Research Laboratory

The Hydraulic Engineering Research Laboratory (HERL) supports and complements sophisticated planning and concepts through experimental investigations. One focus of the HERL's work is on new disciplines from the interface of engineering, natural and environmental sciences, among which ethohydraulics and ecohydraulics can be mentioned in particular. In addition, the work of HERL includes modeling and simulation of structures in the field of hydraulic engineering and water management. The direct link with hydrodynamic-numerical modeling in hydraulic engineering provides the best prerequisites for “hybrid modeling”. Thus, the combination of computer-aided and physical experiments with the respective advantages of both methods provides a timely approach to the solution of various problems.

In addition, HERL, with its associated personnel and technical equipment, offers to perform in situ measurements (multi-dimensional point flow velocity measurements, flow velocity profiles, particle sampling, sieve analyses, etc.).

Various laboratory facilities and measuring instruments are available for the experimental investigations, which are carried out both for the direct processing of hydraulic engineering problems and for the calibration of numerical models. These are presented in detail on the page Measuring equipment.

The inspection of the flow measuring devices relevant for the discharge at wastewater treatment plants as well as throttling devices at rainwater spillways and retention basins is carried out by “state inspection bodies” and “recognized inspection bodies” according to § 11 (1) of the self-monitoring ordinance (EKVO) on behalf of the self-monitoring parties.