Committee on Experimental Methods and Instrumentation
Scope
The mission of the Experimental Methods and Instrumentation Committee (EMI) is to promote new experimental methods, instruments, measurement techniques, and data analysis routines for both laboratory and field hydro-environment studies as well as to coordinate international activities in this dynamic area. Because of the diversity of measured hydraulic parameters and flow situations, a wide variety of methods and instruments have been developed. The advanced state-of-the-art instrumentation is followed by increasing expectations for data acquisition, which in turn results in the necessity of increased atomization of data collection and improvement of handling and processing of large data sets.
With respect to laboratory systems, special emphasis is given to the development of new capabilities for studying fundamental hydraulic phenomena and their interactions with other associated environmental processes such as aquatic ecosystem functioning.Regarding laboratory systems, special emphasis is given to developing new capabilities for studying fundamental hydraulic phenomena and their interactions with other associated environmental processes such as aquatic ecosystem functioning. The central focus is on non-intrusive methods such as methods employing acoustic and optically-based instruments.
With respect to field systems, EMI activities emphasize design and implementation of multi-process and multi-scale observational and experimental studies, employing both remote and in-situ measurement techniques. Such studies incorporate the most advanced instruments connected in real-time data acquisition networks that can be linked to data models and numerical simulation tools, to underpin resource management policies.
To enhance implementation of new measurement technologies into research and practice, EMI continues its efforts in linking manufacturers, designers, and users (scientists and monitoring agencies).
Research Agenda
Laboratory systems: Despite the need for robust and inexpensive hydraulic laboratory equipment, development efforts currently focus on developing tools to analyse fundamental hydraulic behaviour and their interactions with other associated environmental processes such as aquatic ecosystem functioning. This leads to the development of more accurate methods and instruments to analyse new properties.
Systems for field measurements: Despite the fact thatEven though more accurate instruments and methods are also needed in the field to analyse new properties, the main goal is to develop systems that are economical and robust.
Installation of data-acquisition equipment in the field: For almost all major river systems in the world, only insufficient data on their water resource and flow-behaviour exists. The missing data may be quite basic in developing countries or very specific in highhighly industrialised nations (pollution, flood insurance problems, etc.). The operation and maintenance of reliable measuring stations need improvement. The cost of continuous data-acquisition needed for this type of data can become prohibitive. Authorities undertake great efforts to automate the measurement, transmission and analysis of water resources data.
The IAHR-Committee on Experimental Methods and Instrumentation provides an important link between manufacturers and users of these instruments. Particular action is needed in theinstrumenttesting of instruments, a field in which a new system of data-exchangedata exchange should be set-upset up in the future. EMI offers a platform to distribute ideas for new solutions and knowledge about such instruments and methods. Efforts to establish the position of IAHR as a contributor to the efforts of international standardisation are being undertaken, based on the world-wideworldwide activities of the organisation.
Furthermore, this Committee actively contributes to knowledge dissemination in the field ofexperimental methods and instrumentation, towards PhD students, young researchers and practitioners. This is achieved by promoting special sessions at IAHR Congresses, special issues on scientificjournals, andby organizing hands-onworkshops and on-line events.
Annual report
Next events
9th Edition W.A.T.E.R. Workshop on Advanced Measurement Techniques and Experimental Research, International Summer School on Hydraulics Measurement Techniques. date to be defined | Gdansk, Poland
Publications
Meeting minutes
Principal domains of leadership team members
For theme 1. IAHR Networking: Michael Nones; Ana Margarida da Costa Ricardo; TaisYamasaki
For theme 2. Building a broader community: Marie Burckbuchler; Isabella Shalko; Liegi Wosiaki
For theme 3. Dissemination and Outreach: Manousos Valyrakis; Ricardo Szupiany; Rui Aleixo
For theme 4. Production and consolidation of knowledge: Slaven Conevski; Bart Vermeulen
Past events
W.A.T.E.R.
Workshop on Advanced measurement Techniques and Experimental Research, International Summer School on Hydraulics Measurement Techniques
8th edition. 1-5 July 2024 | Strasbourg, France
7th edition. 24-28 July 2023 | Munich, Germany
6th edition. 8-22 July 2022 | Lisbon, Portugal
5th edition. 5-9 July 2021 | Bolzano-Bozen, Italy
4th edition. 24-28 June 2019 | Bologna, Italy
3rd edition. 24-28 September 2018 | Oostende, Belgium
2nd edition. 2-6 October 2017 | Oostende, Belgium
1st edition. 1-5 August 2016 | Brussels, Belgium
Online events
ONLINE SCHOOL ON LATERAL CAVITY. Hybrid and multi Lab study of the flow pattern in a Lateral Cavity, February - March 2024 (https://www.iahr.org/index/detail/1204)
IAHR YP Challenge 4th edition, 2024
IAHR YP Challenge 3rd edition, 2023
IAHR YP Challenge 2nd edition, 2022
Webinar on Experimental Methods and Laboratory Instrumentation in Hydraulics. 13-15 April 2021
Recent Conferences, Special Sessions and Workshops
Surrogate Techniques for River Sediment Transport Monitoring, Special Session at 40th IAHR World Congress, August 21st - 25th, 2023, Vienna (Sessions organized by the EMI committee, 2023)
Hydroacoustic Techniques for Measurement in Environmental Flows, Special Session at 7th IAHR Europe Congress, September 7th – 9th, 2022, Athens (Sessions organized by the EMI committee, 2022)
Multi-scale Investigation of sediment transport processes in geophysical flows, Session at EGU General Assembly, May 6th – 10th, 2020, Vienna (Sessions organized by the EMI committee, 2020)
HydroSenSoft2019: 2nd International Symposium and Exhibition on Hydro-Environment Sensors and Software. 26 February-1 March 2019 | Madrid, Spain
5th Workshop on River and Sedimentation Hydrodynamics and Morphodynamics. 7-8 February 2019 | Porto, Portugal. Contact: Elsa Carvalho (elsac@fe.up.pt)
2nd International Symposium on Hydraulic Modeling and Measuring Technology. 30 May-1 June 2018 | Nanjing, China. Contact: Ms. Feng Sun (fsun@nhri.cn)
HydroSenSoft2017: 1st International Symposium and Exhibition on Hydro-Environment Sensors and Software. 28 February-3 March 2017 | Madrid, Spain | Proceedings
Recent Publications
Experimental methods and instrumentation in hydraulics, Special Issue in Acta Geophysica, Volume 70, 2022 (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11600-022-00919-z#Bib1)
Measurements and Instrumentation in Hydraulic Engineering, Special Issue in WATER-MDPI, 2021 (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/water/special_issues/hydraulic_engineering)
Experimental Hydraulics: Methods, Instrumentation, Data Processing and Management, 2 Vol. IAHR Monograph, CRC Press – Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. Editors: Marian Muste, Jochen Aberle, David Admiraal, Robert Ettema, Marcelo H. Garcia, Dennis Lyn, Vladimir Nikora, Colin Rennie.