Exploring new technologies for simulation and analysis of urban flooding

Eng.D ThesisRegulatory drivers, climate change and urbanisation put pressure on urban water managers to find sustainable solutions protecting people and properties from floods now and in the future. For this purpose flood model simulations and analysis are conducted to assess impacts of change on existing systems and to test options for adaptation. Recent developments in hydrodynamic models like CityCAT offer innovative concepts for effective and efficient integrated urban flood modelling. The application of new developments however is met by constraints related to the legacy of established modelling strategies, the modelling tools applied, data availability and the specific duties and responsibilities of stakeholders. The aim of this thesis is to explore new technologies for the simulation and analysis of urban flooding and outline a programme for delivering practical solutions for end-users which addresses these constraints. To address the important practical challenge of missing and inadequate data, a method for generating synthetic networks of storm drain inlets was developed and demonstrated. Tested in fully coupled CityCAT models to link the surface and sub-surface drainage domain, results have shown that synthetic networks of storm drain inlets provide satisfactory results compared with surveyed inlet networks. The results also highlight the sensitivity of the inlet drainage performance related to their location and elevation. Additionally, a generic, open-source flood exposure analysis tool was developed. Detailed hydrodynamic model results and exact building geometries are used to assess the potential internal flooding of buildings for entire cities. Newly developed mapping scripts combine exposure results with hydrodynamic model results to assess cause and consequence of floods. The third part of the thesis presents a strategic-level options appraisal highlighting the practical and financial benefits in relation to a potential industrial application of the new developments. With the availability of open architecture modelling software, this section demonstrates that the model building, simulation and analysis process can be optimised through the application of automated, generic algorithms and cloud computingScottish Water and EPSRC for co-funding

Untersuchungen zur Sediment-Konnektivität in einem anthropogen beeinflussten Fließgewässer mittels Feinsedimentanalysen

In der vorliegenden Diplomarbeit wird der anthropogene Eingriff, in Form eines Staudammes, auf die anteilsmäßige Korngrößenzusammensetzung von Feinsedimenten (<2 mm) in pool-Abschnitten sowie die Schwebstoffkonzentration untersucht. Das übergeordnete Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, den Einfluss eines Dammes sowie einzelner riffle-pool-Sequenzen, auf die longitudinale Sediment-Konnektivität entlang eines Fließgewässers zu untersuchen. Dazu wurden, im Zuge dieser empirischen Arbeit, Schwebstoffproben, sowie Sedimentproben aus pool-Abschnitten und den angrenzenden Uferbereichen flussauf- und flussabwärts eines Dammes entnommen. Zur Ermittlung der Korngrößenzusammensetzungen der Feinsedimente sowie der Schwebstoffkonzentration wurden unterschiedliche Analysemethoden verwendet. Die Untersuchungsstandorte befinden sich entlang des Kajabachs, dammauf- und dammabwärts des so genannten Sagteichs im nördlichen Niederösterreich. Auf Basis der Ergebnisse der Schwebstoffanalysen kann der untersuchte Damm generell als Sediment-Diskonnektivitätsfaktor ausgewiesen werden. Aufgrund des potentiellen lateralen Eintrags von Sedimenten ist dies, auf Basis der Korngrößenanalysen der Feinsedimente aus pool-Abschnitten, jedoch teilweise nur bedingt möglich. Ebenso der Einfluss einzelner riffle-pool-Sequenzen auf die longitudinale Sediment-Konnektivität konnte aufgrund des potentiellen lateralen Eintrags von Sedimenten nur unter Vorbehalt aufgezeigt werden.The present diploma thesis deals with the human impact, in form of a dam, on the grain size distribution of fine sediments (<2 mm) in pool-sections and the suspended load concentration. The main objective of this work is to analyse the impact of a dam and riffle-pool-sequences on the longitudinal sediment-connectivity. For this purpose, suspended load measurements and sediment samples from pool-sections as well as from the river banks were taken up- and downstream of a dam. The grain size distribution of the sediments and the concentration of the suspended load where analysed based on various methods. The study sites are located alongside the “Kaja” river, which catchments size is about 21.3 km². The samples, where extracted down- und upstream of the so called “Sagteich- reservoir”. As a result of the suspended load measurements, the investigated dam can be regarded as a strong sediment-disconnecting factor. Furthermore, the potential lateral input of sediment from river banks alters the grain size distribution of the sediments in pool-sections. Therefore, using sediment samples from pool-sections, to delineate the impact of a dam and single riffle-pool-sequences on the longitudinal sediment-connectivity has to be regarded with reservation

High-Temperature Heat Pump for Wellness Applications Using CO2 as a Refrigerant

Building technology recently has been affected by great innovations to reduce energy demand and to enable self-sufficient operation. To test innovations and prove practicality, EMPA has built a research building called NEST, where different demonstration projects from the building industry can be integrated and scientifically monitored. Furthermore, the sector of wellness applications shows significant potential for improving energy efficiency. Usually, spa facilities such as saunas and steam baths are based on direct electric or fossil heating which is extremely energy intensive and results in high operating costs. In order to establish a more energy efficient technology to provide heat to wellness areas, the present work proposes the usage of a high temperature heat pump with CO2 as a refrigerant. Carbon dioxide is currently favored by many heat pump applications due to the demand for low-GWP refrigerants with non-toxic and non-flammable properties. High-temperature heat pumps with CO2 as a refrigerant are already available on the market and reach supply temperatures typically up to 100 °C. Wellness applications require temperatures up to 130 °C on the supplier side, which requires new system design. On the consumption side, the heat will be used on a wide variety of temperature levels considering different saunas, showers and space heating. In this context, a stratified storage system ensures the heat output on the desired temperature level. Therefore, the heat exchanger unit as well as the operating range of the heat pump are the major challenges. In Coorporation with Scheco AG, a new CO2 refrigerant system has been designed and set up as a part of EMPA research building by means of a pilot installation including different saunas, steam bath and showers. Measurements will be performed as soon as possible to start the optimization process of the system

Finite element approximation of surfactant spreading on a thin film

Published versio

Detection to Hospital Door:Gender Differences of Patients With Acute Stroke Symptoms

Although prehospital stroke management is challenging, it is a crucial part of the acute stroke chain to enable equal access to highly specialised stroke care. It involves a critical understanding of players usually not specialized in acute stroke treatments. There is contradictory information about gender inequity in prehospital stroke detection, dispatch, and delivery to hospital stroke centers. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the knowledge of gender differences in the first three stages of acute stroke management. Information on the detection of acute stroke symptoms by patients, their relatives, and bystanders is discussed. Women seem to have a better overall knowledge about stroke, although general understanding needs to be improved. However, older age and different social situations of women could be identified as reasons for reduced and delayed help-seeking. Dispatch and delivery lie within the responsibility of the emergency medical service. Differences in clinical presentation with symptoms mainly affecting general conditions could be identified as a crucial challenge leading to gender inequity in these stages. Improvement of stroke education has to be applied to tackle this inequal management. However, specifically designed projects and analyses are needed to understand more details of sex differences in prehospital stroke management, which is a necessary first step for the potential development of substantially improving strategies

FLIGHT TESTING OF NOISE ABATING RNP PROCEDURES AND STEEP APPROACHES

To test different types of noise abatement approach procedures the Institute of Flight Guidance and the Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology performed flight tests on the 6th September 2010 with a Boeing 737-700. In total 13 approaches to the Research Airport in Brunswick were flown while the approach area of the airport was equipped with six noise measurement microphones. Brunswick airport is equipped with an experimental ground based augmentation system (GBAS) which allows the implementation of 48 ILS lookalike precision approach procedures with different approach angles simultaneously

Simulation of Landing and Take-off Noise for Supersonic Transport Aircraft at a Conceptual Design Fidelity Level

The German Aerospace Center has launched an internal project to assess the noise impact associated with supersonic transport aircraft during approach and departure. A dedicated simulation process is established to cover all relevant disciplines, i.e., aircraft and engine design, engine installation effects, flight simulation, and system noise prediction. The core of the simulation process is comprised of methods at the complexity and fidelity level of conceptual aircraft design, i.e., typical overall aircraft design methods and a semi-empirical approach for the noise modeling. Dedicated interfaces allow to process data from high fidelity simulation that will support or even replace initial low fidelity results in the long run. All of the results shown and discussed in this study are limited to the fidelity level of conceptual design. The application of the simulation process to the NASA 55t Supersonic Technology Concept Aeroplane, i.e., based on non-proprietary data for this vehicle, yields similar noise level predictions when compared to the published NASA results. This is used as an initial feasibility check of the new process and confirms the underlying methods and models. Such an initial verification of the process is understood as an essential step due to the lack of available noise data for supersonic transport aircraft in general. The advantageous effect of engine noise shielding on the resulting system noise is demonstrated based on predicted level time histories and certification noise levels. After this initial verification, the process is applied to evaluate a conceptual supersonic transport design based on a PhD thesis with two engines mounted under the wing, which is referred to as aircraft TWO. Full access to this vehicle’s design and performance data allows to investigate the influence of flight procedures on the resulting noise impact along approach and departure. These noise results are then assembled according to proposed Federal Aviation Agency regulations in their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, e.g., speed limitations, for Supersonic transport noise certification and the regulations from Noise Chapters of the Annex 16 from the International Civil Aviation Organization in order to evaluate the resulting levels as a function of the flight procedure

Model Validation Using Crowd-Sourced Data From A Large Pluvial Flood

On 28 June 2012, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, was hit by a large convective storm delivering 45 mm of rain in less than two hours. Although not large on a world scale, the event had a big local impact. Widespread areas of the city were inundated and traffic was blocked in and around the city for about 6 hours. The following morning there was very small amount of visible evidence that the event happened. To gather data about the event through crowd sourcing Newcastle University organised and publicised a web page inviting public to upload their flood photographs, pin them on the map and optionally write a comment. In a more classical manner Newcastle City Council sent questionnaires to all the residents in the streets from which they received any reports about the flood and asked them to describe the flood in and around their properties. Data gathered from these sources were used to validate and calibrate the model of this event simulated using the hydrodynamic modelling software CityCAT developed at Newcastle University. CityCAT combines very accurate numerical methods with advanced software architecture providing both ease of use and accuracy in performance. Combination of those two main properties enables modelling of complex flow situations such as propagation of shocks and flows over initially dry areas, commonly in urban flash floods. Agreement between the gathered data and modelling results was satisfying at a majority of places when reduced rainfall input accounting for the drainage network was used. Crowd-sourced data, photographs and questionnaires, have proven to be effective tools in model calibration/validation

Phytotoxic metabolites from Neofusicoccum parvum, a pathogen of Botryosphaeria dieback of grapevine

Liquid chromatography-diode array screening of the organic extract of the cultures of 13 isolates of the fungus Neofusicoccum parvum, the main causal agent of botryosphaeria dieback of grapevine, showed similar metabolites. One strain was selected for further chemical studies and led to the isolation and characterisation of 13 metabolites. Structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analyses, including one- and two-dimensional NMR and mass spectrometry, and through comparison to literature data. The isolated compounds belong to four different chemical families: five metabolites, namely, ( )-terremutin (1), (+)-terremutin hydrate (2), (+)-epi-sphaeropsidone (3) ( )-4-chloro-terremutin hydrate (4) and(+)-4- hydroxysuccinate-terremutin hydrate (5), belong to the family of dihydrotoluquinones; two metabolites, namely, (6S,7R) asperlin (6) and (6R,7S)-dia-asperlin (7), belong to the family of epoxylactones; four metabolites, namely, (R)-( )-mellein (8), (3R,4R)-4-hydroxymellein (9), (3R,4S)-4-hydroxymellein (10) (R)( )-3-hydroxymellein (11), belong to the family of dihydroisocoumarins; and two of the metabolites, namely, 6-methyl-salicylic acid (12) and 2-hydroxypropyl salicylic acid (13), belong to the family of hydroxybenzoic acids. We determined the phytotoxic activity of the isolated metabolites through a leaf disc assay and the expression of defence-related genes in Vitis vinifera cells cv. Chardonnay cultured with ( )-terremutin (1), the most abundant metabolite. Finally, analysis of the brown stripes of grapevine wood from plants showing botryosphaeria dieback symptoms revealed the presence of two of the isolated phytotoxinsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio