Why a River Lab?
In the 2000s, it became increasingly apparent that various calculation methods, for example concerning sediment transport, had limited validity compared to observations in nature. This was confirmed by numerical simulations and quite large model experiments, whose results, however, could not be confirmed in nature. It became increasingly clear that a possible explanation for the differences could be found in the scale used in the model experiments, where the crucial processes and the corresponding hydrodynamic events were not adequately represented. Moreover, the limitations of the model experiments became apparent with respect to, for example, the influence of vegetation on runoff behavior, the behavior of fish, or the drift behavior of people during floods. From this problem, the project goal was developed to achieve as large a scale as possible (up to 1:1) and to go beyond the current capabilities of existing laboratories. It quickly became clear that a large flow rate was necessary, which was set at 10 cubic meters per second for the hydraulic laboratory. Since this large amount of water cannot be pumped sustainably, the project goal was developed to extract water from the Danube, which is 3 meters higher than the Danube Canal, without pumping, and to channel it through the laboratory. This required checking the technical and budgetary feasibility.

What is the general idea?
With a flow rate of 10,000 liters per second without the use of pumps, the new hydraulic laboratory possesses a unique feature worldwide. Model experiments up to a 1:1 scale will enhance knowledge about the use and protection of rivers. This facility enables fundamental and applied research that is unique worldwide. The research topics include the movement of water and sediments as well as the ecology and use of flowing waters (measures), flood risk management (from floodplains to mobile flood protection), river (restoration) construction (focus on solid matter balance), renewable energies (sustainable hydropower), waterways, and low water management during droughts under climate change. The three-meter difference in water level between the Danube and the Danube Canal allows the water to flow through the laboratory without pumps and thus without external energy. This feature makes the BOKU hydraulic laboratory a globally unique research facility with unrivaled experimental conditions.