Al MAKTOUM AIRPORT – Construction Dewatering Design, Dubai, UAE

PURPOSES

In 2019, a 3D groundwater flow model was developed to estimate dewatering volumes and evaluate a deep well system.
In 2024, the model was updated to reflect five years of operation and assess the impact of phased well deactivation.

CLIENT

Tristar Engineering LLC and AQUAGEO INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANCY LLC, 2019, 2024-25.

WHAT WE DID

Model Reuse & Upgrade: The 2019 groundwater flow model was reused, preserving its structure, layers, and boundary conditions.

Model Update: Integrated the current network of ~189 wells, including additions and removals based on actual implementation. Adjusted the model grid and remeshed for improved accuracy.

Calibration: Calibrated the model in steady-state using 2024 water level data due to the lack of long-term monitoring records. Applied real measured flow rates to test the model’s performance.

Performance Check: Compared simulated vs. observed water levels; discrepancies highlighted aquifer heterogeneity. Conducted sensitivity tests by adjusting pumping rates and hydraulic parameters.

Refinement: Fine-tuned hydraulic conductivities (Kx, Ky, Kz) and storage coefficient (Ss) to improve fit with field data. Achieved ~70–80% match with observed water levels, confirming a partially heterogeneous aquifer.