Topics for Bachelor and Master thesis
Table of contents
The topics listed below are suggestions for possible candidate students aiming to obtain a Bachelor or Master's degree at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, TU Dresden. If you have another idea for a topic matching the objectives of our project please feel free to contact us.
Open topics
Analysis of the effects of MAR on the local groundwater system through groundwater flow modelling of the Akrotiri MAR scheme, Cyprus
| TOPIC | Analysis of the effects of MAR on the local groundwater system through groundwater flow modelling of the Akrotiri MAR scheme, Cyprus |
|---|---|
| Background | Enhancing groundwater recharge by storing surplus water in the subsurface in times of high availability followed by recovery in times of high demand represents a low cost technology that increases the resilience of water supply infrastructures to extreme hydro-climatic events. The technique known as managed aquifer recharge (MAR) represents a viable adaptation solution for sustainable water resources management while it reduces the impact of water scarcity by increasing seasonal water availability. |
| Problem statement | Cyprus suffers from several decades of severe drought and an increasing demand of water, which in combination aggravates the critical long-standing water scarcity problems of the island. Several aquifers along the coast are at risk of drying out and due to saline contamination, many wells had to be abandoned because of seawater intrusion, irrigation-induced salinization (Milnes 2011), and nitrate contamination (Georgiou 2002). MAR proved to be one of the promising instruments to counteract the continuously growing water stress. With positive experiences at the Ezousas aquifer, where a MAR site is operating since 2005 and achieves promising results on water storage, a similar project started in 2017 at the Akrotiri aquifer. The new site at the Akrotiri aquifer is still in its optimization phase and has great potential for improvement. |
| Research objectives | The objective of the present study is to setup a numerical groundwater flow model of the MAR site in Akrotiri, Cyprus to assess the effects of MAR on the environment and reliability of water supply. Tertiary treated wastewater is infiltrated via infiltration ponds to the aquifer for irrigation purposes. The work will be part of the newly funded PRIMA project: “Adaptive agreements on benefits sharing for managed aquifer recharge in the Mediterranean region” (AGREEMAR, www.agreemar.inowas.com). |
| Methods | After data assimilation, preparation and analysis, a MODFLOW-GUI (e.g. the free web-based INOWAS platform, www.inowas.com) will be used to setup and calibrate a numerical groundwater flow model for the Akrotiri MAR site. The objectives of the model include to optimize the conjunctive use of groundwater and suface water to reduce the overexploitation of the aquifer, assess the reliability of water supply during drought periods, mitigate seawater intrusion and meet the water quality and environmental flow restrictions. With the help of the numerical model, the MAR scheme will be optimized with regard to land use changes, urbanisation and climate variability. |
| Pre-requisites | The student shall be familiar with governing principles of managed aquifer recharge and numerical groundwater flow modelling. Previous experience with MODFLOW is preferable. |
| Contact | Research Group INOWAS Dr. Jana Glass: Email: |
| Degree | Master (Wasserwirtschaft, Hydrologie, Hydrobiologie, Abfallwirtschaft und Altlasten as well as HSE with previous knowledge) |
| Start | As soon as possible |
Ongoing theses
- Fahmida Yeasmin
The impact of water insecurity and land use changes on the resilience of rural farming in the Nukus irrigated area of Uzbekistan. (joint supervision with UNU-FLORES)
Supervisors: Catalin Stefan, Jana Glass
Completed
- Leonard Gabrow (2024)
Modelling of tracer transport in the unsaturated zone with a 2D Fickian-based numerical model. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden (joint supervision with CSIC Barcelona)
Supervisor: Catalin Stefan - Sarah Eisenreich (2023)
A participatory approach for MAR feasibility mapping considering physical and non-physical criteria applied to Cyprus. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden. September 2023 (joint supervision with the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence, Cyprus)
Supervisor: Catalin Stefan - Mohammad Alhosban (2023)
Application of multi-criteria decision analysis to assess the feasibility of managed aquifer recharge implementation in Kazakhstan. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden
Supervisors: Jana Sallwey, Nurlan Ongdas -
Catalina Zapata Barra (2021)
The holistic value of managed aquifer recharge (MAR): assessing its influence on the environment and the synergies and trade-offs triggered by the interraction among ecosystem services. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, September 2021 (joint supervision with the United Nations University, Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources - UNU-FLORES)
Supervisor: Catalin Stefan - Muhammad Muqeet Iqbal (2019)
Assessing the denitrification potential of managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, September 2019
(joint supervision with the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Center)
Supervisor: Catalin Stefan - Saunak Sinha Ray (2019)
Household water insecurity in a coupled human and natural system: Empirical evidence from rural and peri-urban communities of Limpopo, South Africa. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, August 2019
(joint supervision with the International Water Management Institute and theIHE Delft Institute for Water Education)
Supervisor: Catalin Stefan - Gloria Mozzi (2019)
Structure scale impact of widespread managed aquifer recharge implementation in Gujarat, India. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, August 2019
(joint supervision with the International Water Management Institute - IWMI)
Supervisor: Catalin Stefan - Paula Görz (2019)
Optimierung der Versickerung von geklärtem Abwasser durch Bodenbelüftung. Bachelor thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, July 2019
Supervisors: Jana Sallwey, Felix Barquero - Robert Schlick (2019)
Visualizing the MAR potential for Africa through GIS-MCDA and web-based tool design. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, May 2019
Supervisors: Ralf Junghanns, Jana Sallwey - Alexander Oy (2018)
Evaluation of oxygen penetration/availibility during managed aquifer recharge experiments. Bachelor thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, December 2018
Supervisors: Jana Sallwey, Thomas Fichtner - Namjiil Ganbataar (2018)
Inverse 1D modelling of laboratory experiments for MAR assessment. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, December 2018
Supervisor: Jana Sallwey - Andreas Kürschner (2018)
Einfluss von Infiltrationsraten und Wasserqualität auf stattfindende Prozesse während der künstlichen Grundwasseranreicherung. Bachelor thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, October 2018
Supervisor: Felix Barquero - Tailin Li (2018)
Setup of numerical groundwater flow and transport model to determine flow paths and travel times at the Berlin-Spandau MAR site. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, September 2018 (joint supervision with KWB Berlin)
Supervisors: Jana Glaß, Christoph Sprenger (KWB) - Bryan Nießen (2018)
Bestimmung der Korrelation zwischen Wassergehalt und elektrischer Leitfähigkeit bei der Infiltration von Tracerlösungen mit Hilfe von Säulenversuchen. Bachelor thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, February 2018
Supervisor: Felix Barquero - Felipe Vasquez Lopez (2017)
MAR site selection in Western Europe and comparison with other suitability maps by means of the MAR index. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, October 2017
Supervisors: José Bonilla, Jana Sallwey - Julius Weyer (2017)
Geomorphological evaluation of the potential for induced bank filtration in the Jesús María Watershed in the Pacific coast of Costa Rica
Supervisors: José Bonilla, Jana Sallwey - Wang Peiran (2017)
Application of GIS-MCDA for MAR suitability mapping in China
Supervisors: José Bonilla, Jana Sallwey - Hannah Zeumer (2017)
Determination of clogging processes during infiltration of river water or treated wastewater
Supervisors: Thomas Fichtner, Jana Ringleb - Hugo Leonel Pivaral Vivar (2016)
Application of GIS-MCDA analysis for the identification of suitable sites for managed aquifer recharge in Guatemala. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, August 2016
Supervisors: José Bonilla, Catalin Stefan - Eduardo Bernardo da Silva (2016)
Use of soil column tests in bench scale for assessing the feasibility of a Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) with river water and secondary effluent of a Wastewater Treatment Plant in João Pessoa, Paraíba (Brazil). Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, August 2016
Supervisors: Catalin Stefan, Florian Walter (Georg-August-University Göttingen) - Julio Augusto Vanzela de Melo (2016)
Untersuchung des Einflusses verschiedener Infiltrationsszenarien auf den Wasser- und Gashaushalt, den Abbau von organischen Substanzen und die Infiltrationskapazität in der ungesättigten Bodenzone. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, April 2016
Supervisor: Thomas Fichtner - Fritz Kalwa (2016)
Physical and numerical modeling of a laboratory scale aquifer-well system for predicting the injection behavior of a small-diameter well. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, January 2016
(Joint supervision with the Institute for Groundwater Management)
Supervisors: Falk Händel (IGW), José Bonilla, Catalin Stefan - Susann Brecht (2015)
Estimating groundwater recharge through tracer test at Pirna test site. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, December 2015
Supervisors: Jana Ringleb, Catalin Stefan - Dong Liu (2015)
Überblick zum Einsatz von Tracersubstanzen in der umweltwissenschaftlichen Prozessforschung. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, December 2015
Supervisors: Catalin Stefan, Thomas Fichtner - Paula Andrea Zapata Jaramillo (2015)
Site selection for the implementation of management aquifer recharge (MAR) in Machuca River basin, Costa Rica. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, November 2015
Supervisors: José Bonilla, Catalin Stefan - Daniela Alejandra Via Rico (2015)
Transient flow modelling of an exploited aquifer in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam and simulation of managed aquifer recharge measures. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, October 2015
Supervisors: Jana Ringleb, Catalin Stefan - Xunyu Fan (2015)
Estimating groundwater recharge in Germany, Israel and Costa Rica with the help of unsaturated soil zone models. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, October 2015
Supervisors: Jana Ringleb, Catalin Stefan - Fahad Ejaz (2015)
A decision support system for an integrated irrigation and groundwater management in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, September 2015
Supervisors: Aybulat Fatkhutdinov, Catalin Stefan - Nora Goersmeyer (2015)
Bestimmung biologischer Abbauraten von organischen Substanzen in Abhängigkeit von der Porengröße verschiedener Bodenarten. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, September 2015
Supervisors: Thomas Fichtner, Catalin Stefan - Chia-yun Rebecca Cheng (2015)
Review of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) applications in China - achievements and challenges. Bachelor thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, June 2015
Supervisors: Catalin Stefan, Jinxing Guo - Anne Strulik (2015)
Analyse der künstlichen Grundwasseranreicherung in Australien. Bachelor thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, June 2015
Supervisors: Catalin Stefan, Jana Sallwey - Miguel Alonzo Moreno Gomez (2015)
Methods for characterization of soil hydraulic properties and subsurface stratigraphy with application at an infiltration site in Pirna, Germany. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, February 2015
Supervisors: Catalin Stefan, Thomas Fichtner - Chao Li (2015)
Conception of a high-resolution saturated model for the test site Pirna. Master thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, January 2015
Supervisors: Falk Händel (IGW), Jana Sallwey - Anna-Sophie Strues (2015)
Application of managed aquifer recharge in Asia. Bachelor thesis, Technische Universität Dresden, November 2014
Supervisor: Catalin Stefan