration and exploration of parameter and prediction uncertainty. Topics include the use of pilot points and other schemes with advanced regularization techniques; SVD-Assist of highly parameterized models; linear and nonlinear uncertainty analysis, including the Null -Space Monte Carlo method; and data acquisition to reduce uncertainty. This element of the course will be lecture-based with ample time for discussion. All participants receive a Thumb Drive containing nearly 20 lab exercises for home-study. Please bring your own laptop; no preparatory pre-downloads will be necessary.

Class instruction will be given by Dr. John Doherty (WNC), developer of PEST, and Dr. Matt Tonkin (SSP&A), former graduate student of Dr. John Doherty.

Workshop Agenda