Water Resources Research Lab

The Water Resources Computational Laboratory within SIUC's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering houses two networked Pentium IV, 650 MHz PCs, one Pentium III, 500 MHz PC, and a Xeon 3.6 GHz (dual processor) PC. An array of software is available, including the latest programming environments and compilers (e.g., Fortran, Visual Basic, C++) and Geographic Information System packages (e.g., ArcView 3.3, ArcGIS 8.2, Spatial Analyst, 3D Analyst), as well as typical word processing and spreadsheet software. These computing facilities are being used to test new computational algorithms and to construct state-of-the-art computer simulation and spatial decision support models. The models combine traditional hydraulic engineering and hydrology principles with new search algorithms to provide solutions to a variety of complex problems in environmental and water resources engineering. Examples of work include the development of basin-scale optimal control models for evaluating landscapes that minimize the impact to water quality and quantity; construction of dam operations models to control sedimentation, flooding, and/or ecological impact in multi-reservoir river networks; and the formulation of methods for optimal design of stormwater systems, culverts, and spillways.