The development of an environmental fluid mechanics laboratory which integrates physical and mathematical modeling is planned. Interdisciplinary problems of environmental contaminant transport increasingly demand appreciation for and capability with sophisticated mathematical and computational modeling. Simultaneous observation of physical and mathematical models is the planned laboratory experience. Sand box and column experiments in porous media flow are designed, constructed, and operated to demonstrate streamlines, transport, and flow rates. Free surface flow experiments are conducted in a demonstration flume. Concurrent with operating experiments, mathematical/computer models with graphical display are validated by comparison to the physical models. Having completed validation, the mathematical models are extended to examine flow conditions beyond the constraints of the physical experiments.
