IMPACT: The Project Team

Cemagref is a public agricultural and environmental research institute whose work focuses on sustainable development in non-urban areas. It contributes to the conservation and acceptable management of land and water systems, the growth of economic activity on a sustainable basis, and the prevention of associated risks. Its research usually addresses complex systems and their interaction with human society. An interdisciplinary approach is usually always appropriate.

Besides advancing fundamental knowledge, Cemagref makes available its diagnostics and control methods, designs negociation and management tools, develops innovative technologies and supports public and private enterprise with its skills and experience.

Cemagref's consolidated budget is 56 millions Euros. Income from contract work amounts to 14 millions Euros. Cemagref is a research institute employing about 1000 employees, 450 of whom are professional engineers and scientists. About one hundred PhD students and five hundred long-term trainees are present at the institute at any time. The 34 research units are organised into 4 scientific departments

Hydrology and hydraulics research unit

This unit which is part of the Fresh Water Systems Management scientific department is involved in regional hydrology and fluvial hydraulics. Large part of the research concerns flood management which leads to the participation to a lot of research projects included in the european framework research programs or the national programs (PNRH : hydrologic research, RIO : flood risks, ...). The development of various software in fluvial hydraulics (Castor, Canal 9, Mage, Rubar 3, Rubar 20…) and the assistance to French public services are key tasks for passing the results of research to engineering and decision makers (example of Bourbre River management scheme). The unit is composed of about 20 researchers, engineers and technicians. The project staff will include A. PAQUIER (contact person), B. CHASTAN, S. PROUST, P. RAMEZ, A. RECKING and Ph D students.

André PAQUIER is a specialist in fluvial hydraulics with PhD in Numerical Analysis. In charge of the development of several computer programs for fluvial hydraulics with a specific emphasis about modelling dam break wave propagation. Expert for dam break wave propagation for the French Comité Technique Permanent des Barrages. Responsible of the research theme Transfeau (Transfers of water in catchments and hydrographic networks) which gathers a Cemagref's staff of about 40.

During IMPACT project, A. Paquier will coordinate Cemagref's tasks. He will be responsible of the developments of Cemagref's numerical models for breaching, sediment transport and wave propagation.