Research
Wastewater Treatment - Waste Management - Water Supply
Professional Positioning - General Remarks
The environmental challenges associated with wastewater treatment technology have largely been addressed in terms of infrastructure—including, among other things, water quality and connection rates in Germany. Looking ahead, the focus will be on optimizing existing facilities and their operation, as well as on retrofitting and replacement. Furthermore, challenges such as climate change, demographic trends, and sustainable resource conservation will require targeted measures with innovative solutions—particularly in environmental engineering—at both the global and regional levels.
In waste management technology, the focus lies on optimizing treatment, recycling, and disposal facilities for municipal and industrial waste, as well as, to a particular extent, on developing a circular economy for construction waste. It remains essential to keep a close eye on the environmental hazards posed by pollutants, apply strict standards, and develop sound technologies. In the spirit of sustainability, today’s actions must also offer future generations appropriate development options to meet their needs (see Brundtland 1987).
Water supply, which has once again been fully covered by the department in the curriculum since 2014, is an important component of municipal water management. In line with the focus of the lectures and degree programs in the Master’s program, project relevance here lies primarily in pipeline infrastructure (networks) as well as in the organization or overarching fundamental aspects of water supply (interdisciplinary overlap with other disciplines, particularly wastewater engineering and process engineering, international water issues, resource planning, and framework planning).
Expertise (Overview)
Topics for Research and Development Projects: "Approaches for Discussions, Debates, and Reviews" - "Topics for Projects Ranging from Small-Scale to Large-Scale"
- Performance, rehabilitation, optimization, and expansion (upgrading) of municipal wastewater treatment plants.
- Integrated analysis of the watershed, sewer system, wastewater treatment plant, and receiving waters
(wastewater disposal concepts, sewer network design, stormwater treatment, pollutant load simulation, emissions, etc.) - Water as an element in urban and community planning
(ecological management of stormwater, treatment, flood protection, climate aspects, “sponge city,” etc.) - Sewer planning, sewer construction, sewer rehabilitation (repair, renovation, replacement) with a focus on trenchless methods
- Sealability of the sewer system (exfiltration / infiltration)
- Property drainage in accordance with DIN 1986-100: Design and flood verification
- Quality and environmental management, safety concepts for wastewater treatment facilities
(Occupational health and safety in sewer network and wastewater treatment plant operations) - Concepts for energy optimization and resource conservation.
(e.g., heat recovery, aeration energy) - Innovative process technologies for treating specific water contaminants
(e.g., industrial water management, trace substances, etc.) - Small-scale and constructed wetland treatment systems for outdoor use, wastewater treatment for special purposes
(e.g., industrial wastewater, graywater, etc.) - Sewage sludge treatment and recycling, as well as sand and other residues from wastewater treatment plants.
- Organization, economic feasibility analyses, cost/fee issues, and sustainability considerations
- Material Flow Management in the Construction Industry,
- Development of methods and procedures for the ecological and economic
assessment of waste treatment and disposal processes, - Determination, assessment, monitoring, and reduction of emissions,
- Integration of environmental protection and occupational safety into operational management systems (certification as a specialized waste management company, waste management concepts).
- Urban mining and “landfill-on-landfill” concepts
- Global and Regional Challenges to an Efficient Organization of Water Supply
Maintaining service standards / improving service reliability (e.g., climate, demographics, costs, liberalization, benchmarking, water losses) - Route planning for water pipelines and assessment of environmental aspects in pipeline construction (e.g., using geographic information systems (GIS) / decision support)
- Optimization of network planning through computer-aided simulations (e.g., pressure conditions in the event of a fire, pipe burst scenarios, reservoir location optimization, nominal diameter optimization, etc.)
- Transition of traditional calculation methods along the system chain (from water abstraction to water use) to computer-based systems, particularly with regard to educational aspects, practical relevance, and internationalization. Furthermore, the transfer of content and making fundamental topics accessible to a broader community (including other disciplines), as well as ad hoc calculations (off-the-cuff).
- Analysis of the condition and evaluation of pipeline networks, as well as innovative pipe rehabilitation, particularly using trenchless construction methods
- Sustainable strategies for the efficient construction, operation, and maintenance of networks
- Substantive knowledge transfer of established and innovative water technologies in an international context
(see, e.g., DAAD summer schools), collaboration and networking with partners from academia and industry (hydrology, chemistry, etc.)
Current
Small Projects Without "External Funding"
The small-scale projects mentioned are carried out more or less in connection with final theses and as a supplement to ongoing teaching activities. Accordingly, the focus is on conciseness and, in some cases, on less prominent but exclusive niches.
We are happy to develop new ideas based on our expertise in our own and related fields of work.
Wastewater Treatment Technology
Simulation
Integrated Analysis of Urban Material Flows
- Practical sediment load simulation using SWMM (EPA U.S.) for combined and separated sewer systems (cf. KOSIM / change in regulations from DWA-A128 to DWA-A102),
- Modeling / representation of specific pollutant plumes in the urban stormwater runoff process (e.g., street runoff), water balance, material balance,
- Implementation of ELWAS-Web.nrw data, synthetic network topologies (“fictitious vs. real”), and ad hoc analyses,
- Strategic sewer network control (Impact / model),
- Conductivity loggers as control/calibration parameters, as well as low-cost digital measurement systems.
Waste Management Technology
Feasibility Study
Landfills Through the Ages
- Landfill model using GIS, 3D volume calculation of a municipal solid waste landfill,
- Suitability and evaluation with regard to the disposal of mineral waste (“landfill-on-landfill”),
- Comparison of Landfill Classes 0 and I, suitable sealing systems,
- Mass calculation, (remaining) service life calculation,
- Aftercare plan,
- Technical and economic evaluation.
Water Supply
Network Planning
Potential for Innovation
- Fire hydrant registry with mobile data collection (mobile app),
- transfer to QGIS and firewater verification (STANET/EPANET),
- Calculations using Excel, EPANET, and STANET,
- Pressure loggers and model calibration for network calculations,
- Use of Street View and geoportals for network substitution to enable “quick” design calculations,
- Use of ELWAS-WEB.NRW data for the design of well systems.
Features
Appropriate equipment is provided to support project work.
In this context, “project work” refers to applications in teaching and research, as well as, where applicable, service activities.
Publications
and presentations
The department maintains a list of publications (in German and English) comprising approximately 40 entries. These range from conference papers to journal articles and book publications. The goal is to increase visibility within the community through further publications, participate in the discourse, and position contributions in a way that is tailored to specific target audiences.
Research Partners
...please contact us.
We are happy to participate as a research partner, service provider, or other stakeholder. Within our area of expertise, we can draw on a robust network within a broad community.