The River Management lab is led by Dr. Pascale Biron. The lab is equipped with high-powered computers to run hydrodynamic and morphodynamic models and conduct GIS analyses using high-resolution elevation data (LiDAR). It is also equipped with several field measurement devices to collect data on rivers (Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters, DGPS, pressure transducers).
Research in the River Management lab focuses on the science of hydrogeomorphology, i.e. understanding of natural rivers dynamics, and how it relates to resilience of fluvial systems. A central theme of research is called “freedom space for rivers”, which defines the minimum space around rivers required for fluvial processes to operate, and which includes riparian wetlands. Specific projects focus on stream restoration for fish habitat, sustainable management of agricultural streams, climate change impacts on rivers, three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics, development of GIS tools to define freedom space for rivers, flood management and mapping and confluence dynamics.
