Simulation tool for linking river hydraulics with ecology for environmental impact assessment (EIA)

Short summary A German company specialised in ecohydraulics has developed and works with a modelling & assessment tool that addresses the challenge of quantifying the ecological impacts of human water use in rivers based on habitats. They are looking for consultants or research organisations to cooperate on the assessment as well as the development of tools for the assessment of Environmental Impact on water systems under a research or technical cooperation agreement.

Full description A German SME, founded in 2001, is specialized in ecohydraulics. They are acting on the edge between research and practise and use innovative simulations tools for the assessment of human impacts on river ecology. The SME has developed a simulations system to address the challenge of quantifying the ecological impacts of human water use (e.g. hydropower, water abstraction, river regulation) on rivers. River ecology can be described by habitats for water organisms and their characteristics. Riverine habitats are determined by structures and hydraulics. These properties can be described in models and used for assessment of current but also future situations. The application of the simulation system is manyfold. It can integrate different river ecosystems and impact criteria. The vast majority of our rivers is affected by human water use. In many countries there are attempts to improve their ecological status, whereas simultaneous many countries are on the way to intensify water use. In both cases there’s a strong need for assessment tools to mitigate the impacts of human impacts. The company searches for the following types of cooperation: They offer services to companies, consultants and know -how exchange with research institutions. Research and Development Cooperation Agreements: The SME is interested in further developing their modelling tools in cooperation with R&D institutions that would like to transfer their knowledge about ecological impacts on water systems into practical applications for EIA. The tools are able to translate scientific knowledge into rule-based predictive simulations. Technical Cooperation Agreement: The company is interested in applying their modelling tools in cooperation with companies and institutions that would like to extend their portfolio of environmental services. The tools provide the opportunity to quantify impacts on water systems and signifies a unique feature in EIA.

Advantages and innovations

• The advantages of the modelling & assessment tools are:
• a) the output in terms of concrete numbers e.g. m² of habitat gain, or % of reduced risk for different scenarios of measures (e.g. river engineering, operation of hydraulic structures and hydropower plants, river restoration),
• b) the direct connection to measurable environmental features such as flow, morphology, water parameters,
• c) the objectivity and repeatability of the assessment procedure based on validated scientific knowledge,
• d) the visualisation of effects understandable for non-experts.

Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)