Agenda

Prof. Jorg Imberger, Professor (Adjunct), RSMAS, University of Miami, Florida, USA

Abstract:
Natural systems such as catchments, rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal seas are under increasing threat from depletion of biodiversity, nutrient enrichment, metal contamination and introduction of very low levels of carcinogenic compounds.A new methodology, based on the Index of Functional Sustainability (ISF) has recently been developed that provides a quantitative foundation for multi-objective design where, for instance, a reservoir can be managed to function as a bulk water resource, flood control, recreational area, a carbon sink, a source of fish protein and the reservoir catchment may also be managed to induce greater rainfall. This methodology may be coupled with real time measurements of water properties in the natural system, the data from which are checked for integrity and then archived into a flexible relational data base system by the Aquatic Real Time Management System (ARMS). The suite of new instruments and software combined with the ISF collectively offer a totally new way managing natural water bodies. The talk will be illustrated with an application of this new methodology to the Swan River Estuary, Western Australia.

Bio Sketch:
Prof. Jorg Imberger is currently Adjunct Professor at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, in Miami (USA). He has been Director of the Centre for Water Research at the University of Western Australia form 1981 to 2015 and Winthrop Professor, University of Western Australia, from 1979-2015. He is member of many scientific societes, among which: the Australian Limnological Society, the Australian Water and Wastewater Association and the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography. He has edited 5 books, contributed to 19 boks and coauthored 252 peer reviewed papers.