IIAMA - Lines of research

Lines of research

The lines of research carried on at IIAMA are in fields relating to Water and the Environment, covering almost the complete hydrological cycle. In many of these lines, and also in the many collaboration projects we have been involved in, we have obtained results that have been transferred to both business companies and public organisations.

In these centres, more than 50 different lines of research are being carried out in the following fields:

Assessment of Environmental Impact

Development of new equipment for on site measurements in aquatic systems

Tools for the implementation and development of The European Water Framework Directive on Coastal and Transitional Waters

Analysis and optimization of sampling networks for nutrients and phytoplankton. Analysis and development of indicators for contamination by heavy metals and indicators for plankton. Determination and analysis of pressures. Establishment of the relationship between pressure and indicator. Development of the methodology and establishment of the good ecological potential for application in heavily modified port and transitional water masses (estuaries, salt marshes, coastal lagoons).

Integral management of coastal zones

Development of tools for environmental impact assessments

Forestry Science and Technology

Soil biogeochemistry

Water-soil-plant relationships. Transport models of water and solutes in soil

Soil characteristics that determine the distribution and productivity of vegetation. Soil temperature. Soil moisture. Plant response patterns to different abiotic stress conditions in Mediterranean climate. Evaluation of simulation models of nitrogen in the soil, and their subsequent use as tools of advice to farmers. Sensitivity analysis. Analysis of uncertainties.

Sustainable Forest Management

Hydraulic Networks and Pressurised Systems

Software development for the analysis of pressure water networks

Improvement of algorithm analysis of the permanent and non-permanent hydraulic state of hydraulic networks. Data conversions. Simplification of networks. Algorithms of topology and sectorization. Algorithms of energy optimization. Assessment of leakage and pressure dependent demands. Translation of commercial/free software to other languages. Developments based on EPANET software.

Evaluation and planning for improvements in water supplies

Design of new networks, preparation and calibration of network models in service, advice for field measurements, improvement and rehabilitation of networks in operation, evaluation and location of leaks, proposal of maintenance plans, optimization of operation in the short and medium term, preparation of water quality models in networks, and the general technical assistance in preparing Master Plans.

Application of GIS to the management of water distribution networks

Integration of simulation models in a Geographic Information System and the development of tools to aid in decision making. Calibration and simplification of models and tools for up-to-date model maintenance. Management applications based on the network model: production balances, sectorization, demand management, fault management, emergency situations, service quality assessment, location maps, inventories, project monitoring, etc.

Real-time control and optimization of water distribution networks

Design and optimal exploitation of pressure irrigation networks

Optimal solutions for the outline and dimensioning of pressure irrigation networks, incorporating agro-climatic data for the evaluation of crop needs, with the help of GIS. Exploitation management of community irrigators from GIS. Estimation of crop water needs from agroclimatic data in real time. Optimization of irrigation scheduling, and real time energy optimization.

Management of irrigation water through remote sensing, soil and plant sensors

Hydraulics and Hydrology

Hydraulics of large dams

Analysis and hydraulic design of spillways and outlets. Study of aerated flows and stepped chutes. Theoretical-experimental study of the methodological criteria of adaptation of existing designs of dams with a shock absorber bowl or semi-submerged ski-jump, at higher flow rates than those of the project. Experimental analysis and hydraulic designs of new element-structures of energy dissipation.

Automatic hydrological networks: real time applications

Measurement and estimation of climatic, hydraulic and hydrological variables in real time with high resolution. Hydrometry. Sensors and data management. Automatic networks. Hydrological databases. Verification, completion and real time processing of information. Use of robust real-time models for decision-making and optimum management of hydraulic resources systems. Quantification of uncertainty and predictions in short term scenarios.

Environmental Hydraulics

Fluvial Hydraulics

Study of sediment transport hydraulics and fluvial morphology. Theoretical-experimental analysis of local erosions in structures inserted in riverbeds and development of protection methodologies. Quantification of the vulnerability of bridges over river overflows. Study of the effects of resistance to the flow of vegetation, rigid and flexible, totally and partially submerged, in riverbeds and floodplains.

Physical Modeling in Hydraulic Engineering

Hydrological analysis of large dams

Sustainable Drainage Systems

Analysis, design and modeling of storm sewer systems

Hydrology of wetland

Stochastic modeling. Prediction and hydrological simulation

Generation of synthetic rainfall and flow series with ARMA, ARMAX and nonlinear models. Intermittent series. Data completion. Analysis and forecasting of droughts. Application of artificial neural networks: Hydrological forecasting, Water demand forecasting and simulation. Generation of synthetic time series. Incorporation of qualitative variables and expert knowledge in hydrological models. Real-time forecasting for flood control as support for criteria and rules of dam management. Classification of hydrological problems with functions of radial basis functions (RBF) - support for decision-making. Connection of stochastic rainfall models with water balance models.

Precipitation modeling

Quantitative rainfall prediction. Downscaling. Stochastic modeling. Scale Reduction of atmospheric circulation models. Multidimensional modeling. Completed series. Continuous simulation models. Distributions of extremes. Estimation of IDF curves. Analysis of IDF curves at smaller intervals. Regionalization. Design storms. Synthetic generation of temporal high- resolution rainfall. Applications in urban hydrology. Areal reduction factors. Precipitation areal estimation. Calibration of models with radar information. Time and space-time stochastic precipitation models.

Hydroeconomic Modelling Group

Drought analysis

Efficient management of irrigation water. Efficiency of water and energy use in irrigation

Water-energy binomial as a fundamental factor for irrigation to meet the new challenges of sustainability required. Irrigation programming, agronomic modeling of irrigated crops (Aquacrop, EPIC, etc.), energy optimization for the operation of irrigation pressurized irrigation networks. Modeling of nitrate pollution from irrigation. Adaptation to climate change.

Hydroeconomic models for the Integrated Water Resources Management

Integration of physical, economic, and legal-institutional constraints in water resource management simulation and optimization models (Decision Support System, DSS). Assessment of economic costs and benefits associated with water management. Assessment of marginal opportunity cost of water. Estimation of economic benefits of measures and programs of measures to improve water management and achieve a good status in water bodies according to the Water Framework Directive. Evaluation of investments in the water sector. Estimation of the economic benefits associated with an optimal management of water resources.

Economic instruments (e.g. water markets, prices, crop insurance)

Definition and evaluation of water markets. Economic impacts of water markets on water system management and individual users (economic efficiency, equity). Design of pricing policies taking into account financial, environmental and resource opportunity costs. Assessment of the economic impact of pricing policies on water system management and individual users. Design of efficient crop insurance schemes for irrigated agriculture and assessment of their economic benefits.

Water economics for agriculture

Economic impacts and drought management measures

Climate change impact assessment and adaptation

Acquisition and post-processing of climate change data. Assessment of climate change scenarios with hydrological and hydroeconomic models. Design of socioeconomic and future demand scenarios combining models and participatory processes. Estimation of the expected economic impacts due to climate change and global change (climate + socio-economic). Design of optimal adaptation measures against climate change. Definition of cost-sharing strategies of climate change impacts and adaptation measures.

System Dynamics models

Development of System Dynamics models for water resource management systems and its associated socio-economic systems. Dynamic evaluation of scenarios using System Dynamics models. Estimation of socio-economic impacts of water resource management measures. Use of System Dynamics to evaluate climate changes impacts on water management and its associated socio-economic systems.

Water-Energy-Food-Climate nexus

Estimation of water management impacts on food production, energy production and consumption, and environmental status. Economic optimization of the Water-Energy-Food nexus. Study of the impacts of one nexus component has on the rest. Evaluation of climate change impacts on the Water-Energy-Food nexus. Definition of adaptation measures to minimize climate and global change impacts on the Water-Energy-Food nexus.

Hydrogeology

Subsurface hydrology

Geostatistics and risk analysis

Environmental Impact Assessment

Geostatistical methods for the incorporation of geophysical information in the estimation of hydrological variables

Use of geostatistical techniques to incorporate information derived from geophysical surveys (seismic, meteorological radar and remote sensing), in the improvement of knowledge of hydrological relevance variables such as precipitation, hydraulic conductivity, heavy metal concentration, infiltration rate or the leaf area index.

Contaminated soils and solid waste management

Discrete numerical methods of particle and fluid Interaction

Numerical simulation studies of arid movement processes (sand, sludge, etc.) using discrete methods. Energy conservation in dynamic processes. Fluid-structure interaction by calculating hydrodynamic forces with specialized computer codes based on the finite element method and applying them to other discrete element codes. Study of sedimentation phenomena and movement of dunes.

Multiphysics and numerical analysis of active materials

Analysis based on thermodynamic physics of mechanical, electrical, thermal and magnetic field interactions. Implementation in a finite element research code. Study of a wide range of active materials such as piezoelectric, thermoelectric, pyroelectric etc. Simulation of other materials such as semiconductors and photovoltaic and with mass movement such as plasmas. Application for detection sensors (humidity, gas, etc.) and as actuators (pulses for searching and characterization in geology etc.).

Design and analysis of parts made of composite materials

Numerical analysis using finite elements of aeronautical parts made of composite material. Detection of possible damages in the structure while being used. Application of optimization algorithms and inverse problems to detect anomalies in global responses, for example in the vibration of a high-speed train bridge when it is inaugurated (undamaged state) and during the passage of a convoy (possible damaged state).

Integrated modeling of water resource systems

Application of geostatistical methods to the analysis of hydrological and environmental variables

Mathematical modeling of the flow and mass transport in the subsurface

Development of mathematical models of flow in aquifers and, more generally, applicable to porous media. Study of the relationships between surface water and groundwater. Modeling of processes in saturated and unsaturated media. Development of stochastic flow and transport models. Inverse modeling and model calibration. Analysis of the heterogeneity and spatial variability of permeable media. Modeling of processes of generation and movement of leachates from landfills.

Risk analysis

Physical modeling of flow and transport with laboratory prototypes

Hydrological and Environmental Modelling

Statistical Hydrology

Statistical models of extremes (floods and droughts). Historical information and historic floods incorporation techniques. Regional analysis. Multivariate statistical models. Non-stationary modeling. Teleconnections between extremes and climatic indicators. IDF curves estimation. Scalability. Small watershed floods. Sensitivity analysis of models. Models of error and uncertainty estimation in simulation and prediction.

Hydraulic modeling and floods

Flood studies. Impact of floods. Generation of hazard and flood risk maps using GIS techniques. Design of defense actions and Eco-engineering. 2D flood numerical modeling. Automatic channel control. Urban sewer and drainage network information management. Hydraulic modeling of sewer and drainagenetworks. Optimal flood control strategies and reservoir reserves. Real-time prediction systems.

Water resources evaluation

Distributed hydrological modeling. Hydrological models for continuous simulation. Spatial variability of precipitation and temperature. Multi-scale water balances. Distributed recharge of aquifers. Effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle. Effects of changes in land use and/or vegetation cover on the hydrological cycle. Evapotranspiration modeling. Arid climates hydrology. Environmental flows.

Ecohydrology and environment

Modeling of hillside vegetation and plant ecosystems. Geohydrological relations. Water-biocenosis relationships. Interactions between the soil water regime and the dynamic vegetation. Modeling of riparian vegetation. Environmental flows. Anthropogenic effects and climate change in riparian ecosystem. Distributed modeling of N and C cycles at a watershed scale. Erosion and sedimentation processes. Siltation of reservoirs. Radar and satellite assimilation data.

Microbian Biodiversity of the Water Cycle

Metagenomics of protozoa and bacteria in irrigation and drinking water

Survival of pathogenic bacteria in aquatic systems

Molecular techniques applied to the study of ecology of active sludge and MBR biofouling

Bioindication and control of biological processes in wastewater treatment

Detection of pathogenic microorganisms and indicators of fecal contamination

Water Quality

Wastewater treatment

Experimental study, at a laboratory scale using sequential batch reactors, and at a pilot scale using different pilot plants located at industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Study of wastewater treatment systems using anaerobic membranes. Study of nutrient recovery of wastewater by microalgae culture. Study of the nutrient recovery (nitrogen and phosphorus) of flows with medium and high concentrations. Microbiological studies of the biomass involved in the different biological processes of wastewater treatment.

Process modeling in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)

Modeling of the physical, chemical and biological processes involved, through the development of a global model capable of representing together the main processes that take place in a WWTP and calibration techniques of the model parameters. Development of control systems to optimize the operation of WWTPs including aeration control, pH, control of the level of sludge in primary decanters, and nitrogen and phosphorus removal control. Application of statistical modeling methods for monitoring, diagnosis and control of WWTPs. Development of software for the simulation of different processes modeled together.

Water quality in inland aquatic ecosystems

Surface water quality modeling

Development of eutrophication models in lakes and reservoirs, discharge to the sea by submarine emissaries, transport of metals in sediments and nutrient flows between the sediment and the water column. Part of them realized in collaboration with the group of Water Resources. Currently developing and implementing water quality models for natural and artificial wetlands.

Water treatment through artificial wetlands

Design and exploitation of artificial wetlands for the recovery of eutrophic water bodies; Joint assessment of water quality improvement and indicators of biodiversity and habitats. Study of the use of various adsorbent agents to aid in the elimination of phosphorus through vertical flow artificial wetlands. Study and implementation of improvements in artificial wetlands of small populations for the reduction of ammonium. Evaluation of the role of helotophytes in the reduction of nutrients in waters and their adaptation to working conditions in artificial surface flow wetlands.

Water Resource Engineering

Methodologies and Decision Support Systems for Integrated Planning and Management of Watersheds and Water Resources Systems

Development and application of models of simulation and optimization contemplating quantitative, qualitative, economic, environmental and social aspects of the water, and its integration in support systems of decision and information. Development and analysis of future scenarios, including climate change and adaptation.

Decision making and conflict resolution of water

Drought Planning and Management

Application of risk analysis to the safety management of dams and other hydraulic infrastructures

Assessments of sustainability and energy efficiency in water cycle infrastructures

Design, instrumentation and study of the behavior of hydraulic works and exploitations

Modeling and restoration of water quality in river sections, lakes and reservoirs

Analysis and optimization of water resource systems

Integral management of water resource systems

Hydrological models with surface and groundwater quality at basin scale

Development of hydrological models of continuous simulation that includes surface and groundwater and river-aquifer relationship. Development of models to assess: nitrate contamination in surface and groundwater and recovery measures; erosion and sediment transport; and water quality conditions such as: the electrical conductivity of water, suspended solids and phosphorus.

Assessment of Climate Change in Water Resources and Water Management

Drought detection, analysis, prediction and management

Hydro-economic models and water economy

Assessment of impacts and adaptation to climate change

Demand planning and management

Techniques and software for the management modeling of water resource systems

Design and development of methods and computer tools for the analysis of complex water resource (watersheds) systems for the purposes of evaluating operating rules and decision making for watershed management. Development of graphical tools in Geographic Information Systems Environment to help make decisions in the control of software and information of interest in the management of the watershed.

Joint use of surface and groundwater

Generation of hydrological scenarios