Technical Workshop: Water Hammer - Transient Modeling for Water Distribution Systems
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
(RSVP only | Lunch on own)
Laptops Required for Participation
4.0 PDHs
Abstract Submission: Building on the foundational understanding of hydraulic transients and their potential risks to water systems, this session will delve deeper into advanced modeling techniques and practical surge protection strategies. Participants will revisit the numerical methods of transient modeling, exploring their application in more complex scenarios. The focus will shift towards enhancing model accuracy and overcoming the inherent challenges posed by system non-linearity and operational dynamics.
New case studies will be introduced, providing insight into the application of surge protection devices in diverse system configurations. Special attention will be given to optimizing the design and selection of protection strategies for both existing infrastructures and newly designed systems. Common pitfalls observed in previous transient simulations will be re-examined, with practical solutions offered to improve future modeling efforts.
Participants will engage in a new series of hands-on exercises using InfoSurge Pro. These tasks will not only reinforce theoretical concepts but also help users gain proficiency in navigating real-world transient scenarios, ultimately enhancing their ability to manage and mitigate hydraulic transients with increased confidence.
Instructor: Shawn Huang, Autodesk Inc.
Technical Workshop: A Collaboration of Chinese Case Studies on Urban Water Quality Management using Nature-based Solutions and Engineering Resilience through Mitigating Extreme Weather Events through Low Impact Development
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
(RSVP only | Lunch on own)
4.0 PDHs
Our team has led numerous projects based on nature-based solutions (NBS) in China, with rich concrete practice and actual effect evaluation. These projects have included water system interconnectivity, hydrodynamic enhancement, riparian wetlands, urban stormwater management, industrial runoff control, site-specific runoff control, and NBS-driven livability enhancement. One of our most significant case studies is Kunshan City, a highly urbanized area in southern China with a population of 2.2 million. We have used Kunshan as a "living laboratory" to implement and evaluate NBS approaches for stormwater management and water quality improvement. These initiatives have yielded promising results, significantly enhancing the urban environment and providing practical examples of how NBS can be transitioned from theory to large-scale implementation in the real world.
In recent years, the city has experienced extreme weather events, including Typhoon "Fireworks", "Lichima", and "Bebija", as well as excessive rainfall that has caused waterlogging in some areas and flooding on roads. Overall, the disaster risks facing Kunshan primarily include regional flooding, urban inundation, and secondary disasters triggered by typhoons and heavy rainfall. In this context, our team is committed to applying the concept of nature-based solutions to a trial in Kunshan, aiming to enhance the city's ability to cope with extreme situations.
Regarding water system interconnectivity, we guided the conversion of 167 hectares of farmland back into lakes, enhancing connectivity between water bodies. Concerning hydrodynamic enhancement, we spearheaded the planning of major water circulation systems across multiple polder areas. This involved constructing new channels, installing culverts, and adding pumping stations to improve internal water cycle. We also designed riparian wetlands, transforming open water surfaces into surface-flow constructed wetlands, which also function as public parks providing natural settings for recreation. Additionally, we focused on urban stormwater management, industrial runoff control and site-specific runoff control to implement pollution mitigation and runoff control at source.
This course will also engage in a critical examination of Sponge City Governance approaches and their interrelationship with LID, from theoretical, organizational, and participatory perspectives. These lectures are designed to facilitate student exploration of how these themes intersect with their own research pursuits.
Sponge cities are an innovative urban water management approach aimed at enhancing a city's resilience to flooding, water scarcity, and other climate-related challenges. This concept revolves around the idea of transforming urban environments to absorb, store, and release rainwater in a controlled manner, much like a sponge. By implementing Low Impact Development Principles and integrating with grey infrastructure, sponge cities seek to mitigate urban water issues while promoting ecological sustainability and livability.
Low Impact Development (LID), which originated in the early 1990s in the United States, has gained worldwide adoption for stormwater management. In the United Kingdom, this concept is referred to as Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), while in Australia, it is known as Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). LID is also closely linked to Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI), Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), and the Sponge City concept.
But what exactly does the term ‘low impact development’ entail in both theory and practice? How is it associated with GSI, NbS and Sponge City, and what are the pitfalls when applying it in stormwater management?
Instructors: Dafang Fu, Southeast University (SEU), Sajjad Ahmad, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Erhu Du, Hohai University, and Nian She, Sun Yat-sen University
Technical Workshop: AI Training Workshop for Water Resources and Environmental Applications
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 1–5 p.m.
(RSVP only | Lunch on own)
4.0 PDHs
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way we manage, monitor, and plan for water and environmental systems. From predictive modeling of floods and droughts to optimizing water infrastructure, ecosystems and advancing climate resilience, AI-driven methods offer new opportunities to enhance decision-making and sustainability. This session will highlight cutting-edge applications of AI in water resources, water management, and environmental sciences, while also addressing challenges such as AI-ready databases, data limitations, uncertainty, and ethical considerations.
Instructors: Jayantha TB Obeysekera, Florida International University, Todd Crowl, Florida International University, Jason Liu, Florida International University, and Wenqian Dong, Oregon State University
Technical Workshop: Application of NOAA Next Generation Water Resource Modeling Framework for Hydrological Modeling
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 1–5 p.m.
(RSVP only | Lunch on own)
4.0 PDHs
This comprehensive, half-day workshop provides a deep dive into the Next-Generation Water Resources Modeling Framework (NextGen), a model-agnostic and standards-based software tool that facilitates model interoperability. The workshop is split into two parts: an exploration of the broader NextGen ecosystem and a hands-on session on model calibration using NextGen In a Box (NGIAB). This workshop is highly relevant to professionals and students interested in US operational hydrological forecasting pipelines.
Part 1: Navigating the NextGen Ecosystem and NGIAB
Part one focuses on the NextGen ecosystem, a complete workflow from data collection and standardization to modeling, visualization, and evaluation. Participants will explore the various tools available within the ecosystem, discussing their functionalities, costs, and computational considerations for different project sizes. We'll examine how these tools integrate on a technical and organizational level, with consideration given to community data organization, future services needed by the community, and overall cohesion of the NextGen ecosystem. Additionally, we'll introduce NextGen In a Box (NGIAB), a user-friendly, containerized solution for running NextGen. We will guide participants on how to run NGIAB across different platforms, giving them seamless control over inputs, configurations, and executions directly from their local machines.
Part 2: Hands-on Hydrological Model Calibration in the NGIAB Ecosystem
Building on the first part, the second session is a hands-on workshop on hydrological model calibration, regionalization, and parameter sharing within the NGIAB ecosystem. Using pre-configured, open-source tools and datasets, attendees will gain practical experience with full calibration workflows. We'll cover the fundamental theory behind improving model accuracy and provide best practices based on expert insights and real-world challenges.
What You'll Learn:
- Model Calibration Fundamentals: Grasp the theory and practice of improving hydrological model accuracy.
- Hands-on NextGen Experience: Complete practical calibration workflows with real tools and data.
- Best Practices: Learn from experts and engage in discussions on real-world challenges.
Instructors: Sifan A. Koriche, Alabama Water Institute, Arpita Patel, The University of Alabama, James Halgren, The University of Alabama, Joshua Cunningham, The University of Alabama, Trupesh Patel, The University of Alabama, Quinn Lee, The University of Alabama, Bhavya Duvvuri, The University of Alabama, and Steven Burian, The University of Alabama
Technical Workshop: Assessing Pollution Potential and Toxicity Risks of Field-Cured Polymer Resins in Pipe Rehabilitation
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 1–5 p.m.
(RSVP only | Lunch on own)
4.0 PDHs
According to the U.S. State Departments of Transportation, numerous damaged culverts and pipelines are repaired through field-cured rehabilitation technology. Specifically, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) and spray-applied pipe linings (SAPL) are often used by employing field-cured materials, like resins. However, by contacting water, these materials may release hazardous chemicals, such as styrene, benzaldehyde, and bisphenol A, that can contaminate water and result in toxicity to fish and other aquatic organisms. Current contamination and toxicity risk assessment methods only evaluate the leaching characteristic of material under fixed conditions.
This project aims to develop an easy and effective framework to assess the pollution potential and toxicity risks from the use of CIPP and SAPL resin. The leaching testing procedure was developed based on the EPA’s Leaching Environmental Assessment Framework (LEAF), and bioassays were conducted following the Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) method. The freshwater flea, DKCl was used as the reference inhibitor, and the results showed a 24-hour LC50 of 685.1 mg/L. Ongoing efforts include conducting toxicity tests with leachates from both model resin and commercial resins. These results will be available and shared by the time of the presentation. This work will provide a comprehensive framework for screening, characterizing, and mitigating potential adverse effects of field-cured polymer materials on aquatic and/or human health, assisting practitioners in selecting effective and environmental-friendly materials for infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation.
Instructors: Xiaguo Wei, University of Maryland, Zoe Barbour, University of Maryland, Ahmet H. Aydilek, University of Maryland, Allen P. Davis, University of Maryland, and Guangbin Li, University of Maryland
Technical Workshop: Empowering Future Engineers: Entrepreneurial Mindset for Water and Environmental Challenges
Sunday, April 26, 2026 | 1–5 p.m.
(RSVP only | Lunch on own)
4.0 PDHs
This technical workshop introduces participants to strategies for cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) in environmental and water resources engineering education, aligned with the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network (KEEN) framework. The session emphasizes how the KEEN principles, curiosity, connections, and creating value, can be embedded into engineering curricula to prepare students to address complex water-related challenges with creativity, adaptability, and innovation.
Workshop activities will highlight practical approaches for integrating EM into both classroom instruction and project-based learning. Examples include case studies on sustainable stormwater management, groundwater remediation, and infrastructure resilience, demonstrating how entrepreneurial thinking can drive the development of solutions that balance technical feasibility, environmental impact, and community needs. Participants will engage in interactive exercises that model how to help students frame problems, identify stakeholders, and recognize opportunities for creating value beyond traditional technical outcomes.
By the end of the workshop, attendees will leave with actionable strategies and teaching resources to embed entrepreneurial mindset into their own courses, fostering the next generation of engineers equipped to lead in advancing sustainable solutions within the environmental and water resources field.
Instructor: Namita Shrestha, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology