No more than about 10 years ago, it seemed to be unrealistic to simulate the com plex flow, transport, and transformation processes of organic compounds in multi-phase systems of water-unsaturated soils (Schwille Sch84]). Numerical solutions of compre hensive models consisting, for instance, of a system of three partial differential equations and chemical reactions based on local thermodynamic equilibrium assumption (Abriola and Pinder AP85a]), were at that time regarded as far too computational expensive; optimizations seemed to be by far not practicable using such numerical models. How ever, even more complex mathematical models have been developed since then, like, for example, by considering the temperature-dependency of processes and non-equilibrium phase-transfers, or the increase of the number of components and spatial dimensions in volved (e. g., Bear and Nitao BN92]). Those models require efficient numerical solution algorithms adopted to the possibilities of the latest computer developments. The book describes the work of a three years research project funded by the The Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology (BMBF), Grant Number 03-H07BWM. The idea for the project was developed by Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hornung, Dr. Dirk Stegemann, and Dr. Horst H. Gerke in late 1992 after intensive discussions about the BMBF-opened program (Die anwendungsorientierte Verbundprojekte auf dem Ge biet der Mathematik des Bundesministerium fur Bildung, WissenschaJt, Forschung und Technologie) on applied mathematics in industrial areas. Dr. Stegemann worked at that time for the company GEO-data, Garbsen near Hannover."

A description of the latest and most appropriate mathematical and numerical methods for optimizing soil venting. The monograph considers mathematical, numerical, and technical aspects as well as their practical significance. This book will be of interest to applied mathematicians, geophysicists, geoecologists, soil physicists, and environmental engineers.