Comparison of 1DH and 2DH mathematical models for modelling wave hydrodynamics in Ofir beach

Coastal zone protection is a very crucial issue in order to defend populations and infrastructures as well as to environment conservation. Adequate tools must be tested and implemented for supporting engineering solutions to face this challenge. In this study, 1DH and 2DH models were applied to simulate wave hydrodynamics at Ofir beach, NW Portugal. For this purpose, COULWAVE (1DH) and BOUSS-2D (2DH) models were implemented considering both the presence of a detached breakwater and natural conditions aiming the study of the impact of these structures on the significant wave height and the wave energy. A comparison of the performance of the two models was also developed. The methodology adopted in this research work, where a generalised methodology of models applications was used, allows its replication to other coastal stretches being this application dependent on local environmental conditionsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Application of Delft3d for designing and assessing new solutions to improve sediment input to an erosion prone coast

The construction of harbor defense structures changes the natural sedimentary fluxes that contribute to feed the coastal drift in the adjacent beaches, in many harbors of the world located at river mouths. This paper presents a numerical modelling work, based on the Delft3D software, to study morphodynamics at the river Lima estuary, Portugal. This model was implemented recurring to a hydroinformatic environment that was constructed at University of Minho along the last two decades. Considering specific hydrodynamic conditions and typical characteristics of the estuarine sediments, the capacity of hypothetical structures to improve transport of sediments to the coast was assessed: (i) a submerged transverse non-erodible dam and (ii) an emerged groin linked to the left embankment located at the upstream section of the harbor. The implemented hydroinformatic environment presents capacities to simulate the complex morphodynamic behavior of river mouths. The preliminary results reveals that the proposed structures can have a positive impact throughout dredging works facilitation by transferring depositional areas during flood events to a location near the coast inside the harbor. Ongoing field acquisition data will be essential to validate depositional patterns under different river discharges and wave conditionsPOCTEP/Interreg, project MarRISK (0262_MarRISK_1_E)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Application of Hydroinformatic Tools for Reservoirs Discharges Rules Assessment During a Flood Event

Hydrological and hydrodynamic models are valuable tools for understanding complex river hydrodynamics behavior during flood events. These tools have been applied to develop a detailed study of the flood event occurred between 9 and 11 January 2016 in the river Mondego basin, causing severe floods at Coimbra city (Portugal). The study included the characterization of the operational discharge schemes of three upstream dams with direct influence on flow rates in the river basin, and the runoff flows from contributing catchments. A detailed analysis on hydrodynamic water levels at the flooded areas influenced by the operation of a downstream dam and the local river morphodynamics was performed. Hydroinformatic tools were applied in different scenarios allowing the characterization and identification of the key factors responsible for the flood event and contributing to emphasize the need to comply with the established rules for the discharges at the upstream dams during flood eventsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Technological platform for catchment water safety planning

Water safety plans is a concept proposed by the World Health Organisation for risk assessment and risk management in drinking water systems. This concept includes the identification of hazards and control points throughout the water cycle from the catchment to the point of consumption. Deterioration in surface and groundwater quality due to sources of pollution impacting the water intake should be identified and monitored allowing effective management and operation of drinking water systems. Land use information, monitoring databases, and hydrodynamics and water quality river modelling can be used to estimate and forecast the spatial and temporal mass transport and attenuation hazards that impact a given drinking water intake. This work presents a technological platform based on the Delft-FEWS software in which databases and models were implemented for supporting catchment water safety plans in different river basins of the NW region of Portuga

Technological platform for catchment water safety planning

Water safety plans (WSP) is a concept introduced by the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2004) for risk assessment and risk management in drinking water systems. This approach has been increasing embraced by water suppliers, governments and other stakeholders. Raw water quality is a key factor for ensuring good and safe drinking water. Water use, land use and polluting human activity in the catchment area all have significant impacts on surface and groundwater quality, and thus the level and complexity of treatment plants necessary to ensure that the water leaving the works is safe and acceptable to consumers. Protection of raw water sources should be seen as the first, and often the most important, barrier to prevent microbial, chemical and radiological contamination of drinking water sources (Vieira et al., 2011). Due to continuously emerging threats to the drinking water quality from organic matter, pesticides, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, trace metals, and other types of contaminants, much effort has been put in the development of knowledge that is capable to effectively identify potential risks. Information on catchment characteristics (e.g. geology, hydrology, meteorology, land use, competing water uses), surface water bodies (e.g. flow rate, water quality and seasonality) and groundwater (e.g. aquifer flow rate, flow direction and aquifer vulnerability to pollution) and application of models to quantify the spatial and temporal dynamics of transport and attenuation of hazards that arise from the pollution sources across a catchment are of paramount importance for evaluating and prioritizing risks in raw water sources (Vieira & Pinho, 2014; WHO, 2016). This paper presents the use of the Delft-FEWS platform (Werner et al., 2012) in implementing an early warning system supported by proper hydrodynamics and water quality models for supporting catchment water safety plans in two river basins of the NW region of Portugal

Towards a decision support system for flood management in a river basin

A platform for flood forecasting (FEWS-LIMA) in the Portuguese river Lima basin was implemented applying Delft-FEWS software. This platform integrates SOBEK Sacramento hydrological model, SOBEK rivers hydrodynamic models (working together in predicting river hydrodynamics behaviour), and a comprehensive hydrological database. The calibration of these models was achieved using historical river flow data of different rainfall events for two different periods: after the dams construction and before its construction. Models predictions use rainfall time series as input data obtained from Numerical Weather Prediction models. The performance of forecasting platform was verified in real rainfall events, using a backcasting approach for four flood events occurred in the years 2006, 2010, and 2011 in order to demonstrate the accuracy of the modelled processes. In addition, a forecasting event was also considered in order to show the applicability of this methodology in future situations. It was verified, in this case study, that the obtained results have a high correlation to the actually measured typical flood hydraulic parameters

Modelling of sanitary sewer systems integrating rainfall-derived infiltration and inflow

Wastewater utilities often have management difficulties when excessive wet-weather flow leads to serious impacts in public health and environment as well as disturbing operational conditions in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). This phenomenon, resulting from rainfall-derived infiltration and inflow (RDII), occurs mainly due to defects in pipes and manholes (infiltration) and to illicit connections from downspouts, foundation drains or cross-connections with storm sewers (inflow), contributing to sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). These difficulties related to SSOs negatively affect: (i) the capacity and operation of sanitary sewer collection; (ii) the performance and treatment efficiency of WWTP; (iii) the risk of a public health hazards and environmental contamination. This well-known wastewater managerial problem is very difficult to locate and quantify in practice since the needed adequate measurement equipment often entails unsustainable costs for utilities. Wastewater flow mathematical modelling integrating a digital cadastral database using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) constitutes a sound methodology in predicting sanitary sewer systems performance which is a critical issue within SSOs reduction and remediation programs. This paper presents the implementation of a methodology based on hydroinformatic tools to determine the contribution of RDII in complex municipal sewer systems in order to establish adequate urban wastewater management policies that will effectively mitigate SSOs. USEPA SWMM, and digital cadastral database with field verification were applied in a simulation study of the small scale sanitary sewer network of Espinho (Braga, Portugal) whose results will be used in a larger scale to create a city-wide model for wastewater systems management

Modelling of Sanitary Sewer Systems integrating Rainfall-Derived Infiltration and Inflow

Municipal wastewater management difficulties may occur when excessive wet weather flow determine sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) mainly caused by the contribution of rainfall-derived infiltration and inflow (RDII) into sanitary sewers. This excess of wet weather flow can lead to serious problems to public health and environment as well as to suboptimal operation of wastewater treatment plants. This paper presents the implementation of a methodology based on hydroinformatic tools to determine the contribution of RDII in complex municipal sewer systems in order to establish adequate urban wastewater management policies that will effectively mitigate SSOs. USEPA SWMM, and digital cadastral database with field verification were applied in a simulation study of a small scale sanitary sewer network whose results will be used in a larger scale to create a city-wide model for wastewater systems management

Metabolic syndrome and physical activity in southern Brazilian community-dwelling elders: a population-based, cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background -</p> <p>The association between a sedentary lifestyle and obesity is well documented, and is linked to an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS). There is some evidence that information regarding the health benefits of physical activity is beginning to impact on the elderly people and is beginning to change their behavior. We aimed to investigate the level of physical activity undertaken by elderly people with MS and those without this condition.</p> <p>Methods -</p> <p>We evaluated 362 community-dwelling elders of Novo Hamburgo, southern Brazil. Diagnosis of MS was based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria and the physical activity (PA) level was estimated by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Analysis of covariance was carried out to verify associations between MS risk factors and the level of PA. Logistic regression was used to estimate the MS odds ratio for each level of PA.</p> <p>Results -</p> <p>No significant association was found between MS and the level of physical activity, irrespective of sex. The odds ratio for the presence of MS adjusted for sex and age and using insufficiently active elderly people as reference was 1.04 (95% CI, 0.6 to 1.7) in sufficiently active elderly people and 1.15 (95% CI, 0.7 to 2.0) in very active elderly people.</p> <p>Conclusion -</p> <p>The elderly citizens of a southern Brazilian community who were diagnosed with MS presented the same levels of PA as the individuals who did not have this diagnosis. This may imply that information on the importance of physical activity has already reached this higher risk population.</p

Aspectos da aplicação do Delft Hydraulics 'SOBEK' no desenvolvimento de um sistema de gestão operacional da água em Alqueva

No âmbito do desenvolvimento de um Sistema de Suporte à Decisão (SSD) para a gestão da água no Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva (EFMA) foi seleccionado, após uma avaliação de diferentes alternativas de software de modelação hidrodinâmica e de qualidade da água, o programa SOBEK (WL, 2005) para a modelação de problemas de qualidade da água unidimensionais. No presente trabalho apresentam-se as características mais importantes deste programa e descrevem-se os principais aspectos relacionados com a sua integração no ambiente hidroinformático em desenvolvimento para a gestão operacional das infra-estruturas, construídas e em fase de projecto, da rede primária do Subsistema de Alqueva a montante da barragem de Alvito. A construção do modelo hidrodinâmico foi precedida de um estudo pormenorizado das infraestruturas que constituem o sistema em análise, com recurso a informação constante dos seus projectos de execução. A caracterização geométrica das infra-estruturas foi desenvolvida com o detalhe correspondente ao de projecto de execução (ou levantamento no caso de infra-estruturas existentes), distinguindo-se duas situações físicas distintas: albufeiras e sistemas adutores. No casodas albufeiras consideraram-se os seguintes elementos de projecto: fundo ou topografia do terreno; planta correspondente aos níveis relevantes; cortes; características das barragens; descarga de fundo e de caudal ecológico; descarregadores intermédios; descarregadores de cheia. No caso dos canais, túneis e condutas em pressão consideraram-se os seguintes elementos de projecto: planta com traçado do eixo; perfil longitudinal; secções transversais e acessórios