Hydrodynamic numerical models are used to simulate different discharge scenarios and are an indispensable tool for water management planning. By means of these models simulations can be run for relevant design events like HQ100 to determine, for example, inundation areas or necessary dam heights. The models also provide important insights for navigation and waterway management. For example, the effects of planned hydraulic structures (groynes) on the formation of fords or the flow conditions at newly constructed berths can be calculated as well. The models thus provide professional input for (research) projects and hydraulic engineering measures. Additionally, the results can serve as basis for project applications and funding proposals.
The aim of this activity is the maintenance, support and enhancement of the hydrodynamic models for the Danube, the March and the Thaya as well as their provision to other viadonau departments (e.g. flood protection, ecology, navigation) and external partners (e.g. Länder Upper and Lower Austria).
Partners
- Federal and Länder (federal states) authorities:
mutual exchange of experience with the Länder Upper and Lower Austria, provision of expert knowledge and gauging data by viadonau, e. g. flood protection for the Eferdinger Becken - Civil engineers
- Universities
News and activity status
In 2023 and 2024, work was further intensified in the area of simulating water levels using hydrodynamic models. Hydrodynamic models represent the watercourse geometrically as a digital terrain model and calculate water levels for different discharges. Thanks to the development of new approaches, databases in raster format such as river bed and foreshore data can now be processed quickly and efficiently to create an up-to-date model network. These innovations were already successfully applied to the ninth edition of the characterising water levels of the Danube (german: Kennzeichnenden Wasserstände der Donau, short: KWD), a valuable data basis for maintenance, navigation and ecology on the river.
Currently viadonau is developing a monitoring system based on the models and workflows created for the KWD in order to verify the direct effects of the changes to the river bed on the water levels in the free-flowing sections. This approach is intended to technically supplement the existing monitoring based on bottom measurements and continuous water level and discharge recordings at the gauging stations.
Viadonau also once again addressed special issues in hydrodynamic numerical 2D modelling. For this purpose, a software module for the realistic modelling of the weir control of Danube power plants was implemented, which is already being used in water management projects.
In order to be able to simulate a watercourse in its entirety, the simultaneous simulation of water levels in conjunction with other parameters (e.g. sediment transport) is becoming increasingly important. In order to meet these challenges, viadonau is gradually building up expertise and, together with scientists (BOKU University, Vienna) and leading software developers, is supporting further innovations in order to gain valuable insights into the effectiveness and impact of hydraulic engineering and ecological measures in the future.
The activity makes a substantial contribution to the implementation of measure 04. Promote innovations in waterway management of the Action Programme for the Danube 2022 and of work package 01. Developing waterway infrastructure and fostering innovations in waterway management of the Action Programme Danube 2030.