Lines of research

Microbiological characterization of wastewater reused for irrigation. Determination of emerging pathogenic protozoa and bacteria.

Study of fluorophores as markers of viability. Study of morphological changes with scanning electron microscopy. Changes in DNA and RNA with PCR and FISH techniques. Survival studies in different aquatic systems. Direct and indirect re-counting techniques.

FISH technique for the determination of phylogenetic groups and functional groups.

Ecological studies of protists, micrometazoans, filamentous bacteria, physicochemical and operational variables for the optimization and monitoring of the active sludge process in WWTP.

Tuning of techniques for the detection of pathogenic bacteria by conventional and molecular methods. Detection of pathogenic protozoa by immunocapture, immunofluorescence and molecular methods.

Development of mathematical models of the physical, chemical and biological processes that take place in WWTP. Application of statistical modeling methods for monitoring, diagnosing and controlling WWTP. Development of calibration methodologies of the main biokinetic parameters of the models. Implementation of models developed in a simulation software (DESASS®).

Development of control systems to optimize the operation of WWTP including aeration control, pH, membrane filtration process, sludge blanket height control in primary settlers and thickeners, and control of nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Validation of the control systems developed at pilot-scale. Implementation of control systems developed in a computer tool (LodifBioControl®).

Implementation of membrane technology (ultrafiltration, microfiltration, dynamic membranes) in the WWTP water line to maximize the valorization of organic matter in the anaerobic sludge digestion. Treatment of the membrane permeate for nitrogen removal via nitrite.

Development of eutrophication models in lakes and reservoirs, discharge to the sea by submarine emissaries, transport of metals in sediments and nutrient flows between the sediment and the water column. Part of them realized in collaboration with the group of Water Resources. Currently developing and implementing water quality models for natural and artificial wetlands.

Design and exploitation of artificial wetlands for the recovery of eutrophic water bodies; Joint assessment of water quality improvement and indicators of biodiversity and habitats. Study of the use of various adsorbent agents to aid in the elimination of phosphorus through vertical flow artificial wetlands. Study and implementation of improvements in artificial wetlands of small populations for the reduction of ammonium. Evaluation of the role of helotophytes in the reduction of nutrients in waters and their adaptation to working conditions in artificial surface flow wetlands.

Pilot-scale study of nitrogen recovery from wastewater using membrane contactors (HFMC). Determination of the optimal operating conditions. Study of the economic and environmental feasibility (LCA and LCC) of this technology. Development of process control systems.

Study and monitoring of the presence of microplastics in the different processes of WWTP. Evaluation of technologies that increase microplastic retention in wastewater treatment plants. Study of the economic and environmental feasibility of pilot-scale ultrafiltration membranes for microplastic retention in WWTP.

Pilot-scale study of the treatment of urban wastewater by microalgae. Development of membrane photobioreactor technology. Treatment of waste water through mixed cultures of algae-bacteria. Study of the economic and environmental feasibility (LCA and LCC) of this technology. Development of process control systems.

Development of methodologies for monitoring emerging pollutants in different wastewater treatment processes. Evaluation of the emerging pollutants elimination in the different processes considering the intermediate metabolites generated.

Application of molecular techniques (FISH, PCR, qPCR, mass sequencing) for the detection and quantification of relevant microorganism populations in wastewater treatment. Determination of cellular viability. Quantification of relevant pathogens in water reuse. Study of the relationships between microorganisms and environmental and operational variables.

This line focuses on the study of carbon and nitrogen cycles in soils from agricultural and forestry systems. It also addresses the management effects on nutrient cycles in these systems.

This line addresses the effect of agricultural and forestry systems management on the soil water balance, through the use of water and solute transport models in the soil.

Análisis de masas vegetales y ayuda a la toma de decisiones en cuanto a las técnicas de selvicultura a aplicar para la reducción de riesgos y la mejora en la provisión de servicios múltiples. Medios y técnicas a utilizar. Ventajas e inconvenientes en cuanto a efectos sobre el medio, riesgos existentes, servicios producidos y costes.

Análisis de sistemas pastorales y masas vegetales asociadas. Ayuda a la toma de decisiones en cuanto a las técnicas silvopascícolas a aplicar para la reducción de riesgos y la mejora en la provisión de servicios múltiples.

Análisis, estudio y desarrollo de las medidas necesarias para gestionar los ecosistemas acuáticos mediante el uso de aguas regeneradas.

Analysis and optimization of sampling networks for nutrients and phytoplankton. Analysis and development of indicators for contamination by heavy metals and indicators for plankton. Determination and analysis of pressures. Establishment of the relationship between pressure and indicator. Development of the methodology and establishment of the good ecological potential for application in heavily modified port and transitional water masses (estuaries, salt marshes, coastal lagoons).

Analysis of uses in coastal zones. Planning and management of the coast. Territorial ordination. Changes and evolution of uses. Environmental impacts and transformations of the coastal zone. Discharges of organic matter, nutrients. Effects on plankton, benthos and other communities.

Search criteria and thresholds to evaluate the importance of environmental assessment. Methodologies for the determination of indirect impacts. Methodologies for the determination of cumulative impacts. Tools for quantitative forecasting of pollutant accumulation processes in the ecosystem.

Analysis and hydraulic design of spillways and outlets. Study of aerated flows and stepped chutes. Theoretical-experimental study of the methodological criteria of adaptation of existing designs of dams with a shock absorber bowl or semi-submerged ski-jump, at higher flow rates than those of the project. Experimental analysis and hydraulic designs of new element-structures of energy dissipation.

Measurement and estimation of climatic, hydraulic and hydrological variables in real time with high resolution. Hydrometry. Sensors and data management. Automatic networks. Hydrological databases. Verification, completion and real time processing of information. Use of robust real-time models for decision-making and optimum management of hydraulic resources systems. Quantification of uncertainty and predictions in short term scenarios.

Mass transport in turbulent flow. Stratified flows. Quality processes in lakes and reservoirs. Hydrodynamics of Reservoirs. Hydraulic and geomorphological relationships with riparian vegetation. Thermal flows in rivers and bodies of water. Selective extraction. Density currents. Salt stratification in estuaries.

Study of sediment transport hydraulics and fluvial morphology. Theoretical-experimental analysis of local erosions in structures inserted in riverbeds and development of protection methodologies. Quantification of the vulnerability of bridges over river overflows. Study of the effects of resistance to the flow of vegetation, rigid and flexible, totally and partially submerged, in riverbeds and floodplains.

Physical models of Hydraulic Works. Spillways of large dams. Modeling of channeling and sediment transport. Energy dissipators. Scale effect. Aerated flow. Laboratory instrumentation.

Flood frequency analysis. Flood routing in reservoirs. Hydrological and hydraulic design of outflow appurtenances. Flood risk modification by large dams and reservoirs. Risk at river junctions. Statistical copulas. Dam spillways. Real time gate management.

Retention tanks. Hydrological and hydraulic design. Control and management of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO). Permeable pavements. Retention and infiltration ponds. Source control of urban runoff.

Design of large sewer networks. Hydrological computation of flow rates. Hydraulic design. Energy dissipators. Hydrological simulation. Hydraulic mathematical modeling. Water quality modeling. Storm tanks. Retention and attenuation tanks.

Water balance, evaporation. Hydrological analysis. Hydraulic analysis. Geohydrological relationships. Water-biocenosis relationships. Hydroperiods. Water regime of soil and vegetation. Hydrological and hydraulic modeling. Water quality and its modeling.

Generation of synthetic rainfall and flow series with ARMA, ARMAX and nonlinear models. Intermittent series. Data completion. Analysis and forecasting of droughts. Application of artificial neural networks: Hydrological forecasting, Water demand forecasting and simulation. Generation of synthetic time series. Incorporation of qualitative variables and expert knowledge in hydrological models. Real-time forecasting for flood control as support for criteria and rules of dam management. Classification of hydrological problems with functions of radial basis functions (RBF) – support for decision-making. Connection of stochastic rainfall models with water balance models.

Quantitative rainfall prediction. Downscaling. Stochastic modeling. Scale Reduction of atmospheric circulation models. Multidimensional modeling. Completed series. Continuous simulation models. Distributions of extremes. Estimation of IDF curves. Analysis of IDF curves at smaller intervals. Regionalization. Design storms. Synthetic generation of temporal high- resolution rainfall. Applications in urban hydrology. Areal reduction factors. Precipitation areal estimation. Calibration of models with radar information. Time and space-time stochastic precipitation models.

Management of water resources. Exploitation and management of aquifers. Mathematical models of groundwater flow and mass transport. Conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater. Models of groundwater management. Analytical and semi-analytical flow models. Eigenvalues. Relations of surface water and groundwater. Modeling of karstic media.

Applications of Geostatistics for the management of natural resources. Analysis of uncertainty in underground flow modeling and mass transport. Flow modeling in low permeability media. Storage of toxic and nuclear waste. Stochastic flow models. Self-calibrating method. Inverse modeling. Analysis of the heterogeneity and spatial variability of permeable media.

Environmental impact analysis of public works. Environmental impact studies. Vulnerability studies of aquifers. Risk analysis. Application of mathematical models for the evaluation of impacts.

Use of geostatistical techniques to incorporate information derived from geophysical surveys (seismic, meteorological radar and remote sensing), in the improvement of knowledge of hydrological relevance variables such as precipitation, hydraulic conductivity, heavy metal concentration, infiltration rate or the leaf area index.

Techniques for treatment and disposal of solid waste (toxic and hazardous waste, industrial waste and urban waste). Transfer plants. Recycling center. Solid waste dumps. Safety deposit of hazardous waste. Contaminated soil remediation techniques.

Numerical simulation studies of arid movement processes (sand, sludge, etc.) using discrete methods. Energy conservation in dynamic processes. Fluid-structure interaction by calculating hydrodynamic forces with specialized computer codes based on the finite element method and applying them to other discrete element codes. Study of sedimentation phenomena and movement of dunes.

Analysis based on thermodynamic physics of mechanical, electrical, thermal and magnetic field interactions. Implementation in a finite element research code. Study of a wide range of active materials such as piezoelectric, thermoelectric, pyroelectric etc. Simulation of other materials such as semiconductors and photovoltaic and with mass movement such as plasmas. Application for detection sensors (humidity, gas, etc.) and as actuators (pulses for searching and characterization in geology etc.).

Numerical analysis using finite elements of aeronautical parts made of composite material. Detection of possible damages in the structure while being used. Application of optimization algorithms and inverse problems to detect anomalies in global responses, for example in the vibration of a high-speed train bridge when it is inaugurated (undamaged state) and during the passage of a convoy (possible damaged state).

Construction of flow and mass transport models in aquifers using measurements of state variables such as piezometry and concentration. Determination of pollution sources based on the observation of concentrations of the contaminant plume downstream of the discharge point. Characterization of the heterogeneity of parameters defining the hydrodynamic behavior of an aquifer from time series of state variables.

Development and application of simulation and optimization models considering quantitative, qualitative, economic, environmental and social aspects of water, and its integration into decision support and information systems. Development and analysis of future scenarios, including climate change and adaptation to it.

Analysis of water resources systems through simulation and optimization of basins. Allocation of water resources and estimation of reliability of water supply and environmental requirements. Optimization of operating rules. Evolutionary algorithms applied to the optimization of water resources. Comprehensive modeling by coupling management, quality and environmental models. Systems management and its influence on water quality, economy, and the environment. Definition of ecological flows. Measures for the environmental improvement of water resources.

Long-term drought-related risk analysis and vulnerability reduction. Adaptation to droughts. Drought indicators. Short-term risk analysis. Real-time management and increased resilience. Implementation of drought indicator systems in real time. Analysis of the characteristics of the different types of drought. Evaluation of impacts and drought mitigation measures. Development of Decision Support Systems for droughts.

Development of hydrological models for continuous simulation that includes surface and groundwater and the river-aquifer relationship. Development of models that evaluate: nitrate contamination in surface and groundwater and recovery measures; erosion and sediment transport; and the quality conditions in the water such as: the electrical conductivity of the water, the suspended solids and the phosphorus.

Modeling of physical chemical pollutants in river stretches. Techniques for remediation of water quality in rivers. Numerical methods in water quality. Eutrophication models of reservoirs. Hydrodynamic models. Lake and reservoir restoration techniques. Light models of water quality modeling at the basin scale.

Risk analysis. Dam Safety. Risk models. Prioritization of investments

Hydraulic works design. Instrumentation projects and data management systems. Mechanical (stress-strain) and hydraulic modelling of dams and other hydraulic works behavior

Development of models to assess the impact of climate change on surface and underground water resources, aquatic ecosystems and water management. Analysis and evaluation of adaptation measures. Generation of climate change scenarios. Determination of uncertainties and predictive capabilities.

Hydro-economic simulation and optimization models for watershed management. Resource cost and environmental costs.

Basin management techniques and studies including surface water, groundwater, wastewater reclamation and reuse, and desalinated water. Aiming to anticipate and mitigate droughts, taking into account the costs of different resources.

Multivariate analysis of hydrological data for building models for series generation. Classic statistical techniques and artificial intelligence. Inclusion of climate predictions and seasonal meteorological forecasts.

Integration of photovoltaic solar energy and wind energy in water resources management, including desalination, reuse of waste water and water pumpings.

Modeling, simulation and generation of scenarios related to nitrate pollution for large river basins.

Multi-objective, multi-stakeholder decision making. Multiobjective Analysis and Game Theory Applications. Participatory development and application of Decision Support Systems. Applications to water resources conflict resolution and brokering, and to real time drought management.

Statistical models of extremes (floods and droughts). Historical information and historic floods incorporation techniques. Regional analysis. Weather generators. Non-stationary modeling and teleconnections with climatic indicators. Scaling and Hydrology. Uncertainty estimation in model simulation and prediction.

Flood studies. Spatial estimation of hazard and flood risk maps using GIS techniques. Design of Nature Based Solutions and Eco-engineering. 2D flood numerical modeling. Optimal flood control strategies for reservoirs. Real-time prediction systems. Flash floods in small catchments.

Distributed hydrological modeling. Spatial variability of precipitation and temperature. Multi-scale water balances. Distributed recharge of aquifers. Effects of climate and land use changes on the hydrological cycle. Climate change adaptation. Arid climates Hydrology. Radar and satellite assimilation data. Seasonal forecasting systems.

Ecohydrology. Interactions atmosphere-soil-vegetation. Geohydrological relations. Modeling of riparian vegetation. Distributed modeling of N and C cycles at a catchment scale. Erosion and sedimentation processes. Siltation of reservoirs. Environmental flows.

Water-energy binomial as a fundamental factor for irrigation to meet the new challenges of sustainability required. Irrigation programming, agronomic modeling of irrigated crops (Aquacrop, EPIC, etc.), energy optimization for the operation of irrigation pressurized irrigation networks. Modeling of nitrate pollution from irrigation. Adaptation to climate change.

Drought indexes. Relationship between droughts and forest fires. Droughts and forest management.

Definition and evaluation of water markets. Economic impacts of water markets on water system management and individual users (economic efficiency, equity). Design of pricing policies taking into account financial, environmental and resource opportunity costs. Assessment of the economic impact of pricing policies on water system management and individual users. Design of efficient crop insurance schemes for irrigated agriculture and assessment of their economic benefits.

Assessment of production and demand functions in agricultural districts. Estimation of costs and benefits of agricultural interventions at the plot scale. Use of revealed preference models for agriculture. Use of econometric models to estimate production values and impacts associated with droughts.

Indices of meteorological, soil moisture, hydrological and operational droughts. Relationship between droughts and forest fires. Droughts and forest management. Estimation of scarcity costs under hydrological droughts. Estimation of the economic impacts of drought management measures. Evaluation of the economic impacts of droughts.

Acquisition and post-processing of climate change data. Assessment of climate change scenarios with hydrological and hydroeconomic models. Design of socioeconomic and future demand scenarios combining models and participatory processes. Estimation of the expected economic impacts due to climate change and global change (climate + socio-economic). Design of optimal adaptation measures against climate change. Definition of cost-sharing strategies of climate change impacts and adaptation measures.

Estimation of water management impacts on food production, energy production and consumption, and environmental status. Economic optimization of the Water-Energy-Food-Environment nexus. Study of the impacts of one nexus component over the rest. Evaluation of climate change impacts on the Water-Energy-Food-Environment nexus. Definition of adaptation measures to minimize climate and global change impacts on the Water-Energy-Food-Environment nexus.

Acquisition, post-processing and development of hydrometeorological forecasts from forecasting services. Hydrometeorological forecasting of drought indices. Economic value of hydrometeorological forecasts. Integration of hydrometeorological forecasting in water resources management.

Development of participatory processes with users and sectors affected by climate change. Generation of ad-hoc climate change scenarios. Transformation of climate change scenarios in relevant information for decision-making. Estimation of the added value of climate services. Development of bussiness models for climate services.

Improvement of algorithm analysis of the permanent and non-permanent hydraulic state of hydraulic networks. Data conversions. Simplification of networks. Algorithms of topology and sectorization. Algorithms of energy optimization. Assessment of leakage and pressure dependent demands. Translation of commercial/free software to other languages. Developments based on EPANET software.

Design of new networks, preparation and calibration of network models in service, advice for field measurements, improvement and rehabilitation of networks in operation, evaluation and location of leaks, proposal of maintenance plans, optimization of operation in the short and medium term, preparation of water quality models in networks, and the general technical assistance in preparing Master Plans.

Integration of simulation models in a Geographic Information System and the development of tools to aid in decision making. Calibration and simplification of models and tools for up-to-date model maintenance. Management applications based on the network model: production balances, sectorization, demand management, fault management, emergency situations, service quality assessment, location maps, inventories, project monitoring, etc.

Integration and use of models in daily operations of networks. Field data analysis and filtering, demand forecasting, synoptic preparation for SCADA systems, SCADA-model connection, training of operators, anticipation of actions, anticipation of system evolutions and optimization of operating regime in real time.

Optimal solutions for the outline and dimensioning of pressure irrigation networks, incorporating agro-climatic data for the evaluation of crop needs, with the help of GIS. Exploitation management of community irrigators from GIS. Estimation of crop water needs from agroclimatic data in real time. Optimization of irrigation scheduling, and real time energy optimization.

This line of research focuses on the calculation of water requirements and the determination of water stress of crops by means of remote sensing techniques at different scales, the measurement of soil moisture content and the determination of water stress through the measurement of physiological parameters in plants.

Design and management of constructed wetlands for the recovery of eutrophic water bodies; joint assessment of water quality improvement and biodiversity and habitat indicators. Study of adsorbent agents to phosphorus removal by vertical flow constructed wetlands. Study and implementation of improvements in constructed wetlands of small populations for the reduction of ammonia. Assessment of the role of helophyte plants in reducing nutrients in waters and adapting them to working conditions in surface flow constructed wetlands.

Design and operation of urban sustainable drainage systems from the point of view of water quality. Mathematical modelling of water quality in permeable pavements.

Study of the physical-chemical quality of inland waters, mainly in lentic aquatic ecosystems, with special emphasis on the main nutrients in the water and sediment column, heavy metals and volatile acid sulfide in sediments. Experimental assessment of nutrient flow between sediment and water column.

Development of eutrophication models in lakes and reservoirs, transport of metals in sediments and nutrient flows between sediment and water column. Some of them made in collaboration with the Water Resources Group. Currently developing and implementing water quality models for natural and artificial wetlands.

Study of Plankton and Aquatic Macroinvertebrates, and Benthic Organisms. Assessment of the Environmental Quality of Aquatic Ecosystems Based on These Organisms; Estimation of Macroinvertebrate Indices; Adaptation to Mediterranean Ecosystems

Design of Wetlands for the Environmental Restoration of Degraded Aquatic Ecosystems: Coastal areas, inland lagoons, ravines, etc. Studies for the improvement of physicochemical and biological water quality. Analysis of the entomofauna and enhancement of the beneficial for pest reduction.

New methods for the extraction of information from optical remote sensing data in a range of environmental applications, hyperspectral and multispectral data analysis.

Methane retrieval algorithms, plume detection and quantification methods, survey of methane point sources around the world.

Methods for the assessment of data quality, radiometric and spectral performance, intercomparison of observations from different instruments, support to the development of the TRUTHS and CHIME missions, atmospheric correction.