Machine Learning and models in Hydro-Environmental Engineering
FLUMEN Institute
Principal Investigator
Ernest Bladé
Overview
Research
Staff
Projects
The River Dynamics and Hydrologic Engineering group, based at FLUMEN (CIMNE/UPC), conducts advanced research in river hydraulics and hydrology through numerical modelling, lab-scale experimentation, and decision-support tools for sustainable river basin and flood risk management.
The River Dynamics and Hydrologic Engineering Research Group at CIMNE, based at the FLUMEN Institute of CIMNE and the Technical University of Catalonia – BarcelonaTech (UPC), conducts advanced research and technology transfer in the fields of river hydraulics, hydrology, and environmental engineering.
The group integrates CIMNE’s expertise in numerical methods with FLUMEN’s strong background in hydraulics, sediment transport, flood modelling, and water resources management. Research activities combine high-fidelity numerical simulations with experimental testing in FLUMEN’s state-of-the-art laboratory facilities ─next to CIMNE’s headquarters in UPC’s Barcelona Campus Nord─ which support physical modelling of river flows, sediment dynamics, and hydraulic structures.
The group contributes to the development of innovative decision-support systems for integrated river basin management and flood risk mitigation.
With a consolidated presence in both academic and applied domains, the group plays a leading role in advancing knowledge and delivering solutions to real-world challenges in water and environmental systems.
Research areas
River hydrodynamics
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- Settlements and land use concerning flood risks
- Solid transport and river geomorphology
- Transport of non reactive substances
- River rehabilitation
- Preservation and rehabilitation of wetlands
Urban Hydrology
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- Urban drainage: sewer network/surface runoff. Inlets
- Pollutant load in urban hydrology
- Flood risks in urban areas
Reservoir dynamics
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- Thermal and hydrodynamic behaviour
- Sediment and nutrients dynamics
- Reservoir impact on river dynamics. Corrective measures
Dam hydraulics
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- New designs for spill-flows
- Spills over crest”
Irrigation canals exploitation
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- Automatic control algorithms
- Control structure and lateral storage
Development of methodologies for using remote sensing in the study of the thermal and hydrodynamic behaviour of water bodies
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- Flood areas definition
- Superficial temperature of river and reservoirs
- Characterization of vegetation in flooded areas
Flow-soil-structure interaction
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- New numerical methods based on the integration particles technique with discrete element methods and finite elements
- Stability and safety of structures under hydraulic influences (water)
Ongoing projects
Finished projects
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