*3.2. Screening Design—2<sup>k</sup> Experiment*

The sedimentological and morphological components are calibrated using two consecutive experimental designs. The first design (2k) has the function of detecting the statistically significant factors. The parameters and levels at which the first design was evaluated are shown in Table 4.


**Table 4.** Factors (Calibration parameters) for 2k experimental design.

\* The letters in parentheses will be used to abbreviate the name of the corresponding calibration parameters.

To determine which factors are statistically significant, it is necessary to perform an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using the results from simulation. As previously stated, this experiment does not include replicates, and consequently, the degrees of freedom of error within the ANOVA are few. This could induce to errors when estimating each parameter significance [38]. Therefore, before performing the ANOVA, it is necessary to identify which parameters have a significant effect on the model response and the probability of statistical noise, which might be interpreted as natural variability (error). To do so, a normality test was performed on the standardized effects of each parameter and its corresponding interactions, shown in Figure 4.

**Figure 4.** Normal Probability of Effects for the weighted indicator of sedimentological and morphological adjustment (OWIST, MF) in experimental design 2k.

Once the most significant parameters and interactions have been identified, the ANOVA table is presented in Table 5. The R<sup>2</sup> statistic indicates that the adjusted model explains 96.91% of the variability in OWIST, MF.


**Table 5.** Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results for the 2k experiment.

The statistical analysis for the 2<sup>k</sup> experiment shall be completed with the graphic verification of assumptions of Homoscedasticity, Normality and Independence. These charts are presented in Figure 5.

**Figure 5.** Graphic verification of Homoscedasticity, Normality, and Independence—Experiment 2k.
