2023-06-12 13:44:41
On June 12, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna invited to the opening of the new hydraulic engineering laboratory on the Brigittenauer Sporn in the 20th district.
Vienna (OTS) – The ceremonial opening of the lock for the flow of 10,000 liters of Danube water per second took place with great fanfare and in the presence of Science Minister Martin Polaschek, Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler, State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Mayor Michael Ludwig and many honored guests from Germany and abroad.
“The opening of BOKU’s new hydraulic engineering laboratory marks an important milestone for Austria as a research location. At a time when we are increasingly confronted with natural disasters and the effects of climate change worldwide, it is of crucial importance to carry out extensive research work and to rely on tailor-made research infrastructure,” emphasized Ministers for Education, Science and Research Martin Polaschek. “With the new hydraulic engineering laboratory, we are providing precisely this infrastructure and are establishing Austria as one of the world’s leading locations for water and river-related research.”
“The Danube has a variety of meanings for our country – as a waterway for climate-friendly transport, as a unique natural area and of course as a jellyfish for quality of life. We have to combine all these things in the best possible way – so that they work together. For this we need to know a lot about the Danube and its water. This is exactly what the BOKU water laboratory is intended to contribute to. I’m excited to see the results,” said the climate protection minister Leonore Gewessler.
“The new hydraulic engineering laboratory opened up a unique research opportunity to better understand processes in rivers. The research results obtained can make significant contributions to climate change adaptation in the areas of flood risk management, drought risk management, sustainable hydropower, shipping and ecology. I am particularly pleased that the new hydraulic engineering laboratory is now also the location of one of my departments, the Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Hydrometric Testing of the Federal Water Management Agency.” Norbert TotschnigFederal Minister for Agriculture and Forestry, Regions and Water Management.
„This project not only advanced the university, but the entire hydraulic engineering research in Europe. Because a unique laboratory was created that can be used for basic research as well as for applied research. As the Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy, Austria as a research location is very important to us. We are therefore pleased that the research location will be further strengthened with the laboratory presented today”, underlined Martin Kocher, Federal Minister of Labor and Economics. “As Labor Minister, I am also pleased that up to 100 scientific and business jobs have been created in the hydraulic engineering laboratory that opened today.”
“This lighthouse project along our Lower Austrian science axis underlines the excellent work between the scientists across all national borders. In the future, groundbreaking research results will be achieved here in the new hydraulic engineering laboratory, which are of inestimable importance for the people, their health, our country and nature conservation Johanna Mikl Leitner, Governor of Lower Austria. “With the data and results that will be obtained here in the future, scientific foundations will be created that are essential for shipping, flood risk management and ecology,” said their deputies Stephan Pernkopf.
“Water means life – in Vienna we are aware of this and proud of our excellent Viennese water. This year we therefore also celebrated the 150th anniversary of the 1st high spring pipeline and thus the beginning of modern Viennese water supply. The BOKU hydraulic engineering laboratory is an innovative and groundbreaking research project with which future knowledge will be gained that will enable us to work on a sustainable future and to continue to guarantee the high quality of care for the population. Research into hydropower and flood protection is particularly welcome, both of which are important topics for the metropolis of Vienna against the background of climate change,” emphasized Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig.
Hydraulic engineering laboratory as a USP of BOKU
“The rivers are increasingly coming under pressure as a result of human intervention. The new hydraulic engineering laboratory with its 90 meter long and up to 25 meter wide river passage enables basic and applied research that is unique worldwide and is a unique selling point for teaching at BOKU. This hydraulic engineering laboratory is a pioneering work!” says BOKU Rector Eva Schulev-Steindl visibly proud.
Initiator and project manager Helmut Habersack from the Institute for Hydraulic Engineering, Hydraulics and River Research: “With a flow rate of 10,000 liters per second without pumps, the new hydraulic engineering laboratory has a unique selling point worldwide. This enables model tests up to 1:1 and will promote knowledge about the use and protection of rivers. The research topics include the movement of water and sediments as well as the ecology and use of watercourses (measures), flood risk management (from flood plains to mobile flood protection), river (re)construction (focus on solid matter balance), renewable energies (sustainable hydropower), waterways and drought management under climate change.”
facts and figures
A research facility of this magnitude needs time, money and patience. Almost 14 years passed between the idea and the official opening of the hydraulic engineering laboratory on June 12th. The total costs of around 49 million euros were paid for by the European Regional Development Fund (via four EU projects with Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic and via the Investments in Growth and Employment Austria program), the City of Vienna and the Province of Lower Austria as well as the Federal Ministries of Education, Science and research, for agriculture and forestry, regions and water management, for climate protection, environment, energy, mobility, innovation and technology and supported by the Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy.
In future, teaching and research will take place on a total of 12,300 m2 in different usage zones: a lecture hall and seminar room for around 200 students, 2 large laboratory areas (Main Channel and River Lab) with 3500 m², a public lab with 400 m², an outdoor lab and special laboratories as well as meeting rooms and a library, workplaces for 100 people in the office wing on three floors. In addition to the Institute for Hydraulic Engineering, Hydraulics and River Research, the Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Hydrometric Testing (Federal Office for Water Management) has also moved to the hydraulic engineering laboratory, so the infrastructure is used efficiently.
Photos © APA-Fotoservice/Schedl
Captions:
Photo 1 (from left): Initiator and project manager Helmut Habersack (Institute for Hydraulic Engineering, Hydraulics and River Research), Minister for Climate Protection Leonore Gewessler, Minister for Science Martin Polaschek, BOKU Rector Eva Schulev-Steindl, Vienna’s Mayor Michael Ludwig, Günter Liebel (Federal Ministry for and Forestry, Regions and Water Management) and Ulrike Unterer (Federal Ministry of Labor and Economy
Photo 2 (from right):
Water march! (From left): Governor of Lower Austria Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Science Minister Martin Polaschek, BOKU Rector Eva Schulev-Steindl, initiator and project manager Helmut Habersack (Institute for Hydraulic Engineering, Hydraulics and River Research), Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler), Günter Liebel (Federal Ministry for Land and forestry, regions and water management), Vienna’s mayor Michael Ludwig and university council chairman Josef Plank.
The official opening of the hydraulic engineering laboratory can be viewed at boku.ac.at.
Questions & contact:
Mag. Astrid Kleber-Klinger
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
Head of Public Relations
Tel.: 0664 8858 6533
astrid.kleber@boku.ac.at
1686577882
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