Author(s): S. A. H. Van Schijndel; L. Frostick; A. Sanchez Arcilla; A. G. Van Os
Linked Author(s): Lynne Frostick, Agustín Sánchez-Arcilla
Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: Hydraulic research is moving increasingly beyond traditional civil engineering problems to meet the complex demands of environmental science and the assessment of natural hazards such as flooding and coastal erosion. The issues society is dealing with at the moment, such as development of adaptive strategies to climate change and increasing environmental pressures as well as developing sustainable protective measures against various natural hazards (floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, etc.) require a profound knowledge of the behaviour of water and its interaction with the environment. High-quality research infrastructures, methodological diversity and balance and synergy between available tools are necessary to actually realise scientific progress beyond the present state-of-the art. This is essential if we are to achieve real improvements in the reliability of predictions and further development of research and prediction methodologies. The extent of the research challenges for the coming decades necessitates cooperation both at national and international levels. In Europe the European Commission (EC) funded HYDRALAB network brings together the most important and unique experimental infrastructures in the hydraulic research area to work collaboratively. This coordination of available resources at 20 European institutes and universities enables scientists to progress beyond state-of-the-art in this area. This paper forms the basis of a discussion at a Special Seminar at the XXXIII IAHR Congress, Experimental research around the world, organised by the HYDRALAB network. The Special Seminar offers research institutes and laboratories and scientists around the world the possibility of discussing the important research topics for the future, to determine priorities and to initiate further cooperation on a global scale.
Year: 2009