The research line focuses first on the development of mathematical models and knowledge based systems for optimal Urban Water Systems management, and second in the creation of new sources of sustainable energy.
Research in Urban Water Systems is made from an integral point of view taking into account environmental, economic, social and legal criteria, according to the European Water Framework Directive. On the other hand, research on water oxidation catalysts aims to establish knowledge about the nature of oxidation water catalysis in order to find out a catalyst agent able to generate hydrogen with high activity.
Specific objectives are:
· Development of simulation tools for the analysis and reengineering of water treatment units and plants
· Process modelling of the urban water cycle, adopting an integrative approach
· Development of decision support systems (EDDS) as a tool for the integration of quantitavtive and qualitative knowledge and participation processes
Researchers
Joaquim Comas
Research Professor (UdG Associated)
jcomas@icra.cat
Associate Professor of the Chemical Engineering Department of the University of Girona, he has a Bsc in Chemistry, Msc in Environmental Technologies and PhD in Industrial Engineering (2000). He has participated in several research projects as well as R+D contracts with companies. He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers in international journals and has supervised ten PhD thesis. He is leading the modelling and management systems research line. His research topics include multicriteria decision support systems and assessment tools (e.g. LCA and water footprint) for sustainable management of urban water systems, modelling and control of wastewater treatment processes, integrated membrane systems for water reuse, and removal of micropollutants in wastewater systems. In 2006 he was awarded with the Early Career Research Excellence award by the international Environmental Modelling and Software society (iEMSs). He was one of the founders of the technological spin off company SISLtech (www.sisltech.net) focused on intelligent solutions for waste, wastewater and water management.
Lluís Corominas
Research Scientist
lcorominas@icra.cat
I earned a BsC and PhD on environmental sciences and a postgraduate on environmental engineering from the University of Girona (Spain). I held a postdoctoral appointment at Université Laval (Québec, Canada) before joining the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA, Spain).
I am a scientist with expertise in the holistic analysis of urban water systems. My research focuses on understanding water and pollutant dynamics in sewers, wastewater treatment plants and rivers to improve ecosystems and human health. I am an expert in monitoring, modelling and control and I am passionate about sustainability and resilience assessment. My main current research activity relates to wastewater-based epidemiology through the following projects: SCOREwater (https://www.icra.cat/projectes/smart-city-observatories-implement-resilient/135), ESAR-NET (https://www.esarnet.es/), SCHEME (http://www.icra.cat/projects/scheme-sewage-chemical-information-mining/150), SARSAIGUA (https://sarsaigua.icra.cat/) and VIRWASTE.
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Josep Pueyo
Postdoctoral Researcher
jpueyo@icra.cat
Neus Collado
Postdoctoral Researcher
ncollado@icra.cat
Henry Beral
Postdoctoral Researcher
hberal@icra.cat
Silvia Busquets
Research Technician Advanced
sbusquets@icra.cat
Massimiliano Riva
Research Technician
mriva@icra.cat
Luz Karime Sánchez
Support Research Technician
lksanchez@icra.cat