The Future Lab Water of the Centre for Digital Innovation Lower Saxony (ZDIN) held a two-day networking meeting with representatives from research and practice on 7 and 8 May 2025.
The event provided space for intensive discussions, new impetus and the strategic further development of joint research activities.
Digitalisation for the water sector
In the Future Lab Water, scientists from the University of Oldenburg are working together with practice partners, including regional water suppliers, authorities, associations and technology companies, on digital solutions for future-proof and crisis-proof water management.
The meeting took place in the ecos workspaces Oldenburg and brought together around fifty participants.
Impulses and research insights
A keynote speech by Prof. Dr Ralf Merz (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research) highlighted the importance of innovative water strategies.
He explained that extreme precipitation and inadequate disaster management have led to considerable damage in recent years.
Reliable forecasting systems are therefore indispensable.
Dr Patrick Elfert (Managing Director of the ZDIN) then presented the ZDIN's current research focus.
The scientists then presented the following topics:
- Satellite data for determining vegetation parameters and foreland roughness
- Digital irrigation map
- Image-based optical systems for analysing surface waters
- Model-based optimisation in urban water management
- Forecasts of vertical saltwater intrusion
- Nowcasting for extreme precipitation
- Risk assessment of urban pollutant inputs
- Real-time anomaly detection
- 3D Gaussian splatting
- Indicator-based water and energy strategies
- Water Innovation Solution Management
Development of the Water Expert Council
The second day was dedicated to setting up a new Water Expert Council.
In a workshop, the participants worked out the objectives, structures and role allocation of the future body.
Further information can be found at: https: //zdin.de/news-und-medien/news-wissenschaft/zukunftslabor-wasser-intensiver-austausch-zwischen-forschung-und-praxis
Jorge Marx-Gómez (spokesperson)
Volkan Gizli (project coordinator),