Rainwater Living Lab Aachen - Thinking Water in the City Together
Current News
From 21 - 23.3.23 the Hydrology Day 2023 took place under the title "Sustainable Water Management - Regional and Global Strategies" at the Ruhr-University Bochum.
The ISB was represented with 2 poster contributions on our projects "GoGreen" and "Rainwater Living Lab Aachen" in the session "Urban Hydrology".
Poster Contribution - GoGreen [.pdf]
Poster Contribution - Rainwarter Living Lab Aachen [.pdf]
Initial Situation
Heavy rainfall and urban flooding are topics that are becoming more and more important worldwide. In Germany, too, a new threat situation due to extreme weather events must be expected. In the last two years, heavy precipitation events have led to substantial property damage in numerous municipalities in Germany. The city of Aachen was hit twice within a single month (April 29 and May 29, 2018). Especially in densely populated urban regions, heavy rain events can cause major damage. In contrast to river floods, heavy precipitation events can occur anywhere, are unavoidable and absolute protection is not possible. However, successful adaptation to climate-related extreme events through personal precaution and a culture of dealing with natural hazards can minimise the consequences.
Objective
The aim of the ERS project is to develop a unique Rainwater Living Lab using the city of Aachen as an example. Here, multi- and transdisciplinary analysis, planning and communication processes and tools for sustainable flood and damage prevention in the event of extreme events will be jointly developed.
Methodology and Expected Results
A proof-of-concept study is to be conducted to determine the extent to which interdisciplinary approaches to early warning and risk reduction can be developed. Furthermore, it is intended that the research results will be made available and communicated interactively in the digital media. Aim is to set up a Rainwater Living Labs with pilot character so that the transferability of the results and tools to other national and international urban areas is possible.
Project Procedure / Work Steps
The individual work steps are prepared in five work packages. These are explained in detail in the following figure.
Funding
Exploratory Research Space @ RWTH Aachen University (ERS)
Project Partner
Lehrstuhl und Institut für Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft (IWW)
Lehrstuhl für Soziologie mit dem Schwerpunkt Technik- und Organisationssoziologie (STO)
Lehr- und Forschungsgebiet Physische Geographie und Klimatologie (PGK)
Institut für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft (ISA)
Project Homepage
ERS Rainwater Living Lab Aachen
Duration
07.2020-12.2021
Contacts
Project management:
Prof. Tobias Kuhnimhof
Dr. Andreas Witte
Loisa Welfers, M.Sc.
(point of contact)