Late research and developments show a trend towards integrated models to simulate the urban drainage cycle to offer a complete picture of the system’s performance. However, in regard to integrated models considering water quality, only few actual case studies exist. We developed such a model for the urban drainage system of Graz, Austria containing runoff generation, a sewer system, actuators a...

Effective decision support and model predictive control of real-time environmental systems require that evolutionary algorithms operate more efficiently. A suite of model predictive control (MPC) genetic algorithms are developed and tested offline to explore their value for reducing combined sewer overflow (CSO) volumes during real-time use in a deep-tunnel sewer system. MPC approaches include ...

The Man Portable Robotic System (MPRS) project objective was to build and deliver hardened robotic systems to the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York. The systems, specifically designed for tunnel and sewer reconnaissance, were equipped with visual and audio sensors that allowed the Army engineers to detect trip wires and booby traps before personnel entered a potentially ...

Events that are referred to as geysers have been observed in stormwater or combined sewer systems and are associated with jets of water rising through manholes to a considerable distance above the ground surface. Visual observations suggest that air may be a significant component of the jet. The mechanisms of geyser occurrence have been previously assumed to originate in inertial oscillations t...

Modern tunneling projects will often rely on a Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) rather than traditional drill and blast (D&B) methods, because of TBMs’ increased tunneling efficiency[1]. TBMs have a circular drill at the front, which can range in diameter from 1 meter to 19.25 meters, depending on the desired use for the completed tunnel. Applications of tunnels dug by TBMs range from underground ...

If all parameters influencing sewer performance were known (or deterministic) then the decision making process associated to the planning of sewer replacement should be relatively straightforward. However, when trying to forecast service life, uncertainties arise considering the deterioration process, the variability of sewer pipe properties, environmental conditions or the used information res...