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© BAW /Hengl zoom gallery -
© BAW/Hasenhündl zoom gallery -
© BAW/Hasenhündl zoom gallery -
© BAW/Hasenhündl zoom gallery
During the summer semester 2026, the Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Hydrometry welcomed a large number of visitors to its hydraulic engineering laboratory in Vienna. Numerous school classes, university students, and professional groups took the opportunity to gain insights into current topics related to rivers and hydraulic engineering.
An important contribution to this was the ongoing participation in the “Young Science” initiative of OeAD, which enabled exchange with a wide range of school classes and supported the communication of research topics to younger audiences.
Insights into Research and Practice
The excursions provide a practical introduction to the work of the institute. In an introductory presentation, key challenges related to river systems are outlined, including issues such as flood events, sediment transport, and river ecology. The presentation also highlights possible improvement measures under investigation and the role of the hydraulic engineering laboratory in research and development.
This is followed by guided tours through the experimental halls in small groups. Participants are introduced to different experimental models and measurement techniques and gain insights into ongoing research projects.
A particular focus lies on the active involvement of visitors. At the experimental flumes, participants have the opportunity to create their own river landscapes and directly observe the interactions between flow dynamics and morphology. This hands-on approach leads to a variety of illustrative and often very different models of river systems, supporting a deeper understanding of natural processes.
Diverse Visitor Groups
During the summer semester 2026, the following groups were among those welcomed to the hydraulic engineering laboratory:
- HTL Mödling
- Polytechnische Schule Groß Enzersdorf
- NÖ Mittelschulen Oberwaltersdorf
- GRG 13 Wenzgasse
- MS Josef Ensleinplatz
- Gymnasium und Realgymnasium Neulandschule, Grinzing
- BG/BRG Tullnerbach, Wienerwaldgymnasium
- HTL Hollabrunn together with a partner school from Málaga
- BAfEP Amstetten
- Students from TU Wien
- a training group of police officers for water policing duties
The wide range of visiting groups highlights the broad interest in water management topics and underlines the importance of practice-oriented knowledge transfer.
Exchange and Engagement
The excursions are characterized by active exchange and lively discussions. Questions from different perspectives enrich the dialogue between science and practice and help make complex topics more accessible.
Especially for larger groups, a significant part of the institute’s team is involved in organizing and conducting the visits. The commitment of staff is a key prerequisite for the successful transfer of knowledge.