Projects / Programmes
Hydrotechnics, Hydraulics, Geotechnics
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2013
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.20.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Hydrology |
|
| 1.08.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Control and care of the environment |
|
| 2.05.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Mechanics |
|
| 2.13.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Process engineering |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T220 |
Technological sciences |
Civil engineering, hydraulic engineering, offshore technology, soil mechanics |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.07 |
Engineering and Technology |
Environmental engineering
|
Ecological Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Models, Geotechnics, Hydraulics, Hydrology, Hydrotechnics, Informatics, Engineering and Environmental Geology, Engineering Structures, Soil Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Monitoring, Relational Data Bases, Environmental Protection, Water Management, Artificial Intelligence, Sanitary Engineering, Hydraulic Risk and Damage Reduction
Researchers (46)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Two research groups are combined. The first group connects mathematical and physical modelling with artificial intelligence tools, databases and measurement technologies. In the second group, geotechnical knowledge supports hydrology in assessments of hydrological and geological risks. Common goals are hydraulic risk, vulnerability and damage reduction, and development of monitoring, field and laboratory measurements and engineering tools. Hydraulic and ecological models of natural and anthropogenic process are supported by database models and methods of machine learning. The complex of hydrological and geotechnical environment and engineering structures analyses the natural and anthropogenic process risk. The analysis is supported by field and laboratory measurements. Long-term goals are determined by the EU Directive and other international affairs, e.g. activities at accidents (FEMA-USA), coastal area management (ICAM), sediments management (ALPINE SPACE), as well as by Slovenian and regional conditions (water bodies, landslips, geotechnical structures etc.). Hydraulic-ecological models, which were developed for Water Management, Ecological Engineering and Sanitary Engineering, link together hydrodynamic and ecological transport processes (water, sediments, pollution) for researches of water management structures and water regulations. In basic hydraulics, hybrid models of measurements and mathematical models are supported by databases and tools of Artif. Intelligence (AI). The non-Newton liquid models (ie. debris flow, snow slides) enable risk analysis and expected damage assessment. Comprehensive water management of river basins demands a synthesis of research of water bodies, security and reliability of water supply, protection of habitats etc., continued research on terrestrial water and the Adriatic Sea (5th OP - Idrijca, Soča and sea). Ecological Engineering researches pollution reduction, process of auto purification, operations (scale-up problems, security, reliability), indicators of infrastructure, development of the low cost drinking and waste water treatment technology. Researches lead to the development of conceptual and machine learning based deterministic and stochastic methods and models. Multidimensional data analysis and OLAP create infrastructural support for technical, economical and legislational analysis. Geotechnics aims at protection and rational use of space on the basis of research of landslides (factors of triggering or the formation of a landslide etc.) to provide better environmental protection and potentials of exploitation of underground space. Research on rehabilitation of degraded land and waste dumps, development of models, measurement methods and evaluations of underground building impacts and influence of constructions on present buildings will be carried out. Knowledge will be acquired on the behaviour of geological material from the Slovenian area, on the influence of humidity, preliminary consolidation, saturation and suction on stability and durability of materials and constructions, and material behaviour at small or destructive deformations. Hydrology investigates flood forecasts, groundwater dynamics, and climatic change impacts on estimations of ecological quality of watercourses and water habitats in Slovenia, regional approach to surface soil erosion and the erosion phenomena intensity, regional approach to run-off regime, development of hydrological monitoring of landslides and continuation of river basin hydrological measurements on Dragonja and Notranjska Reka and newly Gradaščica, in urban area, and development of methods for determination of landslide risks (for Slovenia). An internet information system of water in the Republic Slovenia would be used for monitoring hydrological phenomena, water management, development of optimal water regime regulation methods at river basins scale, revitalization of streams, estimation of intervention influences on the environment...
Significance for science
Hydraulic research is an indispensable part of the chain: problem recognition ¬– evaluation of consequences – assessment of possible measures – optimal operation and maintenance of infrastructure. The studies on driving processes, triggering mechanisms and the forecast of consequences of (often tragic) events are the bases for the studies carried out in many other research fields (natural sciences, technical sciences, social sciences, etc.). Water management studies are explicitly interdisciplinary, they link together many fields, where water is an important compound triggering other processes, and the recipient of excessive energy or matter etc. The programme group is, together with the Jozef Stefan Institute, one of two leading groups in the world in the field of machine learning from data (different measurements), simultaneously taking into account the domain knowledge (unified inductive and deductive approach). Such a synthesis of both modelling approaches together with intensive data mining ensures system identification and development of a mathematical model of the real observed system with optimal complexity and precision, which is an important scientific contribution. Unfortunately, for the majority of artificial matters, including PCPPs, we know very little about their effects on humans and the ecosystem, especially after their final usage and occurrence of decomposition products. The proposed research will decrease the risk to human health and the environment due to the residual of healing/curative substances in purified waste waters that are released to the environment. Single solutions will contribute to the scientific development as well as be the basis for carrying out these innovative ideas in practice. Anyhow, the research results will contribute to the development of optimal technological procedures, both from the ecological and economic points of view. An important part of the programme were hydrological studies that were in their content harmonized with the International Hydrological Program (IHP) of UNESCO. In the world an acute crisis in water resources management has set in. All over the world damages caused by water related disasters (e.g. floods, landslides) have increased, and the available water resources are drying up (e.g. droughts). The research within the programme was a direct component of joint worldwide efforts for decreasing the consequences of natural disasters (INTERPRAEVENT, UNESCO). The studies in experimental watersheds were a part of the research of the AMHY group of the UNESCO FRIEND project. We have develop the observations and studies in experimental watersheds together with research teams from other countries within the HELP UNESCO program and the EPDRB program. Research projects from the field related to problems of the water environment and its regulation were among the priority tasks of the EU 7th Research Framework Programme and the VIIth UNESCO Programme 2008–2013, and more and more also part of an emphasized trans-boundary cooperation. The demands for the development of knowledge needed for rational and sustainable water management and sustainable water usage were clearly expressed. The geotechnical research on suction belongs to the basic research on soil behaviour and contributes to the basic understanding of behavior of unsaturated clays. The determination of the G-? curve solely from seismic dilatometer and dilatometer measurements was possible only on the basis of measurements on numerous materials. The research in the field of geotechnics was is in alignment with the studies of other research groups in the world. The development also established a relationship between the demanding nonlinear mechanical analyses of tunnel behavior, which are hardly executable in real time, and the measured tunnel behavior in nature.
Significance for the country
The executed research compounds were directly connected to the public interest in waters, since they dealt with the key questions of water and other infrastructure (maintenance of existing large dams, operation optimisation of existing and planned river hydro power plants), they investigated the indicators (quantitative, qualitative, potentials) of the status of water bodies (modelling of ecosystems), processes of planning, programming and monitoring of measures to protect the society from water related disasters (floods, mass movements) and to protect waters (advanced technique for sewage treatment plants), they gave methodologies for proper and economic usage of waters, which as a limited natural condition limits the development. The programme was the only one in this field, supported the development of water management as an important engineering professional activity (Waters Act, civil engineering branch of the Engineering Chamber of Slovenia) in its many parts, that is, in the field of monitoring, development of data bases, regionalisation of parameters and development of bases for planning and maintenance of large engineering structures in the field of water structure. A series of European directives on waters have been adopted or are in preparation (Water Framework Directive, Flood Directive, Soil Directive) and ask for the implementation in each member state. By doing that a cooperation of the profession and politics is needed, so that the spirit and vision of each directive is carried out under the specific conditions in each country separately and in the best possible way. Due to the growing exposure of the society, economy and natural and cultural heritage to natural and other disasters, it is urgent to investigate the level of exposure, possibility of occurrence and the expected extent of consequences. All this is also addressed in the new European directive on Critical Infrastructure Protection, where the water infrastructure is clearly declared as one of the key elements in each society. Since the water sector is clearly in the public domain, the field of this research programme contributed the key bases for functioning of the (water) public administration. The good status of the water environment, which is also in good order, is a key element for the preservation of diversity in the habitats under threat (threatened often also by waters themselves), but is also a key element of harmonious regional development, e.g. by assuring a water source for proper, economic and multipurpose (legitimate) water usage. The growing exploitation of the underground space for construction purposes asks, in the heterogeneous soils (often overconsolidated and unsaturated materials), for an adequate support of the modern computer technology that is not at our disposal at the moment. The programme, through its new knowledge on these materials, meant an important contribution to a more reliable engineering mastering of constructing in overconsolidated unsaturated materials and of designing of earthquake safe important civil engineering structures. The programme with its results supported the efforts for scientific excellence of research in Slovenia, and the researchers have by their connections and active work abroad promoted the Slovenian science and state, and will, in doing so, facilitate the growth of the reputation of the Republic of Slovenia in the world. The programme comprised of young researchers (from the economy also) and conveyed the knowledge to the economy. The researchers actively took part in the postgradute study programmes; they also started teaching a number of study courses in the renewed study programmes after the Bologna process. The connection of researchers into different international projects (FP7, bilateral projects) makes possible the active incorporation into the European research area and the international divison of labour, and is especially important for education of doctoral students.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
