Catchment Change Network.net

29^th February 2012

Lancaster Environment Centre

Lancaster University

Catchment Change Network hosts NERC Water Security Knowledge Exchange Programme (WSKEP) workshop. Lead presentations for the workshop and facilitated discussion include:

Martin Furness, Principal Scientist Ofwat

Keith Beven, Professor of Hydrology and Fluid Dynamics, Lancaster University

Phil Haygarth, Professor of Soil and Water Science, Lancaster University  

Kieran Conlan, Managing Director Cascade Consulting

Water security is focused on preventing a gap between supply and demand. The threat of population growth and climate change may make this problematic and it will be essential for businesses, investors, regulators and government agencies to understand their water-related vulnerability, and the value of water-related ecosystem services. Understanding these factors is vital to protect both the environment and our economy.  It is important to develop more accurate data about the services that water provides and the risks that it poses, and to transform this data into practical tools for stakeholders to use.

Business interests and sectors are impacted by current water related risks, notably droughts and floods. Conversely, the water environment is impacted by the business and commercial sector through pollution and water abstraction. These risks are likely to change in the future as a result of climate change. Are the risks adequately known and quantified? Are we making the most of our data and models to explore future risk related scenarios?

Professor Michael Beer, University of Liverpool

Wednesday 22nd February 2012, 1200-1300
Lancaster University, Lancaster Environment Centre, Training Room 2

Uncertainty and imprecision in structural parameters and in environmental conditions and loads are challenging phenomena in engineering analyses. They require an appropriate mathematical modelling and quantification to obtain realistic results when predicting the behaviour and reliability of engineering structures and systems. But the modelling and quantification are complicated by the characteristics of the available information, which involves, for example, sparse data, poor measurements and subjective information. This raises the question whether the available information is sufficient for a probabilistic modelling or rather suggests a set-theoretical modelling. The framework of imprecise probabilities provides a mathematical basis to deal with these problems which involve both probabilistic and non-probabilistic characteristics of information. A common feature of the various concepts of imprecise probabilities is the consideration of an entire set of probabilistic models in one analysis. But there are differences between the concepts in the mathematical description of this set and in the theoretical connection to the probabilistic models involved. This seminar provides an overview on selected concepts of imprecise probabilities, which are increasingly adopted for the solution of engineering problems. Specific features and relationships between the models are discussed. Particular attention is devoted to the concept of fuzzy probabilities. Examples of applications in engineering underline the usefulness of the concepts discussed.

Michael Beer is Professor of Uncertainty in Engineering in the Centre for Engineering Sustainability, School of Engineering, University of Liverpool. He graduated with a doctoral degree in Civil Engineering from the Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. As a Feodor-Lynen Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation Professor Beer pursued research at Rice University together with Professor Pol D. Spanos. From 2007 to 2011 he worked as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore. His research is focused on non-traditional uncertainty models in engineering with emphasis on reliability analysis and on robust design. Professor Beer is a Member of ASME, Charter Member of the ASCE Engineering Mechanics Institute, Member of the European Association for Structural Dynamics, Member of IACM, as well as Member of the Editorial Board of Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics and Computers & Structures.

  Klasse übersichtlich und leicht verständlich auf den https://bachelorschreibenlassen.com punkt gebracht

It was great to be able to talk about soil and water issues on BBC 1’s Countryfile last week. I believe this is exactly the sort of thing we need to be doing to raise awareness about soil and water to a national audience.

John Craven and Phil Haygarth chat in the Eden catchment at Newby End Farm. The feature, about organic farming and water quality across Britain, was aired on BBC1 on February 5^th 2012.

J. W. Hall, G. Watts, M. Keil, L. de Vial, R. Street, K. Conlan, P. E. O’Connell, K. J. Beven & C. G. Kilsby (2012)

Towards risk-based water resources planning in England and Wales under a changing climate Water and Environment Journal 26 118-129

The James Hutton Institute and University of Stirling have teamed up to deliver a capacity-building project focused on diffuse pollution management in the Scottish Priority Catchments. The programme, funded by the Scottish Government Centre of Expertise for Water (CREW), combines a series of Knowledge Exchange workshops, farmer focus group meetings and field excursions centred on emerging knowledge, uptake, and evidence linked to a range of catchment mitigation and management options. The JHI-Stirling team are collectively identifying, with stakeholders, appropriate strategies to monitor Scottish Diffuse Pollution Monitored Catchments (Lunan and Cessnock) and exploring how to prioritise mitigation measures according to cost and efficiency for the Scottish priority catchments. A workshop report (held in November 2011) on the strategies to assess the effectiveness of diffuse pollution mitigation policy in Scotland is now available. More information about this project and upcoming events is available on the CREW webpages and at http://www.programme3.net/water/water345pollution.php