The verification and validation of complex models for the numerical simulation of nonlinear, coupled multiphysical processes plays a central role in the preparation of reliable safety analyses, e.g. for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste, but also for the design of geotechnical facilities, e.g. for the use of geothermal energy systems or energy storage.

The DECOVALEX project (Birkholzer et al. 2025, Kolditz et al. 2025) has been dedicated to the validation of coupled process models for many years, in particular using experimental data from various underground laboratories worldwide. New model developments and the corresponding model validations also play an important role in the European partnership project EURAD (Churakow et al. 2024).

The Model Hub introduces a new concept for benchmarking according to the FAIR principles (Bilke et al. 2025). It is a web platform on which benchmarks are jointly developed, tested and made available using Jupyter Notebooks. The aim is to develop an interactive platform for benchmarking and to be able to test results ‘live’. Pre- and post-processing is supported by the Python library OGSTools. Benchmarking can be performed online via Binder, with quality assurance provided through automation. The Model Hub concept is being developed as part of the DigBen project (BMFTR funding grant 03G0927) in close cooperation between UFZ, TUBAF and Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), and is already being used in the DECOVALEX and EURAD projects.