Staff Research Highlight - Steady-state density-driven flow and transport: Pseudo-transient parameter continuation
Co-authored by Aquanty’s senior scientist, Hyoun-Tae Hwang, this research presents a new numerical approach for efficiently solving steady-state density-driven flow and transport equations— an important challenge in groundwater modelling, particularly for coastal aquifers affected by seawater intrusion. The research introduces a hybrid technique called pseudo-transient parameter continuation (PTPC), which combines the robustness of pseudo-transient continuation (PTC) methods with the computational efficiency of parameter continuation (PC) strategies.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Source Water Protection in Quebec City: Using an integrated 3D hydrological model to investigate surface water-groundwater interactions
The research, presented as a poster by Benjamin Frot at EGU 2025, explores the use of HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to investigate surface water–groundwater interactions in the Saint-Charles River watershed, which supplies drinking water to Quebec City. With a focus on source water protection, the study addresses the challenges posed by increasing urbanization, contamination from septic systems and road salts, and reduced water availability during low-flow periods. The work is part of a larger project aimed at evaluating the vulnerability of Quebec City's main surface water intake.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Exploring the reliability of ²²²Rn as a tracer of groundwater age in alluvial aquifers: Insights from the explicit simulation of variable ²²²Rn production
We’re pleased to highlight this publication which investigates the reliability of using radon-222 (²²²Rn) as a tracer for groundwater age in alluvial aquifers. Accurate estimations of groundwater residence time (GRT)—the time since water infiltrated from the surface—are critical for effective water resource management, especially in systems that rely on bank filtration near rivers for drinking water supply. While ²²²Rn has long been employed as a natural tracer due to its radioactive decay properties and elevated concentrations in groundwater, most traditional models assume spatially uniform ²²²Rn production and purely advective flow— assumptions that rarely hold in real-world aquifers.
Staff Research Highlight - Application of Different Weighting Schemes and Stochastic Simulations to Parameterization Processes Considering Observation Error
In this paper co-authored by Aquanty personnel, researchers explore how different weighting schemes and stochastic simulations can enhance the accuracy of parameter estimation processes, ultimately reducing uncertainty in climate change impact assessments.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Reclamation for aspen revegetation in the Athabasca oil sands: Understanding soil water dynamics
We’re pleased to highlight this publication which focuses on understanding soil water dynamics in reclaimed landscapes within the Athabasca oil sands region using unsaturated flow modeling. The study explores how different reclamation strategies affect soil water availability and water table fluxes— critical components for supporting aspen revegetation, a key species in boreal forest ecosystems.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Reactive transport modelling of acid mine drainage within discretely fractured porous media: Plume evolution from a surface source zone
This paper investigates the fate and transport of acid mine drainage (AMD) through fractured porous media using a discrete fracture network (DFN) modelling approach. This research addresses a critical environmental challenge in mining regions— predicting how acidic contaminants generated by sulphide mineral oxidation migrate through complex geological formations and interact with host rocks over time.
Staff Research Highlight - A Continuous Differentiable Formulation for Seepage Face Boundary Conditions in Dynamic Groundwater Systems
This research by Aquanty staff introduces a continuously differentiable formulation for seepage face boundary conditions in dynamic groundwater systems. Traditional approaches often model seepage faces with abrupt boundary transitions, leading to numerical instabilities, convergence issues, and computational inefficiencies in transient groundwater simulations. This research presents a novel approach that ensures smooth transitions between saturated and unsaturated zones, improving the stability and accuracy of numerical groundwater models.
Staff Research Highlight - A dynamic meshing scheme for integrated hydrologic modeling to represent evolving landscapes
Aquanty is pleased to introduce a novel dynamic meshing scheme for integrated hydrologic modelling with HydroGeoSphere to better represent evolving landscapes. The approach addresses a major challenge in modelling human-altered environments, particularly in regions undergoing rapid changes such as open-pit mining sites, land reclamation zones, or urban developments. Traditional hydrologic models often rely on static mesh geometries, limiting their ability to capture changes in topography and subsurface structure over time. This research proposes a more flexible, adaptive framework capable of simulating surface and subsurface hydrologic responses to complex engineering activities.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Modeling fate and transport of E. coli in a small watershed with grazing lands around a pond
This research investigates the fate and transport of E. coli in a small watershed with grazing lands surrounding a pond, using HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to develop a mechanistic numerical model. Understanding how E. coli moves through surface and subsurface water systems is crucial for managing microbial contamination risks in agricultural watersheds, where livestock activities can significantly impact water quality.
HGS RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT – Monetizing the role of water in sustaining watershed ecosystem services using a fully integrated subsurface–surface water model
This research, co-authored by David R. Lapen, Susan Preston, Tariq Aziz, and Steven K. Frey, highlights the role of subsurface water in sustaining ecosystem services during droughts. Using HydroGeoSphere (HGS), the team analyzed the South Nation Watershed (SNW) in eastern Ontario, emphasizing how subsurface water supports evapotranspiration in agricultural landscapes.