Author(s): Laurens Breugelmans; Daan Bertels; Patrick Willems
Linked Author(s): Patrick Willems
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Water availability is an important aspect to take into account when continuing economic development along navigable waterways, even more so in the light of the increasing frequency of extreme drought periods, such as the recent drought in Western-Europe. Predicting the impact of new infrastructure on waterways is crucial when preparing for extreme circumstances regarding water availability. This is especially true in complex systems with a high water demand, pre-existing water quality problems and high economic value. Water management of such complex systems requires numerical simulation models that allow to account for both water quantity and quality aspects. An extensive study on the impact of new infrastructure typically requires the simulation of a large number of scenarios, with varying boundary conditions, such that decision makers can rely on infrastructure design to prove effective in a wide range of possible circumstances. Performing such an extensive scenario analysis calls for a flexible and easy adjustable model with low calculation times, even for simulating very long time series. Conceptual models can provide an efficient approach for modelling large multi-user water systems. Based on a division of the waterways system in a number of interconnected reservoirs, they are capable of simulating water flows between the waterway reaches and are easily adjustable to the required scenarios. In this study, such approach based on conceptual models was tested for the network of navigable waterways in Flanders and used to investigate water allocation under extreme conditions.
Year: 2024