3
© The Author(s) 2016
R.F. Hüttl et al. (eds.), Society - Water - Technology, Water Resources
Development and Management, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-18971-0_1
Chapter 1
Introduction: A Critical Appraisal of Major
Water Engineering Projects and the Need
for Interdisciplinary Approaches
Reinhard F. Hüttl , Oliver Bens , Christine Bismuth , Sebastian Hoechstetter ,
Hans-Georg Frede , and Hans-Joachim Kümpel
1.1 Ecological Challenges, Social and Economic
Opportunities: The Multiple Facets of Major Water
Engineering Projects
Water touches every aspect of human existence on planet earth. While this notion
may be regarded as a triviality, it nevertheless has highly complex consequences.
Water as a georesource is subject to many pressures due to its multiple functions
that go far beyond its role as the fundamental basis of organic life. For instance,
antagonistic social, economic and ecological demands meet to form the “waterenergy- food” nexus. Rising population numbers, changing lifestyles and climate
change have substantial impacts on water resources and aquatic ecosystems.
Furthermore, water is a factor in peace among nations: water can be both a source
R.F. Hüttl (*) • O. Bens • S. Hoechstetter
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geoscience ,
Telegrafenberg , 14473 Potsdam , Germany
e-mail: huettl@gfz-potsdam.de
C. Bismuth
Interdisciplinary Research Group Society - Water - Technology ,
Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities ,
Jägerstraße 22/23 , 10117 Berlin , Germany
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences ,
Telegrafenberg , 14473 Potsdam , Germany
H.-G. Frede
Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management (ILR) ,
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen , Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 , 35392 Gießen , Germany
H.-J. Kümpel
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) ,
Stilleweg 2 , 30655 Hannover , Germany
© The Author(s) 2016
R.F. Hüttl et al. (eds.), Society - Water - Technology, Water Resources
Development and Management, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-18971-0_1
Chapter 1
Introduction: A Critical Appraisal of Major
Water Engineering Projects and the Need
for Interdisciplinary Approaches
Reinhard F. Hüttl , Oliver Bens , Christine Bismuth , Sebastian Hoechstetter ,
Hans-Georg Frede , and Hans-Joachim Kümpel
1.1 Ecological Challenges, Social and Economic
Opportunities: The Multiple Facets of Major Water
Engineering Projects
Water touches every aspect of human existence on planet earth. While this notion
may be regarded as a triviality, it nevertheless has highly complex consequences.
Water as a georesource is subject to many pressures due to its multiple functions
that go far beyond its role as the fundamental basis of organic life. For instance,
antagonistic social, economic and ecological demands meet to form the “waterenergy- food” nexus. Rising population numbers, changing lifestyles and climate
change have substantial impacts on water resources and aquatic ecosystems.
Furthermore, water is a factor in peace among nations: water can be both a source
R.F. Hüttl (*) • O. Bens • S. Hoechstetter
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geoscience ,
Telegrafenberg , 14473 Potsdam , Germany
e-mail: huettl@gfz-potsdam.de
C. Bismuth
Interdisciplinary Research Group Society - Water - Technology ,
Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities ,
Jägerstraße 22/23 , 10117 Berlin , Germany
Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences ,
Telegrafenberg , 14473 Potsdam , Germany
H.-G. Frede
Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management (ILR) ,
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen , Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32 , 35392 Gießen , Germany
H.-J. Kümpel
Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) ,
Stilleweg 2 , 30655 Hannover , Germany