This report is intended to promote a new, interdependent approach. It discusses the
varied approaches used to solve problems of fluid flow in fractured rock, so that
students, faculty, and practitioners may understand the strengths and limitations, as well
as the interdependencies, of the available tools. It also contains recommendations for
interdisciplinary research on problems that are not well understood, for the use of policy
makers and research program managers.
This report has limitations. Its breadth has prohibited a comprehensive treatment of
any single disciplinary area, although it does communicate a basic understanding of each
area. Experts are unlikely to learn much from the chapters devoted to their fields, but
should find much of interest in the other chapters.
The report is neither a review of the state of the art nor a literature survey, and does
not include references to much important work. However, although the references are not
all-inclusive, they are designed to be an entrance to the literature.