IIHR Currents 2023

IIHR CuRRents IIHR Strong

THE NEXT 100 YEARS

Jacqueline

From the Director

We knew bad weather was on the way.

Meteorologists were sharing early warnings of a confluence of circumstances that put Eastern Iowa in the crosshairs of a dangerous weather situation. You could feel something strange in the unseasonably warm, humid air—it was unsettling.

But even with advanced information, we weren’t prepared for what we saw at IIHR’s James Street Laboratory after the storm passed through late Friday afternoon on March 31. When Associate Director Troy Lyons and I drove out to see the damage, I held onto some hope. The lumberyard down the road seemed perfectly intact, even its flimsy roof canopy was untouched.

What we saw was utter destruction.

Thankfully, no one was in the building when the storm hit just before 5 p.m. The tornado tore through Coralville, tossing cars in the air and leaving a narrow path of devastation behind it. The EF2 storm was one of about 20 tornadoes confirmed in Iowa that day — one of the worst outbreaks the state has seen in many years.

The laboratory was home to two scale models of the Santa Clara River that Troy and his team of researchers were using to study sustainable fish passage and sediment transport. The building suffered immense damage, including the south end concrete wall collapsing on top of one of the models.

Over the last two decades, the James Street Laboratory has seen several state-ofthe-art, warehouse-sized models come and go. These physical models have served clients from major hydroelectric utilities and municipalities across the country in the states of Washington, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and California.

The experience reminded me of when the 2008 floodwaters swallowed up a huge swath of the University of Iowa campus. Amidst the destruction (almost $1 billion of damage on the UI campus alone) and helplessness I felt, the Hawkeye community came together and discovered within ourselves a resolve, a willingness to work together and to collaborate for the good of all. And 15 years later, the Iowa Flood Center has developed an advanced flood forecasting and information system that will help improve water prediction for the nation.

This moment represents a similar crossroads for us. At IIHR, we will rebuild the laboratory and use this event to accelerate the discussion and planning towards a large-scale consolidated laboratory designed to meet the needs of current and future experimental research. We are forward-facing and resolute that IIHR will be strong for another century.

I am grateful for the support of all IIHR’s faculty, staff, students, alumni, and all who came before us to build this amazing research institute. It’s an honor and a duty for me to serve IIHR and its people and to help lead us into another 100 years of research, teaching, and service excellence.

The next 100 years will be our best yet!

Larry Weber Director, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering Edwin B. Green Chair in Hydraulics Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Troy Lyons (left) becomes IIHR Associate Director in 2022.

“It’s like an ice cream ghost town.”

LARRY WEBER, ON A QUEST FOR ICE CREAM WITH HIS STUDENTS

“If it’s brown, lay down; if it’s black, fight back.” RILEY POST, COMMENTING ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BEAR

“This visit is an opportunity to meet the family.”

STEVEN BURIAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COOPERATIVE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH TO OPERATIONS IN HYDROLOGY, SPEAKING AT AN IOWA FLOOD CENTER MEETING

“I feel like we were born together, put the crib together, and learned to walk together.”

ROD MARLATT, TURKEY RIVER WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY BOARD CHAIR, DESCRIBING THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA

“You guys are doing great work, so keep it up.”

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID SIECK DURING AN IOWA FLOOD CENTER LEGISLATIVE WEBINAR

“Plan for your next disaster, not your last one.”

ROD LEHNERTZ, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, REFLECTING ON THE 2008 FLOODS DURING A CAMPUS TOUR

IFC Director Krajewski

Delivers UI’s 40th Presidential Lecture

RICK MOUNT, A THIRD-GENERATION FAMILY FARMER IN RIVERTON, IOWA, ON HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE IOWA WATERSHED APPROACH PROGRAM

Iowa Flood Center (IFC) Director Witold Krajewski presented the UI’s 40th Presidential Lecture, titled “Rivers of Discovery: UI Research, Iowa, and the World.” He is internationally recognized for his advances in flood prediction and research in hydrometeorology, remote sensing, and water resources engineering. His work has transformed Iowa into a more floodresilient state that serves as a model for the country. He is a professor of civil and environmental engineering, the Rose and Joseph Summers Chair in Water Resources Engineering, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2021.

“I think the best thing about having a family farm is the ability to keep something better than you started with and to give that to the next generation.”

Love at the Lab

Lindsay Matthews recalls taking study breaks to daydream while gazing out her window at the Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory. “I had a perfect view of the dam and the river from my second-floor desk.” Matthews now works as a hydraulic engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), providing flood fight support for the Mississippi River; she is also involved in fish passage projects.

Before joining USACE, Matthews was an MS student in the Sustainable Water Development (SWD) Program through the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. With a degree in meteorology from Iowa State University, she enjoyed being a part of a program like SWD that welcomed students without an engineering background.

Matthews worked with Professor Witold Krajewski to develop hydrologic models that could interpret the impacts of evapotranspiration on flooding. She also served as the Iowa Flood Center’s weekly meeting weather briefer, reporting on current flooding and weather conditions. “Doing the weekly hydrologic forecast discussions at the start of the meetings definitely prepared me for when I have to brief my project teams on the work I am doing,” Matthews says.

She met her fiancé Nick Scalora while in graduate school. He would often take a break from his Ph.D. studies at the UI School of Medicine to join Matthews to enjoy lunch together on the patio at the Stanley Hydraulics Lab.

“The combination of the scenery, the sounds of the river, and the feeling of falling in love brings me an indescribable amount of peace and joy,” says Matthews. Their lunch dates were cut short at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as was Matthews’s time at IFC. The spot was such a happy place for the couple that Scalora chose it for his proposal in March 2023. “He knew he wanted to pick a place that was special to us.”

Matthews reflects fondly on her time at IIHR and IFC and appreciates the opportunities and experiences she had there.

“I 100% miss the people the most! Working beside students and excellent researchers from all over the world was a truly wonderful experience.”

LINDSaY MaTTHEWS, FORMER GRaDUaTE STUDENT

Everywhere, All the Time

For decades, IIHR has upheld its world-renowned reputation for expertise in hydraulics, hydrology, and fluid mechanics, serving clients all over the world — but not so much in Iowa. One of Larry Weber’s main goals when he first assumed directorship of IIHR in 2004 was to make IIHR relevant in the state of Iowa.

Over the last 15 years, IIHR’s outreach and education program has earned it the reputation of “being everywhere, all the time.” IIHR research centers, such as the Iowa Flood Center and Iowa Geological Survey, and statewide programs including the $97 million Iowa Watershed Approach, Iowa Superfund Research Program, Get the Lead Out, and Iowa Wastewater and Waste to Energy Research Program have visibility in all corners of the state. They provide technical assistance, conduct science-based research, and deliver information to diverse stakeholders at schools, public meetings, legislative events, webinars, conferences, watershed board meetings, and K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) events to support local decision-making and inspire the next generation.

“We do outreach and education with purpose and intent,” says Weber.

IIHR’s outreach staff participate in more than 100 of these activities a year. The strong interaction and engagement at the local level facilitate collaborations that allow researchers to develop the best possible water-related information, analyses, and tools for Iowans.

“I’m incredibly proud of the meaningful impact IIHR has had on the state of Iowa.”

LaRRY WEbER

abOVE: Middle school students discover engineering through IIHR’s hands-on learning opportunities.

RIGHT: Senator Chris Cournoyer experiments with virtual reality technology during the Iowa Flood Center’s annual Legislative Breakfast Reception.

Lab Notes

Tending Iowa’s Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future

Though Iowa today is known for its fertile soils that support its status as a leader in agriculture, the degradation of the state’s native prairie and other wildlands has impacted the landscape’s natural resiliency to environmental challenges. The tradeoff of being a top agricultural producer comes with severe consequences, including polluted waters, increasing floods, degraded soil quality, compromised natural systems, and climate change.

Tending Iowa’s Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future is a new book highlighting Iowa’s most pressing environmental problems and the solutions for a better future as described by Iowa’s premier scientists, including seven IIHR chapter authors. Edited by retired IIHR Senior Science Writer Connie Mutel, the book is written in a straightforward, friendly style to inspire and empower the reader to take action to tackle environmental challenges in viable ways that work progressively with our agricultural system.

Mutel says the book is intended to serve as a text for environmental studies or environmental science college students, as well as an energizing call to action for everyone who cares about Iowa, nature, and environmental issues.

The Iowa Watershed Approach — A Model for the Nation

On June 14, 2022, more than 100 people from five states joined a final celebration of the Iowa Watershed Approach, a $97 million program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to reduce flooding, improve water quality, and build community resilience to future natural hazards.

IWA program highlights:

• 704 flood mitigation practices installed

• $40 million invested in conservation

• 8 state and national awards

• 300 housing units retrofitted in the Bee Branch Watershed to be more flood resilient

• 30 conference presentations

• 150+ watershed management authority meetings

• 17 field days and watershed tours

• 112 media articles and videos highlighting the program

• 3 new watershed management authorities established

• $40 million invested in urban stormwater and green infrastructure improvements

For more information: www.iowawatershedapproach.org

Troubled Waters, Trout, and Tornados

IIHR Research Helps Save

InIn the Santa Clara River, a Southern California steelhead trout swims upstream, determined to reach the freshwater spawning grounds where her life began.

The sleek fish spent part of her life swimming in the ocean, feeding and growing to adulthood. But now she knows she must return to her spawning grounds.

The Southern California steelhead trout is federally listed as endangered. Historical population estimates vary; however, scientists estimate that only a fraction of these oceangoing migrants return to their freshwater spawning habitats today. There are multiple factors contributing to their decline, and IIHR— Hydroscience and Engineering is one of several organizations, agencies, tribes, and individuals that are working together to develop strategies to help the steelhead navigate much-altered rivers.

A MATTER OF SURVIVAL

IIHR researchers are part of a project to help the steelhead pass the Freeman Diversion, an installation on the Santa Clara River. The United Water Conservation District contracted with IIHR to model proposed improvements to an existing fish passage structure at the dam.

According to IIHR Associate Director Troy Lyons, the river plays an essential role in the area’s ecology and economy. “There’s a big need for the project,” he says. Lyons, who leads the project, has played a vital role at IIHR for over 20 years as a researcher, leader, and administrator.

The Freeman Diversion creates an upstream pool from which river water is diverted. Much of the water goes to recharge basins that replenish aquifers beneath the Oxnard Plain, which slows seawater intrusion beneath prime agricultural land supporting a 2 billion dollar per year local agricultural economy and a population numbering in the hundreds of thousands that draw on those aquifers.

The IIHR modeling project supports two goals at the Freeman Diversion: (1) to improve fish passage; and (2) to increase the amount of water that can safely be diverted for recharge and irrigation when the flow is high. “That could be a big benefit to the local community,” Lyons says.

TOP: A physical model of a portion of the Santa Clara River designed and constructed by IIHR.

bOTTOM RIGHT: IIHR Associate Director Troy Lyons collecting flow data.

an Endangered Species

IIHR’s modeling efforts are evaluating significant changes to the structure, which includes a large ungated overflow weir that stretches across the entire river and creates the pool.

The existing fish ladder passes very little flow, Lyons says. If the fish can find it, they can pass through. But they take their cues from the river’s flow features. “To find the fish ladder, they need to cut off the flow coming out of the fish ladder,” Lyons says. “If the flow coming out is very low relative to the total flow in the river, they may have a hard time finding it, which can lead to delays.”

For the steelhead, delays can have consequences. “Once they make it to their destination, they’ll spawn, and then dependent upon the conditions in the river, they may return to the ocean to spawn again in future years,” Lyons says. “If they’re getting significantly delayed in the river, that could lead to them not being able to spawn or dying before completing their journey.”

Maximizing the migration opportunity for Southern California steelhead trout is particularly challenging from the engineering, ecological, and regulatory perspectives. Improved fish passage at the dam is key to supporting the continued persistence of the species as well as meeting the regulatory challenges facing the water district.

GOING WITH THE FLOW

A new fish ladder will feature a much higher attraction flow, Lyons says. By increasing the flow significantly, fish can more easily find the entrances. “They’re also creating multiple entrances to provide fish passage flexibility over a wide range of river flow conditions.”

But there’s a problem — sediment. The Santa Clara River is one of the most sediment-laden rivers in the United States. Rocks and sand quickly accumulate in the intake where water is currently routed for fish passage or diverted for irrigation and groundwater recharge.

Dam operators must periodically halt diversions and remove accumulated sediment. Plans to increase the intake flows by as much as four times to improve fish passage and increase water diversion would bring even more sediment into the diversion.

The new fish passage system will incorporate improved fish screens in the diversion and a second set of fish screens filters the water diverted for attraction flow into the fish passage structure.

Sediment could easily block both sets of screens, so Lyons and his team are studying methods to manage the sediment. “If they have to shut down the fish attraction flow, then they’re not passing fish as efficiently,” Lyons says. “If they have to shut down the diversion flow, then they’re not recharging the aquifers. They want to be able to do both with minimal disruption.”

The solution involves a new structure — the desander — designed to intercept the sediment. Through sluicing operations, it diverts the sediment downstream, where it is discharged without ever entering and potentially blocking the screens.

“That also raises concerns,” Lyons says. “What happens to that sediment? Does it build up in front of the fish entrances?” The IIHR team is investigating many different flow scenarios, river water levels, discharge conditions, fish entrance conditions, and more. Through physical modeling, they can evaluate what happens to the sediment and the attraction flow patterns downstream that fish see as they approach the dam.

Many questions remain. As sediment is diverted downstream, are the attraction flows still favorable for the fish? How does that change as river flows come up? As dunes of sediment accumulate downstream of the project, are there ways to intercept those and pass them around the diversion? Or if they go into the diversion, can you sluice them out successfully? And if so, what is that structure? How much flow does it require? How often do you have to sluice it?

AN ACT OF GOD

IIHR’s shop team had put the finishing touches on a new modification to the 1:24 model just before noon on Friday, March 31. The project had been a huge lift for the team. Modeling runs were set to begin on the following Monday.

Nature had other plans.

That afternoon, a major outbreak of severe storms and tornados struck Eastern Iowa. The National Weather Service in the Quad Cities confirmed 30 tornados in the area that day. The tornado that struck Coralville just before 5 p.m. was rated EF2 with winds up to 125 mph. It touched down just southwest of Coralville and crossed Highway 218 before taking aim at IIHR’s James Street Lab.

The call from University Public Safety came about 5:30 p.m., Lyons says.

Lyons knew that people had been told to go home early because of the storm warnings. Even so, he started texting and calling. “I had to double check,” he says. Fortunately, no one was in the building.

He jumped in his car and set off toward Coralville, stopping to pick up IIHR Director Larry Weber. As they approached James Street, both wondered how bad it would be.

It was bad.

“It basically took off a third of the roof,” he says. “About 5,000 square feet of the roof, completely gone, open to the air.” Of 10 large overhead doors, nine were hanging off their tracks. “When the roof came off, it created a vacuum inside the building and it pulled the doors inward,” Lyons says. A truck in the parking lot slammed into the side of the building and scattered its contents everywhere.

“It was really devastating,” Lyons says. “To pull up and see that — your heart just sinks. That represents the last year and a half of work. To see that effort basically destroyed in a few minutes — you just can’t imagine that until you’re standing there looking at it in disbelief.

“I never experienced anything like that in my life.”

RIGHT: Images of the tornado damage that struck IIHR’s James Street Laboratory.

WHAT NOW?

For one brief moment, Lyons and Weber were dumbfounded. “I mean, what do you do?” Lyons asks. It was getting dark. They couldn’t control access to the building. Valuable tools and equipment were exposed to the elements.

And the models? The 1:24 model on the west side of the building was hit the hardest. Part of the roof overhead was gone, and a 30-foot-tall concrete block wall had fallen onto the model. It was destroyed.

“The shop had just spent three to four weeks rebuilding that exact part of that model,” Lyons says. “They literally were there finishing it up that morning.”

He adds, “That block wall came down and smashed the whole diversion, the fish ladder, the screens, the crest gates, the fish entrances. It was all built out of plexiglass and plastic and 3D printed parts, very intricate, delicate work. And it just got completely crushed.”

All that effort and expense was wasted. “We didn’t run a drop of water through it before it was smashed,” Lyons says.

MOVING ON

With direction from university administration and help from IIHR staff, they were able to secure the building that night. Fortunately, the 1:12 model escaped the worst of the damage. Lyons hopes that they can make the space safe to occupy and work in, at least temporarily, and get back to research relatively soon.

“The project’s sponsor has asked us to explore every possible option to recover the models and resume testing,” Lyons says. “Our plan is, if we can get back in there, we would start testing on the 1:12 model immediately and start repairing the other model.”

Fortunately, the Iowa Board of Regents has approved funding to repair the James Street Lab. The plans include reconstruction of the building and repairs to HVAC, plumbing, specialized research equipment, and other systems.

The most important thing, Lyons says, is that no one was hurt. “We were so thankful,” he says. “It was really unusual that nobody was there, even at that time on a Friday.”

After the initial shock, he’s maintaining a positive perspective. “It’s research. It’s one project. It’s one building. IIHR is a lot bigger than one project,” he says. “Life goes on. We will rebuild.”

Casey Harwood Earns NSF CAREER Award to Study Fluid-Structure Interactions

Engineered

structures and the fluids that surround them, such as air and water, constantly interact. The flapping of a flag and the humming of power lines in a strong breeze are near-daily reminders of these mutual interactions. The interactions produce significant effects on bridges, aircraft wings, and ship hulls; engineered structures also impact the flow of fluids around them. At worst, they can lead to catastrophic infrastructure failures, such as the infamous collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. However, if properly controlled, these interactions could lead to safety and performance improvements. This dynamic, known as the fluidstructure interaction (FSI), is at the heart of Casey Harwood’s research and the focus of his National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award. Harwood is an assistant

professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Iowa and an assistant research engineer at IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering.

“Fluid-structure interactions are everywhere, affecting transportation and infrastructure that the world relies on,” Harwood says. “Despite that, the engineering community lacks rigorous methods to study and understand these interactions.”

Engineers are skilled at designing around the potential hazards of FSI, Harwood says, but he sees value in a better understanding of these interactions.

“I want to flip the concept on its head — take FSI from something to be avoided and turn it into a well-understood and wellcontrolled aspect of day-to-day design,” Harwood says. “Doing so can open up new avenues for improving the fuel efficiency and the safety of transportation by air, land, and sea.”

Harwood views the NSF CAREER Award as an affirmation that scientists and engineers recognize the importance of FSI research and education. The CAREER grant is among NSF’s most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty. The five-year, $604,690 CAREER grant will support Harwood’s project, “Understanding and Harnessing the Dynamics of Complex Fluid-Structure Interactions.”

Harwood, who joined the UI College of Engineering in 2017, says current experimental methods do not paint a complete picture of the potential hazards or the achievable benefits of fluidstructure interactions.

“I want to flip the concept on its head — take FSI from something to be avoided and turn it into a well-understood and wellcontrolled aspect of day-to-day design.”

— CaSEY HaRWOOD, UI aSSISTaNT PROFESSOR OF MECHaNICaL ENGINEERING aND IIHR aSSISTaNT RESEaRCH ENGINEER

When a structure is immersed in water, for example, the water can increase the effective mass of that structure by as much as 500%. However, existing experimental methods do not completely capture the ways that additional mass is distributed or the effects of bubbles, waves, or currents. Structure vibration also produces small motions in the surrounding fluid that Harwood hypothesizes can be used to make wings and propellers more resistant to stall or to reduce the drag of objects such as tractor trailers or ship hulls.

As part of his grant-supported research, Harwood plans to conduct a series of experiments to achieve a deeper and more applicable understanding of the effects flexible structures and fluids exert upon one another. The goal is to apply the information

for smarter, safer, and more efficient design, modeling, and monitoring — and ultimately to improve safety and performance.

Harwood expects to involve graduate and undergraduate research assistants, with pipelines for paid assistantships, for-credit projects, and involvement with student outreach initiatives on and off campus. He also plans to initiate a project-based workshop for secondary school students in a rural and economically disadvantaged school district in Washington state.

Romance, Research, and Robotics

Faculty Couple are Living their Best Life at IIHR

At

home, Venanzio Cichella and Caterina Lamuta are a typical married couple. At work, they are also faculty colleagues in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. You might think that could lead to some challenging moments.

“It depends on the day you ask,” Cichella says. Fortunately, Lamuta says, their areas of expertise are very different. “I think that’s what is saving our marriage.”

Still, it can be interesting. When Cichella gets excited about his research, he wants to talk about it. Lamuta would rather focus on other things when they’re at home. “I have to turn off my brain when I’m home, because if I don’t do that, then I don’t function well,” she says.

But it can’t hurt for a couple to share similar professional experiences, interests, and passions — in fact, it can result in some amazing collaborations.

ITALY TO ILLINOIS TO IOWA

Cichella and Lamuta are now assistant professors at the University of Iowa College of Engineering, but they met at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), thousands of miles from their homeland.

Lamuta is from southern Italy, where as a child, she dreamed of becoming a researcher. She liked science, especially math and physics. Later, she discovered engineering, which offered a mix of the subjects she enjoyed. Lamuta completed a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at the University of Calabria.

Cichella grew up in Abruzzo, near Rome, and completed an MS in automation engineering at the University of Bologna. He went to the UIUC to do research and stayed for a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. When Lamuta came to UIUC as a visiting scholar, they met and fell in love.

When the couple began looking for faculty openings, the University of Iowa rose to the top. It was the right size and offered remarkable research facilities. And the presence of a world-renowned fluids research institute, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, was irresistible.

Iowa City has been a pleasant surprise, Lamuta says. They appreciate the concerts, theatre performances, and other cultural events in Iowa City. “We love music,” Lamuta says. “We both play instruments, so we like going to listen to live music. It’s a very active city and it’s the perfect size.”

SMART MATERIALS AND ROBOTICS

The couple is exploring new underwater applications of their ongoing research in smart materials and robotics.

Cichella develops computational methods to control smart autonomous

Caterina Lamuta works to refine the softopus.

vehicles. He’s working to solve a pervasive problem — these vehicles must be safe, reliable, and robust, and at the same time complete complex tasks together.

He’s working to design efficient solutions so that groups of drones or underwater vehicles can complete complex operations for a wide range of problems.

For example, the search for an avalanche victim is often a matter of life or death. “A victim buried in the snow will have only a couple of minutes to survive,” he says. “We want drones to explore all the search spaces and find the victim as quickly as possible.”

This is especially challenging with multiple drones. They must not only find the victims, but also avoid collisions and negotiate where to go.

Advances in microtechnology and parallel computing have made it possible to address these problems concurrently, allowing the drones to execute their tasks much more efficiently.

“We are building several drones, underwater vehicles, and surface vehicles,” Cichella says. “Our plan is to test these algorithms in a super swarm of drones in the lab at IIHR.”

THE SOFTOPUS

As a postdoc, Lamuta’s study of soft robotics included the development of artificial muscles that are remarkably strong, lightweight, and soft.

A DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) call for proposals focused on underwater applications of muscular hydrostats (i.e., muscles embedded into a soft tissue, with no rigid frame) triggered a lightbulb moment for her. “I realized that the tentacles of the octopus are muscular hydrostats that work underwater and that I could use my artificial muscles to reproduce a similar structure,” Lamuta says. Maybe an artificial muscle embedded in soft tissue could replicate some of the behaviors and characteristics of the tentacles of the octopus, which is a creature known for its ability to squeeze into tiny spaces and change its appearance, all while moving swiftly through an underwater environment.

And so Lamuta’s soft tentacles were born. For now, it’s just one tentacle, but Lamuta

is developing a softopus that will resemble a full octopus with support from the Office of Naval Research. She plans to test the soft, stretchy rubber robot in the IIHR Wave Basin, which offers an underwater environment with waves and current.

She’s now working with the softopus to perform underwater exploration and tasks such as infrastructure maintenance. “There are places underwater where we cannot go,” Lamuta says. More than 80% of the underwater world is still unexplored because it’s unsafe for humans. For instance, Arctic exploration and defense-related missions in water too cold for humans are perfect challenges for the softopus.

STRONGER TOGETHER

For Lamuta and Cichella, keeping their work separate from their home life will likely become a bit more difficult in the future. They hope to establish a joint lab focusing on the design and control of soft robotic devices. They believe that Cichella’s expertise in using mathematical methods to control drones can be applied to the softopus as well.

“Controlling the tentacle, which has infinitely many degrees of freedom, is highly complex,” Cichella says.

“I’m excited that we are planning to start this lab together and work on these problems.”

Venanzio Cichella experiments with drone technology.

IIHR’s Center for Hydrologic Development Expands National Reach

IIHR—

Hydroscience and Engineering has established a new research center within the College of Engineering— the Center for Hydrologic Development (CHD). The CHD is designed to improve the prediction and management of waterrelated hazards.

Funding for the center comes from the $360 million Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), based at the University of Alabama and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). IIHR expects to receive up to $21 million from CIROH in the first five years.

Larry Weber, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the new research center, expects CHD to play a critical role in helping the National Weather Service achieve its goal of a water-

The IFC’s unique tools and outreach activities will go a long way toward helping to ensure CIROH’s success.”

— STEVEN bURIaN, CIROH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

and weather-ready nation. “The new Center for Hydrologic Development will build on the work of the Iowa Flood Center and provide a mechanism for researchers and students to expand flood center innovations beyond Iowa,” says Weber, who is also co-founder of the Iowa Flood Center.

CHD will focus on several key areas of research supporting CIROH’s commitment to advance the forecasting of floods, droughts, and water quality to improve decision-making. The new center will support a team of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars seeking experience in cutting-edge hydrology and informatics research.

Leveraging IFC’s expertise in hydroinformatics (water information systems), CHD will help NOAA advance web-based visualizations of critical waterrelated data. “We have significant experience in hydroinformatics through our design of the Iowa Flood Information System (IFIS) and similar publicly-accessible platforms that will serve to fast track the wide scale implementation of new tools to support CIROH,” says Ibrahim Demir, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and chief architect of the IFIS.

“We have this unique opportunity because of the vision and leadership of the Iowa Legislature in establishing the flood center in 2009,” says Witold Krajewski, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Iowa Flood Center. “The new Center for Hydrologic Development will ensure Iowa remains a national leader in hydrologic research and education.”

CIROH consists of a constellation of about 30 academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government and industry partners across the United States and Canada that will work together to support four broad themes: water prediction, hydrologic modeling, hydroinformatics, and the impacts of social, economic, and behavioral sciences on water prediction.

TOP LEFT: Larry Weber, Witold Krajewski, and Ibrahim Demir participate in a press event to announce the new Center for Hydrologic Development.

RIGHT: The Iowa Flood Center will contribute its expertise in water information systems to advance CIROH’s mission.

Imaging Iowa’s Levees

SIGNIFICANT and prolonged flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in 2019 tested the integrity of Iowa’s levee system. At least 30 levee failures flooded towns and highways in the Missouri River Valley south of Council Bluffs. The damage was estimated at $1.6 billion — a state record.

Iowa has approximately 700 miles of levees protecting towns, agricultural land, and critical infrastructure. “Assessing the condition of levees is a vital component to ensure they remain strong during flood events,” says Iowa Geological Survey (IGS) Geophysicist Jason Vogelgesang. The IGS developed a new method that uses geophysics to image levees to discover possible areas of weakness, such as the presence of porous materials that attract water rather than hold it back.

“Periodic visual assessments are often completed, but using geophysics to scan levees for anomalies offers an efficient, thorough way to understand levee integrity that can cover areas unseen by the eye,” explains Vogelgesang. The IGS led a pilot study in southeast Iowa to analyze two levee systems about 12 miles long. Vogelgesang worked with IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering’s shop crew to fit a Gator allterrain vehicle with an electromagnetic (EM) ground conductivity meter, which is capable of measuring conductivity 20 feet below the ground surface to improve the efficiency of data collection. Data collected show the average subsurface ground conductivity of geologic materials and the ability of water to pass through them.

Vogelgesang conducted electrical resistivity tomography (ER) surveys to provide additional detail in areas flagged by the EM findings. The ER provides information about the extent and depth of abnormal geologic variations. Together, these processes help to identify, map, and understand features of the subsurface, such as aquifers, caves, sinkholes, and other hazards.

“The prospect of using new technology to focus remediation efforts in a given area is exciting,” says Vogelgesang. “Instead of repairing an entire levee or levee segment, this technology may fine-tune efforts to a smaller, more focused area, saving costs and labor down the line.”

The IGS shared the results with the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the project funder, and presented them to levee authorities to determine any necessary preventive action.

The pilot study revealed a promising way to identify changes in levee composition using an efficient data collection method that can be scaled up. Adding levee imaging to its list of services, IGS is equipped to assess 200 miles of levee per year, at an estimated cost of $1,000 per linear mile.

2019 levee failure on the Missouri River. Credit: USACE.

IIHR Staff Profiles

barquist Receives board of Regents Staff Excellence award

SINCE joining IIHR in 2007, Brandon Barquist has had a profound impact on research initiatives that have propelled IIHR and the University of Iowa forward as a world-renowned leader in solving fluids-related challenges. The Iowa Board of Regents recently acknowledged Barquist’s outstanding contributions with its 2023 Staff Excellence Award.

“There is no other person within IIHR, or arguably across the UI campus, who is more intellectually nimble and capable of developing innovative solutions to support IIHR’s diverse research portfolio,” says IIHR Director Larry Weber.

In his current role as IIHR’s shop manager, Barquist manages research and industry projects at 10 facilities on campus, around Iowa City, and at the Lucille A. Carver Mississippi Riverside Environmental Research Station near Muscatine, Iowa. From ship hydrodynamics research for testing naval vessel maneuverability and seaworthiness, to wastewater and stormwater infrastructure projects designed for cities worldwide, to helping prepare lab spaces for K-12 classroom tours — for Barquist, no assignment is too big or too small.

“The best part of working at IIHR is the breadth of research and variety of projects,” says Barquist. “It comes with the challenges of always needing to learn new skills and industry knowledge, but I get to use my creativity and ingenuity to solve problems every day in order to meet the needs of IIHR and the College of Engineering.”

In the fall of 2021, Barquist’s skills were put to the test when IIHR was approached by the United Water Conservation District (UWCD) to build not one, but two, river models for courtmandated research to improve fish passage at the Freeman Diversion on the Santa Clara River in Southern California. Barquist led the design and fabrication of the two models, each about 40 feet wide and 100 feet long, requiring 300 tons of sand and 100,000 gallons of stored water to study sediment deposition and how

to keep water and fish moving freely through the dam. Despite supply-chain shortages that made building materials extremely difficult to come by, Barquist and his team had water running through the first model in eight weeks and the second model four weeks later.

“Brandon’s ability to think innovatively and save time on construction and overcome challenges in real time was critical to keeping our project on track. Simply stated, without Brandon, the project would not have been feasible,” says Brian Collins, chief operations officer for UWCD.

Barquist is a critical resource for students, staff, and researchers, who all depend on his ability to develop creative solutions that support IIHR research centers, including the Iowa Flood Center, Iowa Geological Survey, and Iowa Wastewater and Waste to Energy Research Program. Together, these centers provide critical science-based information to help Iowans address water resource concerns — from surface water to groundwater, and from floods to droughts.

Can Little Ponds Fight big Floods?

Krajewski, director of the Iowa Flood Center, his research looks at a mitigation technique called distributed storage. This strategy adds remotely operated gated outlets to existing ponds and wetlands throughout a basin to control water flow. Operators control the network as a system to store water during periods of heavy rainfall and release water during dry conditions.

Post says it is possible to operate entire pond networks to control flooding using the IFC’s dense monitoring network and complex hydrologic models. His research studied the Soap Creek Watershed in Southeast Iowa, which has over 130 built farm ponds; simulated model results show a 30% reduction in flooding in the watershed. Post says he is confident that the methodology could be expanded across the state to reduce flood risks.

HOW effectively can small ponds mitigate big floods? That was the focus of Riley Post’s Three-Minute Thesis Competition presentation, which won out over 12 other University of Iowa (UI) graduate student finalists.

“The methods that we use today to fight floods are pretty much the same as 100 years ago,” Post says.

Post is pursuing a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering, his third UI degree. Post’s research focuses on flood mitigation using distributed storage systems, such as networks of small farm ponds.

Before returning to the UI and IIHR— Hydroscience and Engineering, Post spent 10 years as a water resource engineer at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), where he was the lead reservoir operator for flood control in Iowa. He was responsible for managing reservoir gates, assessing levees, and monitoring water levels in reservoirs across Eastern Iowa.

Post says his work today is similar to his duties at USACE, just on a smaller scale. Under the mentorship of Professor Witold

Post says his work is not to eliminate flooding but rather to prove the efficacy of nature-based practices, such as farm ponds and wetlands, to improve water storage on the landscape and reduce flood impacts. Projects such as the Iowa Watershed Approach have already successfully implemented similar practices to fight floods.

The next step in his research is to incorporate rainfall forecasts.

“My question is, can I operate a system of dams using rainfall forecasts?” Post asks. “Before the rain even falls, can I start draining these ponds in anticipation of rain, making room for storage?”

Post plans to graduate in spring 2024 and hopes to find a faculty position at a college or university that will allow him to continue to pursue his love of research and teaching.

IIHR Student Profiles

Engineering Healthier Schools for Kids

MOALA Bannavti’s impactful research helps ensure that kids have equal access to safe and healthy schools.

Schools built prior to 1980 are at a much higher risk of contamination from airborne polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — cancercausing chemicals formerly used in industrial and consumer products that accumulate in the blood over a person’s lifetime.

“It’s important that we get in there and get them [PCBs] out while people are young,” says Bannavti, a 2022 Ph.D. graduate in civil and environmental engineering. “Kids spend most of their time during the day inside school buildings.”

Students in minority-predominant, lowincome schools are at higher risk of PCB exposure because identifying the source of PCB contamination has been difficult, and the cost of remediation is too expensive. There is no federal legal requirement for schools to remove PCBs in the United States.

“The University of Iowa is a leader in producing research around the cleanup of Superfund chemicals, in particular PCBs,” says Bannavti, a former graduate research assistant at IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering. “Our work uses statistical methods to find sources of PCBs from air profiles and is unique in the field.”

In schools, the presence of PCBs can vary greatly from room to room, making the source hard to pinpoint. Bannavti’s research makes it easier to target specific areas to help underserved school districts address the contamination. “We can take out those specific materials instead of tearing down the entire school,” she says. “This makes it more equitable and accessible for all school districts, making sure more of our kids are healthy.”

Bannavti understands the importance of communication alongside discovery. She won the 2020 UI Three-Minute Thesis Competition, which challenges students to explain their research and its value in a way that can be easily understood by the public. “She has published her research in the most

competitive and selective journal in our field — Environmental Science & Technology, has presented her work to experts across the country, and is determined to contribute the best science needed to solve a problem of national concern,” says Keri Hornbuckle, professor of civil and environmental engineering, IIHR research engineer, and one of Bannavti’s advisors.

Bannavti is a first-generation Cameroonian immigrant raised in New Jersey, where she saw how improvements in low-income school districts can transform students’ lives. Her work infuses social justice and ethics with science and engineering and recognizes the ways in which technology has disproportionally affected communities across socioeconomic lines.

Combining her talent in environmental justice work with her exceptional communication skills, Bannavti joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Superfund Research Program as a science communication assistant.

We Are IIHR

POINTS OF PRIDE

80+ outreach events connecting with the public, elected officials, community leaders, and K-12 students

25 Number of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professional development courses completed by IIHR affiliates

Breanna Shea recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Staff Excellence Award for Community Engagement

Caterina Lamuta recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Early Career Faculty Excellence Award and UI Office of Vice President for Research Discovery and Innovation award

Calvin Kielas-Jensen

(below) recipient of the Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation Scholarship for his work on autonomous mobile robots

Gabriele Villarini recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Research

Camilla Tabasso recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Ph.D. Student Excellence Award

Greg LeFevre recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Early Career Faculty Excellence Award

Ibrahim Demir recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Early Career Faculty Excellence Award and UI Office of Vice President for Research Discovery and Innovation award

Jerry Schnoor

recipient of the UI Office of Vice President for Research Discovery and Innovation award and Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Science and Technology award for the Americas Region

Moala Bannavti

(above) honored with the UI Hancher-Finkbine Medallion

Keri Hornbuckle recipient of the UI Board of Regents Faculty Excellence Award

Michelle Scherer

recipient of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Outstanding Publication Award

Oishik Sen recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Staff Excellence Award for Research

Witold F. Krajewski named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Craig Just recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Service

(above) named UI Distinguished Chair

Emily Jansen

Kyle Patterson recipients of the American Chemical Society Editors’ Choice Award

2 new IIHR faculty

(below center) honored at the UI Highly Prestigious Faculty Award Investiture

(above center) recipient of the UI College of Engineering’s Staff Excellence Award for Research and the Take a Kid Outdoors Jensen Award

Larry Weber recipient of the Take a Kid Outdoors Jensen Award

(below right) honored at the UI Highly Prestigious Faculty Award Investiture

graduate students from 16 countries

22

54

76 master’s students, including 9 women and 13 men Ph.D. students, including 19 women and 35 men

Jerry Schnoor

Yazeed Alabbad UI College of Engineering Research Open House Award

Venanzio Cichella recipient of the Amazon Research Award

Kate Giannini

Keri Hornbuckle

Jerry Schnoor Reid Simmer

Witold F. Krajewski

researchers

Priscilla Williams and Humberto Vergara

Fiscal Year in Review

IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering has a new program, the Iowa Wastewater and Waste to Energy Research Program (IWWERP), which creates innovative methods of waste treatment that generates energy and recovers resources. Led by Craig Just, professor of civil and environmental engineering and IIHR researcher, IWWERP provides realworld pilot-scale data that can be applied by technology developers, the industry, and Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources to advance the state’s ability to treat waste, generate renewable energy, protect the environment, and develop the state’s economy. The facility will fill the gap in available data that smalland medium-sized technology developers need to bring innovative solutions to market for addressing Iowa’s wastewater treatment challenges. IWWERP is funded at nearly $4 million over five years and supported by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.

IIHR is funded by a very diverse portfolio of grants and contracts. Large, multi-year research projects help provide the institute with a degree of financial stability. It’s also an example of IIHR’s high level of scholarly productivity and associated funding, demonstrating the institute’s ability to nurture and support a variety of fluids-related research activities, funded by a wide range of sponsors.

FY 2012–2022 Funding

l DOT, USDA, Other Fed $3,798,917

l Army, Navy, Air Force $3,398,639

l NSF $1,719,292

l State Appropriation (IFC) $1,154,593

l State of Iowa, other Govt $1,484,618

l NIH $1,205,176

l Iowa Geological Survey $695,941

l Corporations $577,391

l DOE/NASA $114,138

l Non-Profit $36,435

l Army, Navy, Air Force $4,122,521

l DOT, USDA, Other Fed $3,617,966

l State of Iowa, Other Govt $1,755,422

l NSF $1,716,762

l Non-Profit $1,477,609

l NIH $1,343,232

l Iowa Flood Center $1,154,593

l Iowa Geological Survey $692,668

l Corporations $671,016

l DOE/NASA $163,651

FY 2021 $14,185,140

FY 2022 $16,715,440

Mission

IIHR’s mission is to advance science and technology, providing innovative solutions for fluids-related problems while building upon its long tradition of excellence in laboratory, field, and simulation-based research and education.

IIHR fosters an inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment that supports a thriving, diverse, and supportive community.

Our strength and success have always depended upon our people, who come from around the world and from a variety of backgrounds and viewpoints. Together, we are stronger.

Vision

IIHR’s vision is to be the recognized leader in fluids-related science, engineering, research, and discovery.

Value

IIHR comprises a diverse community that values excellence through integrity, transparency, mutual support, and respect. Our culture is rooted in scientific curiosity, mentorship, service, and stewardship.

Advisory Board Members

Rafael L. bras (2022–26)

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Jeffrey Czajkowski (2019–23)

Center for Insurance Policy and Research, National Association of Insurance Commissioners

David a. Drazen (2022–26)

Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division

Martin Irvine (2022–26)

Commander Submarine Forces

Sarah Johnson (2019–23)

American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania

Hugh J. Roberts (2020–24)

The Water Institute of the Gulf

Martin Teal (2018–23) WEST Consultants Inc.

Kathleen White (2020–24)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Gabriel Vecchi (2020–24)

Department of Geosciences, Princeton University

EX OFFICIO MEMbERS

ann McKenna

Dean, College of Engineering, University of Iowa

Larry Weber

Director, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa

Troy Lyons Associate Director, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa

Teresa Gaffey

Director of Finance and Business Operations, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa

IIHR Currents is published annually by IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering

The University of Iowa

100 C. Maxwell Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1585

319-335-5237

www.iihr.uiowa.edu

The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, associational preferences, or any other classification that deprives the person of consideration as an individual. The university also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to university facilities. For additional information on nondiscrimination policies, contact the Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, the University of Iowa, 202 Jessup Hall, Iowa City, IA 52242-1316, 319-335-0705 (voice), 319-335-0697 (tdd ), diversity@uiowa.edu.