4.1 This guide is intended to encourage consistency and thoroughness in the application of geostatistical simulation to environmental, geotechnical, and hydrogeological site investigations.

4.2 This guide may be used to assist those performing a simulation study or as an explanation of procedures for qualified nonparticipants who may be reviewing or auditing the study.

4.3 This guide should be used in conjunction with Guides D5549, D5922, and D5923.

4.4 This guide describes conditions for which simulation or particular simulation approaches are recommended. However, these approaches are not necessarily inappropriate if the stated conditions are not encountered.

1.1 This guide covers the conditions that determine the selection of a suitable simulation approach for a site investigation problem. Alternative simulation approaches considered here are conditional and nonconditional, indicator and Gaussian, single and multiple realization, point, and block.

1.2 This guide describes the conditions for which the use of simulation is an appropriate alternative to the use of estimation in geostatistical site investigations.

1.3 This guide does not discuss the basic principles of geostatistics. Introductions to geostatistics may be found in numerous texts including Refs (1-3).2

1.4 This guide is concerned with general simulation approaches only and does not discuss particular simulation algorithms currently in use. These are described in Refs (4-6).

1.5 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.