Christian Doppler Laboratory for Sediment Research and Management

The CD-Laboratory “Sediment Research and Management” aims to establish and preserve the long-term use of reservoir capacities, and a long technical lifespan of various plant components, such as intake channels, pumps and turbines. Moreover, the preservation of given flood protection (due to reservoirs) like peak flow retention and the important flood storage capacity will be targeted. Module 1 aims to improve the economical, technical and ecological standards for hydropower use. Module 2 focuses on the improvement of the sediment management for industrialised rivers, and Module 3 targets to achieve a long technical life span of various plant components. However, all these issues will be addressed within the framework of the overall aim to minimise the costs in future by improved sediment management in alpine regions and industrialised river catchments. Based on the determination of the state-of-the-art engineering practice, basic research will be conducted concerning erosion, transport, sedimentation and remobilisation of bedload and suspended load sediments. Here, a combination of both laboratory (e.g. flume experiments, physical models) and field studies (e.g. monitoring of reservoir flushing) on different scales (μm – catchment) is expected to enable an improved process understanding. Moreover, based on the development or adaptation of hydrodynamic-numerical models and monitoring techniques (e.g. seismic profiling), advanced tools will be provided for the national and international hydropower industry. The outcomes of this CD-Laboratory will provide new standards for technological, ecological and economical optimisation of hydropower management and novel aspects for a sustainable sediment management in industrialised rivers based on (i) advanced process understanding, (ii) environmental impact assessments, and (iii) the development of new monitoring / modelling technologies. We further expect the implementation of the results from the proposed CD-Laboratory “Sediment Research and Management” in the strategy plans, guidelines, manuals, natural water safety plan and into laws, and a significant contribution to a consistent Austrian strategy concerning the future sediment management in surface waters, in cooperation with all federal groups working in the field of mountain- and hydraulic engineering.