Scientific Results

This catalogue is obtained by conducting a systematic literature review of scientific studies and reviews related to monitoring, forecasting, and simulating the inland water cycle. The analysis maps scientific expertise across research groups and classifies findings by the type of inland water studied, application focus, and geographical scope. A gap analysis will identify missing research areas and assess their relevance to policymaking.

ID â–Č Type Year Authors Title Venue/Journal DOI Research type Water System Technical Focus Abstract Link with Projects Link with Tools Related policies ID
publications-2451 Peer reviewed articles 2022 Jung Eun, Kim/ Daniel Humphrey/ Jan Hofman Evaluation of harvesting urban water resources for sustainable water management: Case study in Filton Airfield, UK Journal of Environmental Management 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116049 Data Management & Analytics River Basins No abstract available 776541
publications-2452 Peer reviewed articles 2019 Xianzheng Ma, Katarzyna Joanna Janowska, Vittorio Boffa*, Debora Fabbri, Giuliana Magnacca, Paola Calza, Yuanzheng Yue Surfactant-assisted Fabrication of Alumina-doped Amorphous Silica Nanofiltration Membranes with Enhanced Water Purification Performances Nanomaterials 10.3390/nano9101368 Simulation & Modeling Hydropower Dams & reservoirs Surfactant-templated 5 mol% Al2O3-doped silica membranes nanofiltration membranes were synthesized via the sol-gel method, and afterward, were optimized, and tested with respect to the permeability and rejection rate. The disordered silica network was stabilized by doping 5 mol% alumina. Tetraethyl orthosilicate and aluminum isopropoxide were used as the silica and alumina precursors, respectively. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was used not only as a pore-forming agent, but also to control the reaction rate of the aluminum isopropoxide, thus obtaining highly homogeneous materials. The results about filtration of model solutions showed that the optimized membranes are featured by both a relatively high water permeability (1.1–2.3 L·m−2·h−1 ·bar−1) and a high rejection for salts (74% for NaCl, and >95% for MgSO4 and Na2SO4) and organic pollutants (e.g., about 98% for caffeine). High rejection of divalent ions and organic molecules was also observed when a real wastewater effluent was filtered. The influence of the synthesis conditions on the membrane performance is discussed. 776816
publications-2453 Peer reviewed articles 2019 Vittorio Boffa, Cristian Lunghi, Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen, Giuliana Magnacca, Paola Calza Fabrication and Surface Interactions of Super-Hydrophobic Silicon Carbide for Membrane Distillation Nanomatarials 10.3390/nano9081159 Data Management & Analytics River Basins Hydrophilic silicon carbide was modified by surface deposition of a super-hydrophobic coating that is based on perfluorosilanes. The modification was proven to yield membrane surfaces with contact angles that were higher than 145° and to be stable under hydrothermal conditions. The measurement of the isosteric heat of adsorption of water and toluene by microgravimetry showed that, after modification, the membrane material was fully covered by a low-energy surface, which is consistent with the fluorocarbon moieties that were introduced by the modification. The same modification method was applied to a commercial multichannel SiC membrane tube (nominal pore size = 0.04 ”m), which was tested in a direct contact membrane distillation apparatus. The membrane was permeable to water vapour and volatiles, but it showed full rejection for salt ions and organic pollutants with low vapour pressure (such as ibuprofen and caffeine). Moreover, the membrane was reusable, and its performances were stable with no sign of pore wetting over 8 h of filtration. 776816
publications-2454 Peer reviewed articles 2021 Nesheim, I.; Sundnes, F.; Enge, C.; Graversgaard, M.; van den Brink, C.; Farrow, L.; Glavan, M.; Hansen, B.; Leitão, I.A.; Rowbottom, J.; Tendler, L Multi-Actor Platforms in the Water–Agriculture Nexus: Synergies and Long-Term Meaningful Engagement Water 10.3390/w13223204 Data Management & Analytics River Basins Solutions to current complex environmental challenges demand the consultation and involvement of various groups in society. In light of the WFD’s requirements of public participation, this paper presents an analysis of the establishment and development of nine different multi-actor platforms (MAPs) across Europe set up as arenas for long-term engagements to solve water quality challenges in relation to agriculture. The MAPs represent different histories and legacies of engagement; some are recent initiatives and some are affiliated with previous government-initiated projects, while other MAPs are long-term engagement platforms. A case study approach drawing on insights from the nine engagement processes is used to discuss conditions for enabling long-term multi-actor engagement. The perceived pressure for change and preferred prioritization in complying with mitigating water quality problems vary within and among the MAPs. The results show that governmental and local actors’ concern for water quality improvements and focusing on pressure for change are important for establishing meaningful multi-actor engagement when concerns translate into a clear mandate of the MAP. Furthermore, the degree to which the MAPs have been able to establish relationships and networks with other institutions such as water companies, agricultural and environmental authorities, farmers, and civil society organizations influences possibilities for long-term meaningful engagement. 727984
publications-2455 Peer reviewed articles 2021 Van den Brink, C.; Hoogendoorn, M.; Verloop, K.; de Vries, A.; Leendertse, P. Effectiveness of Voluntary Measures to Reduce Agricultural Impact on Groundwater as a Source for Drinking Water: Lessons Learned from Cases in the Dutch Provinces Overijssel and Noord-Brabant Water 10.3390/w13223278 Data Management & Analytics River Basins Agricultural practices cause diffuse water pollution issues, which is a policy concern across the globe. This paper addresses the reduction in agricultural impact on groundwater as source for drinking water with a governance approach based on a mutual gains approach (MGA) using voluntary measures only. We performed case studies in Overijssel and in Noord-Brabant, both located in the Netherlands, to study the effectiveness of the governance approach on nutrients and pesticides, respectively. The effectiveness was studied by analyzing the engagement process qualitatively and by analyzing the impact of measures at farm scale as quantitative indicators. For nutrients, the effectiveness is expressed in the N-surplus at farm scale and the realization of groundwater quality objectives in groundwater protection areas (GWPA). For pesticides, the effectiveness is expressed in environmental impact points (EIP) at farm scale and the level of groundwater protection areas (GWPA). The results indicate that the engagement process based on voluntariness creates a platform for meaningful engagement, adds to the economics of the farm and reduces the agricultural impact on groundwater quality. However, the nitrate objectives of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) are not met at the level of GWPAs in Overijssel. Due to the voluntariness of the approach, the participation rate relies on the farmers’ expectation of the costs and benefits of the process, and diminishing economic returns prevent the further improvement of efficient nutrient use. Although an enforceable objective and strict deadline for pesticides is missing, the objective has been met at the level of GWPAs using voluntary measures only in Noord-Brabant. An important driver for this effectiveness is the fact that these results can be obtained without incurring economic losses, which may tie into the high participation rate of farmers. 727984
publications-2456 Peer reviewed articles 2022 Feldbauer, J., Ladwig, R., Mesman, J.P., Moore, T.N., ZĂŒndorf, H., Berendonk, T.U. and Petzoldt, T. Ensemble of models shows coherent response of a reservoir’s stratification and ice cover to climate warming Aquatic Sciences 10.1007/s00027-022-00883-2 Simulation & Modeling River Basins AbstractWater temperature, ice cover, and lake stratification are important physical properties of lakes and reservoirs that control mixing as well as bio-geo-chemical processes and thus influence the water quality. We used an ensemble of vertical one-dimensional hydrodynamic lake models driven with regional climate projections to calculate water temperature, stratification, and ice cover under the A1B emission scenario for the German drinking water reservoir Lichtenberg. We used an analysis of variance method to estimate the contributions of the considered sources of uncertainty on the ensemble output. For all simulated variables, epistemic uncertainty, which is related to the model structure, is the dominant source throughout the simulation period. Nonetheless, the calculated trends are coherent among the five models and in line with historical observations. The ensemble predicts an increase in surface water temperature of 0.34 K per decade, a lengthening of the summer stratification of 3.2 days per decade, as well as decreased probabilities of the occurrence of ice cover and winter inverse stratification by 2100. These expected changes are likely to influence the water quality of the reservoir. Similar trends are to be expected in other reservoirs and lakes in comparable regions. 722518
publications-2457 Peer reviewed articles 2022 Elias Munthali; Lisette N de Senerpont Domis; Rafael MarcĂ© Drastic reduction of nutrient loading to a reservoir alters its resistance to impacts of extreme climatic events Environmental Research Letters 10.1088/1748-9326/ac7df2 Uncategorized Precipitation & Ecological Systems Abstract By perturbing ecosystems, extreme climatic events (ECEs) can impair ecosystems’ resistance and resilience to other pressures, leading to cascading effects on the continued provision of their ecosystem services. In aquatic ecology, most of the studies linking impacts of perturbations on ecosystems are based on controlled experiments and modeling, rather than real-world data. Using a 55 year dataset of hydrometeorological and reservoir water quality variables from the Ter catchment in Spain, we fill this gap by applying non-linear dynamics and extreme value theory concepts to test whether trophic state modulates reservoir ecosystem’s response to ECEs. We show that both Granger causality between hydrometeorological and water quality variables and effects of ECEs on reservoir water quality diminish after drastic reduction in nutrient loading, supporting our hypothesis that the ecosystem’s trophic state modulates its resistance to ECEs. Thus, by safeguarding reservoirs from nutrient pollution, water resources managers can ameliorate impacts of ECEs on ecosystem health. 722518
publications-2458 Peer reviewed articles 2022 Meredith A. Holgerson, David C. Richardson, Joseph Roith, Lauren E. Bortolotti, Kerri Finlay, Daniel J. Hornbach, Kshitij Gurung, Andrew Ness, Mikkel R. Andersen, Sheel Bansal, Jacques C. Finlay, Jacob A. Cianci-Gaskill, Shannon Hahn, Benjamin D. Janke, Cory McDonald, Jorrit P. Mesman, Rebecca L. North, Cassandra O. Roberts, Jon N. Sweetman, Jackie R. Webb Classifying Mixing Regimes in Ponds and Shallow Lakes Water Resources Research 10.1029/2022wr032522 Simulation & Modeling Water Distribution Networks AbstractLakes are classified by thermal mixing regimes, with shallow waterbodies historically categorized as continuously mixing systems. Yet, recent studies demonstrate extended summertime stratification in ponds, underscoring the need to reassess thermal classifications for shallow waterbodies. In this study, we examined the summertime thermal dynamics of 34 ponds and shallow lakes across temperate North America and Europe to categorize and identify the drivers of different mixing regimes. We identified three mixing regimes: rarely (n = 18), intermittently (n = 10), and often (n = 6) mixed, where waterbodies mixed an average of 2%, 26%, and 75% of the study period, respectively. Waterbodies in the often mixed category were larger (≄4.17 ha) and stratification weakened with increased wind shear stress, characteristic of “shallow lakes.” In contrast, smaller waterbodies, or “ponds,” mixed less frequently, and stratification strengthened with increased shortwave radiation. Shallow ponds (<0.74 m) mixed intermittently, with daytime stratification often breaking down overnight due to convective cooling. Ponds ≄0.74 m deep were rarely or never mixed, likely due to limited wind energy relative to the larger density gradients associated with slightly deeper water columns. Precipitation events weakened stratification, even causing short‐term mixing (hours to days) in some sites. By examining a broad set of shallow waterbodies, we show that mixing regimes are highly sensitive to very small differences in size and depth, with potential implications for ecological and biogeochemical processes. Ultimately, we propose a new framework to characterize the variable mixing regimes of ponds and shallow lakes. 722518
publications-2459 Peer reviewed articles 2022 Haitham Hassan; Mohamed Gaber; Wenyan Wu A Time-Series Self-Supervised Learning Approach to Detection of Cyber-physical Attacks in Water Distribution Systems Energies; 10.3390/en15030914 Uncategorized Uncategorized Water Distribution System (WDS) threats have significantly grown following the Maroochy shire incident, as evidenced by proofed attacks on water premises. As a result, in addition to traditional solutions (e.g., data encryption and authentication), attack detection is being proposed in WDS to reduce disruption cases. The attack detection system must meet two critical requirements: high accuracy and near real-time detection. This drives us to propose a two-stage detection system that uses self-supervised and unsupervised algorithms to detect Cyber-Physical (CP) attacks. Stage 1 uses heuristic adaptive self-supervised algorithms to achieve near real-time decision-making and detection sensitivity of 66% utilizing Boss. Stage 2 attempts to validate the detection of attacks using an unsupervised algorithm to maintain a detection accuracy of 94% utilizing Isolation Forest. Both stages are examined against time granularity and are empirically analyzed against a variety of performance evaluation indicators. Our findings demonstrate that the algorithms in stage 1 are less favored than those in the literature, but their existence enables near real-time decision-making and detection reliability. In stage 2, the isolation Forest algorithm, in contrast, gives excellent accuracy. As a result, both stages can collaborate to maximize accuracy in a near real-time attack detection system. 765921
publications-2460 Peer reviewed articles 2022 Varsha Radhakrishnan and Wenyan Wu Energy Efficient Communication Design in UAV Enabled WPCN Using Dome Packing Method in Water Distribution System Energies 10.3390/en15103844 Data Management & Analytics Natural Water Bodies The water distribution system has deployed several low-power IoT devices on an uneven surface where battery power is a major concern. Therefore, this paper focuses on using a UAV-enabled wireless powered communication network capable of directing energy to a target location and using it for communication, thereby reducing battery issues. In this paper, a static optimization was applied to find the initial height values using 3D clustering and beamforming method and dynamic optimization using extremum seeking method was applied to find the optimized height. The optimized height values were calculated and Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP) was applied to create the trajectory of the UAV. The overall energy consumption of the UAV was minimized by integrating dynamic optimization and dome packing method, which can find an optimal position and trajectory where the UAV will be hovering to direct energy and collect data. Moreover, we also minimized the total flight time of the UAV. 765921