Completed research projects

Utilisation eau usée pour l'irrigation

Utilisation d'eau usée traitée par lagunage à macrophytes pour l'irrigation: impacts sur la qualitée des sols et des eaux souterraines -> click here to see description <- Etudier les effets de l'échelle de mesure sur la détermination des paramètres de sorption et de dégradation. Comparer les valeurs des paramètres obtenus par expériences en batch et colonnes. Estimer l'incertitude dans les paramètres identifiés par modélisation inverse à partir de données d'expériences en colonnes. Funding agencie(s) :   Period : 2004-2009 Contact person(s) : Pr. A. Mermoud PhD : M. Soutter

ESTROM-INWAC

Development of an Integrated Water Quality Management system, with application to the Ialomita river basin -> click here to see description <- The project aims at developing and implementing the instruments required by an integrated water quality management system, and to use these tools to identify an adequate water quality management strategy at the river basin scale with an application to the Ialomita river basin. The project proposes transferring and adapting the existing know-how from Switzerland (for example the Gesreau GIS) in Romania and then to develop the scientific and technical issues related to water quality management, before transferring and adapting back the obtained results. The central point of the project lies in the fact that pollution alleviation or remediation actions, to be effective, have to be designed according to the whole water system, taking into account the whole chain of causes and effects and giving special attention to the spatial relationships among the elements of the system. The main questions being addressed by the project consist of identifying the relevant thematic fields to be considered and to develop appropriate analysis tools to propose a coherent short-, mid- and long term strategy for water quality improvement. The way in which the needed data are to be collected and organized according to a well designed conceptual data model within the GIS will therefore play a central role in defining those strategies. Funding agencie(s) :   Period : 2005-2008 Contact person(s) : M. Soutter

IMAP-THIES-FANDENE

Instruments et Modèles pour un Aménagement Participatif -> click here to see description <- In the generalized context of heightened growth, the urban situation of the city of Thiès is worsening for the last 25 years. At the same time, the land disputes have appeared with the neighboring rural communities and have resulted in a large worsening of the relations. To face the degradation of the urban area of Thiès (Senegal) in term of poverty, a consultation process has been initiated between the city of Thiès and the rural community of Fandène. The initiative has come from the city mayor in 1999 through the IMAP project with the collaboration of the EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne) and the ENDA-TM/RUP (Relay for participatory urban development Dakar). The main objective of the project is to plan the development and to manage the land of the two local communities through a coordination framework. Participation, individual capacities and coordination between the actors have been identified as the key elements to improve the system of actors responsible for the urban management. Information, communication and training have been focused, with in parallel the development and implementation of the urban monitor (information and indicators system), an instrument of communication and data structuring. The approach is an innovative realization, combining the concepts of Research Action Formation with the participative methods (objectives planning, animation workshops, training seminars) and the new technologies of information and communication. The urban monitor opens great perspectives in the fields of participative urban management and the implementation of good governance. Funding agencie(s) : Partners :   Period : 2005-2008 Contact person(s) : M. Soutter