220
B. Nilkens et al.
5 Structure of the Joint Task
When modeling a river catchment area, there are two general possible approaches,
a thematic and a regional one. In the thematic one, all partners are working within
their field of scientific expertise and for the whole research area. The advantage of
this approach is the optimal use of specialists' knowledge. Disadvantages are the
many levels of cooperation and dependency as for example in timetables, results
and the appropriate detail. The project timetable will have to take into account the
complexity in the teamwork and, as a result, the need for more time. The thematic
approach therefore is optimal for large areas with similar characteristics.
In the regional approach the area to be researched is divided by geographical
information. Every partner will here be in charge of researching one of these areas
in total. Thus, he will have to cope with a variety of thematic and scientific objectives.
In case of the River Spree, the river catchment area can definitely be separated
into areas with one main influence each. These areas are the Lusatian District,
with the influence of lignite mining in all water compartments, the Spree Forest,
which is a moor of international reputation and biologically highly structured, and
the Lower Spree, which is an extremely slow - flowing water and heavily influenced by industrial use, point and non-point sources. The regional approach here
is clearly to be preferred. As every region is influenced by one main aspect, the
partners in each region can primarily concentrate on this.
The Spree project is a joint task of a diverse group of scientists. Eight institutes
and companies, respectively, are involved in the project. Chemists, biologists,
civil engineers, hydrologists and many others form the team of scientists. The Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management of the University of Technology, Aachen (IWW) is involved both in modeling two reservoirs
and the Upper and the Middle Spree and as the coordinator of the team.
The task groups are organized regionally and according to the problems being
researched (Fig. 1). This is due to the fact that for each area a main problem can
be defined. In fact the thematic borders mostly coincide with the regional ones.
Six task groups have been defined, which have the following research objectives:
Task group 1: Point and non-point sources of inflow into the River Spree.
Task group 2: River sediments, sedimentation, resuspension and chemical reactions in the Lower Spree.
Task group 3: Modeling of the hydraulics and the water quality of the reservoirs and the middle and upper river.
Task group 4: Spree Forest and its environmental system.
Task group 5: Chemical and hydraulic characterization of the open pits.
Task group 6: Ground water situation, rainfall and runoff model for the water -
quantity management.
Within each of these subprojects a module has to be developed, which then will
be integrated into the water quality model of the River Spree.
B. Nilkens et al.
5 Structure of the Joint Task
When modeling a river catchment area, there are two general possible approaches,
a thematic and a regional one. In the thematic one, all partners are working within
their field of scientific expertise and for the whole research area. The advantage of
this approach is the optimal use of specialists' knowledge. Disadvantages are the
many levels of cooperation and dependency as for example in timetables, results
and the appropriate detail. The project timetable will have to take into account the
complexity in the teamwork and, as a result, the need for more time. The thematic
approach therefore is optimal for large areas with similar characteristics.
In the regional approach the area to be researched is divided by geographical
information. Every partner will here be in charge of researching one of these areas
in total. Thus, he will have to cope with a variety of thematic and scientific objectives.
In case of the River Spree, the river catchment area can definitely be separated
into areas with one main influence each. These areas are the Lusatian District,
with the influence of lignite mining in all water compartments, the Spree Forest,
which is a moor of international reputation and biologically highly structured, and
the Lower Spree, which is an extremely slow - flowing water and heavily influenced by industrial use, point and non-point sources. The regional approach here
is clearly to be preferred. As every region is influenced by one main aspect, the
partners in each region can primarily concentrate on this.
The Spree project is a joint task of a diverse group of scientists. Eight institutes
and companies, respectively, are involved in the project. Chemists, biologists,
civil engineers, hydrologists and many others form the team of scientists. The Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Management of the University of Technology, Aachen (IWW) is involved both in modeling two reservoirs
and the Upper and the Middle Spree and as the coordinator of the team.
The task groups are organized regionally and according to the problems being
researched (Fig. 1). This is due to the fact that for each area a main problem can
be defined. In fact the thematic borders mostly coincide with the regional ones.
Six task groups have been defined, which have the following research objectives:
Task group 1: Point and non-point sources of inflow into the River Spree.
Task group 2: River sediments, sedimentation, resuspension and chemical reactions in the Lower Spree.
Task group 3: Modeling of the hydraulics and the water quality of the reservoirs and the middle and upper river.
Task group 4: Spree Forest and its environmental system.
Task group 5: Chemical and hydraulic characterization of the open pits.
Task group 6: Ground water situation, rainfall and runoff model for the water -
quantity management.
Within each of these subprojects a module has to be developed, which then will
be integrated into the water quality model of the River Spree.