Entries by Olivia Hubbard

New UI patent transforms water-level measurement

A new patent developed at the University of Iowa’s Hydroinformatics Lab promises to transform how water levels are measured, offering a reliable and affordable solution for communities worldwide. The invention by Ibrahim Demir, the director of Hydroinformatics Lab, and Yusuf Sermet, associate research professor, combines cameras and standard sensors to compute liquid surface elevations of streams, rivers, and reservoirs.

Robotics Teams Dive into Ship Design at IIHR

Robotics programs continue to gain momentum in schools and communities, providing students with opportunities to explore STEM fields early on. It’s important to have the right tools, mentors, and hands-on experiences to spark curiosity and keep the enthusiasm alive.

Spring flood risks remain low, despite Friday’s storm

Similar to its prediction made earlier this month, the Nation Weather Service’s Quad Cities bureau is anticipating below normal spring flood risks. Tim Gross, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said the risk for severe flooding on the Mississippi River this spring is currently 5 to 10 percent.

How Relay Crops Reduce Floods And Boost Farm Profits

Flooding and water quality degradation are significant challenges in Iowa’s agricultural watersheds, driven by intensive farming practices and increasingly extreme weather events. Relay cropping, a regenerative farming practice, offers a solution by keeping soil covered and living roots in the ground year-round to reduce runoff and improve soil health.

IIHR address every day community needs, changing climate

The Iowa Institute for Hydraulic Research’s work can be seen around the world, but its biggest impact is felt closer to home. What started as a small lab at the University of Iowa has grown into a leader in the world of hydroscience and a multidisciplinary hub that is recognized internationally. Its team of researchers and engineers are called upon for projects related to fluid mechanics, hydraulics, water, air and resource conservation.

Weather and Water: Improving Flash Flood Predictions

Vanessa Robledo, a second-year PhD student in civil and environmental engineering (CEE), is helping improve the Iowa Flood Center’s abilities to better forecast flash flood events. Building on her master’s studies in meteorology from Medellin, Colombia, her research focuses on improving methods for predicting weather patterns to enhance flood forecasting.

Lab to Land

owa researchers are working to solve some of our state’s most significant environmental challenges. That includes experts from the UI College of Engineering who are using a living laboratory to conduct innovative sustainability research and scientists who have deployed a vast network of climate sensors to prepare for the growing impact of extreme weather events.

City officials in Spencer, Iowa met with community members to provide clarity on this past summer’s extreme flood event

Four months after record flooding damaged hundreds of homes in Spencer, Iowa, city leaders met to offer transparency about the events that led up to the flooding.

In conjunction with the Iowa Flood Center, city officials shared a full debrief of the days leading up to, and following, the flooding in June. They shared what they learned, and how they hope to prepare for future flooding.

Spencer Public Meeting on June 22nd Flood

Approximately one hundred and fifty residents of Spencer attended Tuesday night’s flood “debriefing” hosted by the city. This time representatives from the National Weather Service and Iowa Flood Center attended to talk about the unexpected magnitude of the flood.