Development of an Integrated Ecosystem Modelling Based Decision Support System for Management of Manyas Lake Watershed (2018-2022)
The aim of this project is to develop an infrastructure that automizes the generation of program of measures for eutrofied lakes as far as possible.
Lakes in Turkey are being polluted at increasing levels due to the environmental pressures and eutrophication and are losing their ecological functions. Lakes and their watersheds should be managed properly to prevent this process that is proceeding even faster in shallow lakes. Therefore, it is important to propose measures and best management practices that are feasible for the lake ecosystems and their watersheds. Since the measures and the best management practices are generally costly, it is required to conduct cost-benefit analysis and determine the best options.
The methodology consists of several components such as monitoring and ecological analysis, integrated ecosystem modelling spatial decision support systems and determination of the program of measures. Each of these components is handled in a different work package directly linked to one main and three sub projects, whereas the fifth work package is devoted to project management and dissemination.
The proposed project will develop holistic models and other tools, which can serve as a guide for solution of for the problems and developed tools can be used in watersheds similar to Manyas Lake Watershed.
Since the model infrastructure that will be developed will include “a physically-based and deterministic hydrological model” the project is directly related to “1003-SUA-YNTM-2016-1 Factors Affecting Water Resources” Paragraph 3. Moreover since such a model would be possibly used for estimation of the effects of climate change on water resources, the project is related to Paragraph 1 of the same call. Manyas Lake is a sensitive inland water ecosystem, it is classified as wetland and the aquatic ecosystem model that will be developed in the project contains organisms on different trophic levels, the project can be considered even further related to 1003-SUA-YNTM-2016-1 call.
https://avesis.itu.edu.tr/proje/0579e367-65c6-4e83-b265-24921e84bc7b/manyas-golu-havzasinin-yonetimi-icin-butunlesik-ekosistem-modelleme-odakli-karar-destek-sisteminin-olusturulmasi
A co-evolutionary modelling system for water-soil-vegetation interactions in Turkish semiarid landscapes for sustainable natural resources (2019-2022)
The objectives of the project suppoted by TÜBİTAK Research Funding Program Directorate were (1) to understand how the landscape morphology and erosion dynamics interact with changing climate in Turkish arid lands, where water-limited ecosystems prevail. (2) To characterize the co-evolution of ecosystems and landscapes within in an evolutionary perspective. (3) To assess the implications of nutrient–limitation on erosion yields.
This proposal test the following hypotheses: (1) If the semiarid regions in Turkey are prone to desertification, climate change will exacerbate the ecosystem conditions and will lead to higher erosion rates. (2) If the semiarid regions in Turkey are less productive, they cannot support enough growth for denser vegetation because of climatic conditions. Hence, the nutrient limitation in plant growth will lead to higher erosion yields. (3) Vegetation provides erosion protection on the earth surface. Hence, the land-cover change (degradation), such as forest to shrub or grass transition, or denser grass to sparser grass transition, as a result of climate change will lead to higher erosion yields. To reach these targets, in this study, it was used a state-of-the-art landscape evolution model which couples vegetation and landscape under given climate forcing. Representation in changes in the climate was implemented in the model. Then, the modelling results was investigated.
The social significance of this project, there is an immediate application to the Turkish landscapes. More than one-third of Turkish lands are water-limited; more than 50% of Turkish soils are experiencing severe or very severe erosion. Therefore, this study has socio-economic significance on a national scale. This research falls into the research priority: ‘improved accuracy and precision in predicting and measuring the impact of environmental changes caused by climate and local factors’ (Vision 2023) which underlines the sustainability of food, energy, and natural resources.
https://avesis.itu.edu.tr/proje/593fba4f-255c-4c73-9218-aecc6e275b81/a-co-evolutionary-modelling-system-for-water-soil-vegetation-interactions-in-turkish-semiarid-landscapes-for-sustainable-natural-resources
Application of Innovative Treatment Technologies with Small Footprint to Fight against Mucilage and Water Recovery (2021-2022)
In the project, the effluent of a preliminary wastewater treatment plant was biologically treated with the aerobic granular sludge (AGS) system. The effluent of AGS system was passed through ultrafiltration (UF) membrane to eliminate suspended solids and turbidity, and pathogenic microorganisms will be retained to a large extent. Depending on the reuse purpose of the treated wastewater, UF effluent was treated with two different processes. In the first process, the UF effluent was disinfected with ultraviolet (UV) and the pathogen microorganisms was completely removed and the treated wastewater was used for irrigation of green areas, agricultural fields and water for general cleaning purposes (urban area cleaning, car wash, etc.). In the second process, UF effluent was passed through the reverse osmosis (RO) system to obtain high-quality effluent suitable for industrial processes use. At the end of this study, initial investment and operating costs for a full-scale facility was determined and presented in the project report.
https://avesis.itu.edu.tr/proje/aeb86e8e-84d2-49fe-9964-e8ac70d4787c/musilajla-mucadelede-az-yer-kaplayan-yenilikci-aritma-teknolojilerinin-uygulanmasi-ve-su-geri-kazanimi
Development of an Approach for Energy and Water Efficient Building and Settlement Design (2021 – 2023)
Project is supported by TUBITAK Project
Examining the climate of the Mediterranean Region with the newly developed Türkiye Global Climate Model (2021 – 2024)
Project is supported by TUBITAK Project
Satellite-Derived Bathymetry Modelling in Shallow Water: A Case Study of Horseshoe Island (2021 – 2023)
Project is supported by TUBITAK Project