A comparison of automatic and manual calibration using the Pitman model

By setting appropriate parameter search ranges in automatic calibration, the danger of obtaining unrealistic parameters is reduced. If adequate data are available, it may be practical to automatically calibrate parameters in groups using only the portions of the streamflow hydrograph that they apply. This would require the level of understanding of the model and catchment processes that is typical to manual calibration but reduce the tediousness and subjectivity of manual calibration by applying an optimizer instead of manual trial and error.