Numerical simulation of the forest impact on aquifers

Here we propose a numerical method for the computer simulation of forest impact on aquifers. With this phenomenon we understand changes in the level of groundwater table beneath the areas recovered by trees. The mathematical model of the forest impact includes a boundary value problem with free and contact boundary conditions. Considering this free-contact boundary problem as a shape optimization problem we perform boundary elements discretization. Assuming the state and free boundary variables as independents, we treat the discretized problem as a non-linear mathematical program and apply interior point algorithm to solve it. Numerical results for an illustrative 2D test problem are discussed. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.