New access to technologies like satellites, drones and laser measurement tools takes knowledge of the Norwegian rivers to a whole new level.

The river Nævra showed by multiple high resolution drone photos. Photo: Anders Foldvik/NINA

PhD candidate Håkon Sundt will research how we can enhance and expand the Environmental design-methodology using new available technology. The goal is still the same: to minimize the effect power production has on nature, and make sure decision makers have sufficient means to govern our rivers in a sustainable way.

Benefits for more species

Environmental design is important to ensure that those who use - and live in - the rivers can keep doing just that while there is also power production in the water course. In FME CEDREN researchers did a lot of work on salmon and environmental design, and now Sundt will see if these methods can be developed to benefit other species as well.

HydroCen will work with various tools for mapping and analyses, such as drones with high-resolution cameras, laser measurements to make detailed models of the terrain and satellite photos for long-term surveillance of changes in rivers. These can be used to model how water levels in the river connects to important factors like water-covered area and river bottom conditions, both in space and time.

Important field work

When we get to know more about these physical relationships, researchers can use these results to say something about how for example fish relate to these changes in the rivers. Using new technology, we can get better results and thus a better basis for decision making.

Sundt will also participate in field work studies to map where the fish are and what factors control them, to better understand the connection of physical factors and biology.