NeMDa project

The actual global challenges of the worldwide water and energy supply can only be solved by international collaboration. Therefore, new possibilities in the area of data acquisition, analysis and evaluation of the relation between water and energy supply will be investigated in an interdisciplinary and intercultural context. “New Methods of Data Analysis for the Water-Energy-Nexus“ is part of the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for University Students – BWS plus, a programme of the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung. The project runs from 2018 until 2022 and is financed with an amount of 119,600 €.

Students (Bachelor, Master and Ph.D.) of different disciplines will develop together with experienced scientists new methods and concepts for future sustainable urban areas in the context of three regions in the US, Iran and Germany.

The project will focus on the following topics:

• Development of new concepts for a sustainable water supply in Teheran, New York and Stuttgart based on Geo Information Systems (GIS).
• Analysis of the water infrastructure (e.g. pipe lengths, water reservoirs, power consumption for the pumping).
• Identification of environmentally friendly technologies for the water supply, e.g. for desalination, recycling and water treatment plants.
• Analysis of the effect of urban morphology on the power consumption of the water supply infrastructure.
• UAV-based remote surveillance of the water consumption and the effect of water surface area on the urbane climate.
• Connection and digitalization of existing metering and sensor networks.
• Use of Deep Learning Algorithm for an effective analysis of huge data amounts.

New methods of data acquisition (as e.g. UAV, Internet of Things, etc.) offer new methods for analysis, which could only be used by a small number of universities and research centres. Students of different disciplines and international scientists will investigate the potential of UAV pictures, digitalisation of metering and sensor networks in combination with 3D urban models and the application of new algorithms (deep-learning) on huge amounts of data.

The focus of the project was set beside the research topics on the intercultural exchange and an international collaboration between partners of quite different national and cultural backgrounds. With workshops in Teheran, New York and Stuttgart and visits of German students at the different sites as well as the respective return visits a very intensive scientific exchange occurred on the topics of urban development, water and energy networks and environmental issues due to pollution and harsh weathers. In addition, common projects were done for environmental measurements which further enforced the common understanding and result in long-term exchange and relationships. The main goals of the project have thus been fully achieved.

Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM

The Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM supports the international exchange of students and vocationally qualified people. Since 2001, it has enabled more than 25,000 young people from Baden-Württemberg to gain experience abroad and allowed scholarship holders from other countries to visit Baden-Württemberg. Approximately 1,500 young people receive a Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM each year.
www.bw-stipendium.de

Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for University Students – BWS plus

With the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for University Students – BWS plus, the Baden-Württemberg Stiftung supports innovative joint projects between universities from Baden-Württemberg and their international partners. The programme is endowed with approximately 1.2 million euros annually. Since 2011, more than 90 BWS plus projects have been supported at universities in Baden-Württemberg.

The Baden-Württemberg Stiftung

advocates a vital Baden-Württemberg with a high quality of life for all its residents. It helps pave the way for advanced technological progress, high quality education, and a responsible relationship with fellow human beings. The Baden-Württemberg Stiftung is one of the major foundations in Germany. It is the only foundation which exclusively and above party lines invests in the future of the state of Baden-Württemberg – and thus in the future of its citizens.
www.bwstiftung.de