WORK PACKAGES

In the classical Institutions for the Earth (1993), Peter Haas and Robert Keohane insisted upon international scientific cooperation to achieve global objectives in environmental conservation. The institutions they refer are sets of rules and practices “that prescribe behavioral role, constraint activities and shape expectations”. They might be bureaucratic organizations, conventions or scientific networks. It’s not only a matter of denomination: a center or a network, in one or several places, dedicated to sustainability or water security problems (that is another new global concept that doesn’t make more sense than the former one, sustainability, that seems today not only out of date, but defeated by 30 years of public policies). One must take into account that to study water issues, the organization of scientific work must be incorporated to the analysis, to avoid the same formulation of abstract concepts (sustainability, security, etc.), that pretend to come from nowhere but lead to nothing.

Work Package List

WP 1 - WATER RESOURCES SUSTAINABILITY

WATER RESOURCES SUSTAINABILITY

 
Objectives
The overall objective of WP1 is to contribute to the opening of the UMI to the European partners and to the project of the SWC through the deepening and expansion of the ongoing collaboration between the Hydrology and Water Resources and the Atmospheric departments of UA with the UMI n°2 “Sustainable Water Resources” thematic area. This collaboration on water resources sustainability started in 2009 (joint publications, seminars, workshops, bilateral exchange program). For the SWAN project, the main focus is in the development of a holistic and integrative approach to decision making under conditions of uncertainty and climate change, based on a coupling of the physical and social sciences.
Within SWAN, WP1 will facilitate a meaningful synthesis of policy-making and hydrologic modeling under climate change, combining UA expertise with that of the partner institutions.
Specific objectives include:
  • to host with UMI the European partners to develop joint activities (seminars, workshops and stakeholders workshops),
  • to develop sustainable and agreed-upon management scenarios for addressing the problems of basin wide and urban water planning under conditions of climate change,
  • to coordinate a participatory framework among scientists and with local and European stakeholders (decision-makers, managers),
  • to propose potential new partners, criteria and process of integration.
 
Description of work and role of partners
 
WP1 will be led by partner 2 (UA) with substantial input from the ongoing activities with UMI and will involve all the European partners: partner 4 (climate change/water demand); partner 3 (governance and participation), partner 5 (modeling and visualization) and partner 6 (stakeholders/education)
 
Task 1-1: Scientific foundations for interdisciplinary research
WP1 will organize the expansion of the current joint research with UMI, associating the European partners. Climate change and uncertainty, water risks (i.e. floods) and vulnerabilities are the main thematic areas explored by UA and UMI. A strong potential to develop this thematic is expected due to the expertise of the European partners. Main activities of this task will be part of SWAN’s “central seminar”, a cycle of seminars, workshops and field research who will function as the backbone of the program. This task will be focused in making a balance of previous analysis, creating a common state of art, select case studies and draft the specific contribution of WP1 to the common SWAN agenda.
Month 1-12 with UMI and partners 3, 4, 5 and 6
 
Task 1-2: Integrative hydrological modeling under climate change
An assessment of available Climate Change projections for selected study regions will be performed using a broad multi-model simulations database (physical and social). A hybrid approach will be developed combining the strengths of statistical and dynamical downscaling methods to arrive at robust local-scale projections of regional and local scale weather. By processing these downscaled estimates through models of hydrologic and urban processes, key water management data can be generated to aid in water resources planning and management.
Modeling combining information from physical model/s with stakeholder driven of human and economic development will be used in combination with collaboratively developed future scenarios. (See task 1-3)
Activities of this task will be part of SWAN’s “central seminar” and will include lab research, seminars and workshops. All European students will collaborate with the integrative modeling approaches along with selected UA students.
Months 12-36, with UMI and partners 4, 5
 
Task 1-3: Establish and coordinate a participatory planning framework among scientists and stakeholders
The climate change assessment and modeling system described in task 1-2 will form the support structure for a participatory planning process that combines integrative modeling with structured stakeholder participation to facilitate the decision-makers and affected parties arriving at a common definition of relevant problems, scenarios and management alternatives. Three stakeholders workshops will be organized within this task: the first one will be held jointly at UMI and UWE (by teleconference, month 12); the second one will be held as part of the International Conference on Changing paradigms in urban water studies, management and education (D 4-2) and the third one at UMI. These workshops will lead decision-makers and stakeholders through a participatory planning process where, starting at the current status quo, they will collaboratively discuss and elaborate different management alternatives and strategies to cope with future changes in the relationships between water demand and availability.
Months 12-42, with UMI and partners 3, 5, 6
 
Deliverables
D 1.1: Working papers: “Climate change and uncertainty: connecting physical and social sciences”
D 2.2: Publication: “Integrative hydrological modeling under climate change”

 

WP 2 - EU/USA ISSUES IN WATER GOVERNANCE

Objectives

WP2 will work on governance for sustainable water, with a participatory approach and:
- develop the governance and participation studies in support of the main SWAN objectives,
- offer seminar presentations on governance and participation in water management,
- develop analysis of public participation policies for water in selected European countries (UK, France, Spain, Holland and Bulgaria) and comparison with USA
- identify common EU/USA challenges to the above
- prepare information and educationmaterial for public, private and third sector organizations.
 
Description of work and role of partners
WP2 will be led by partner 3 with substantial input from UMI and partner 4 and will involve partner 6 at specific activities
 
Task 2-1: Public participation in water management: EU/USA
Organize joint research (scholars and students), prepare the thematic area on water governance for the scientific program of SWC. Selected case studies will be analyzed in a comparative perspective. Findings will be submitted to the Stakeholders Committee to be included in the Stakeholders workshops reports.
Months 1-6, with UMI and partners 4, 6
 
Task 2-2: Develop a comparative water security policies: a key thematic field for the SWAN project
The UWE team, together with IHE, UMI, BAS will focus in the development of this major thematic field. This task will study the development and implementation of policies for water security in the UK, France, Spain, Holland and Bulgaria, and comparison of these experiences with water security initiatives in the USA. An autumn 2012 conference at UWE will involve a digital link-up with UMI/UA and an enhancement of online materials related to water security, public participation and social engagement for sustainable water management.
Months 6-24, with UMI and partners 4, 6
 
Task 2-3: Joint research activities: the WFD (Water Framework Directive)
This task will coordinate joint research (researchers and students) with UMI, WP3, WP4 and partner 6 and the contribution to the seminar and workshops. These activities will encompass institutional issues dealing with water governance and the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD).
Months 18-45, with UMI and partners 4, 6
 
List of deliverables
D2.1: Working papers: “Water security and sustainability EU/USA”
D2.2: Handbook: “Stakeholder workshops”
WP 3 - WATER DEMAND AND SUSTAINABILITY

WATER DEMAND AND SUSTAINABILITY

 
Objectives
The aim of WP3 is to develop joint research with UMI in collaboration with UA and the European partners about urban water demand, water stress, drought indicators and climate change. This joint research practice will contribute to the projected SWC. A second general objective will be to make a contribution among partners concerning institutional issues, dealing with water governance and implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) as a background. The objectives aim to contribute to the general commitments defined by the WFD, i.e. maintenance of the health of aquatic ecosystems, active participation of users in management decisions and coast recovery of water services.
Specific objectives include:
Exchanging knowledge and building cooperation among partners on:
- socio-hydrological urban water cycle governance;
- useful instruments for improving water resources management in urban areas;
- climate change simulation models applied to study the effects of scenarios on urban water demand
- debates and implications of WFD general goals, methodological advances and socio-institutional experiences.
WP3 specific tasks will concern water demand, climate change and risks (WP1), social actors’ participation, water governance (WP2) and specific issues concerning urban water (WP4).
In addition, WP3 aim to:
- promote the dissemination of the activities of SWC project and results by organizing lectures on the SWC within the framework of PhD studies in the university of Seville. These will be aimed at postgraduate students as well as technicians and managers of water companies and local and regional governments;
- promote links between knowledge and management through Spanish stakeholder participation in the activities (seminars, workshops).
 
Description of work and role of partners
WP3 will be led by partner 4 with substantial input from partners 1 (climate change/risks), 2 (urban water), 3 (governance) and will involve partners 5 and 6 for specific activities.
 
Task 3-1: Preparation and realization of stays at UMI
The integration of the research team and the students with the UMI and UA research activities will have two main foci: the analysis of domestic water demand explanation factors and the development of common models of drought indicator systems’ geo-referenced database. Some of the specific tasks to perform are:
- collect information from relevant specialized literature and official documents;
- comparison of experiences with similar studies in partners’ countries through cartographic analysis of recent urban processes;
- surveys on territorial characteristics (dominant urban form, age and type of housing), demographic (population dynamics, household size, age), cultural (origin and nationality of residents, cultural and religious values) and social (education);
- monitoring of actual water consumption;
- comparison of statistical tools to validate and explain results and domestic water consumption in selected case studies (Spain, Europe / Arizona, USA).
Months 1-12
 
Task 3-2: Developing web tools for sustainability
Together with partner 5 and WP4 will study the development of innovative tools for risk management. First steps will include analysis of:
- drought indicators;
- drought geo-referenced database;
- urban water demand geo-referenced database;
- regional actors and interlocutors involved in the risk management process (with special focus on drought).
Months 12-24
 
Task 3-3: Participation in joint research activities
This task will coordinate joint research (researchers and students) with WP1, WP3 and WP4 and the contribution to the seminar and workshops.
With WP1, collaboration will be on Integrative models under climate change scenarios. This activity will encompass: diagnosis of water risks, simulation of water demand behavior under different climate scenarios, identification of the appropriate actors and interlocutors for the risk management process.
With WP2, this work package will develop an “Evaluation of the WFD implementation process” analyzing key issues related to water systems involved in the WFD implementation process and its potential and limits for its application abroad.
Months 12-36
 
Task 3-4: Dissemination of the activities of the Center, joint publications
Different activities will be envisioned with WP5 (i.e. lectures by invited partners at least  two lectures  will be organized within the framework of PhD studies in the University of Seville aimed at postgraduate students as well as technicians and managers of water companies and local and regional government. Meanwhile, these tasks will coordinate with WP4 an edited book publication and contribute to the preparation of the International Conference.
Months 36-45
 
List of deliverables
D3.1: Working papers: “Key water data for water resources planning and risks”
D3.2: Working papers: “Evaluation of the WFD implementation process in Europe”
WP 4 - URBAN WATER: EU/USA COMMON MODELS

URBAN WATER: EU/USA COMMON MODELS

 
Objectives
The overall objective of WP4 is to expand an integrated approach (water resources, supply, environment), one of the main thematic area of the UMI, n°1 “Water and urban development”. This area includes today current programs on “Water and urban sprawl (France/USA)”, “Water networks in Arizona growth corridors”, and “Tools and methods for urban water management (remote sensing, DSS)” developed with the UA Hydrology and Water Resources Department and School of Natural Resources and Environment (remote sensing program, urban and regional stakeholders). To prepare the “urban water agenda” for SWC is a major goal of WP4. Since the establishment of the UMI in 2008, urban water is one of the major areas of activity in collaboration with hydrologists, geographers, urban planners, remote sensing specialists at the University of Arizona (partner 2) and also others: CUNY (New York City University), Princeton University and research centers in France and Latin America.
Specific objectives include:
- to develop an integrated urban water approach that will be used throughout the project (water supply and sanitation networks from water resources to the environment protection);
- to identify key scientific and technological themes relevant to the field of urban water and evaluate existing capacities within these thematic areas and identifying gaps.
 
Description of work and role of partners
WP4 will be led by partner 1. Beyond the regular collaboration with partner 2 (UA), a substantial collaboration will involve partner 4 for urban water demand and partner 3 on governance and participation. Partner 6 will be a key partner to develop a new axis on water in cities in developing countries (access to water). A specific task on remote sensing and GIS will jointly be developed with partner 5 (BAS-NIGGG) and UA.
 
Task 4-1: Rethinking urban water: the need for an integrated approach
To expand the activities currently developed by the UMI in the field of urban water implies the need for a more integrated and comparative approach. To promote an innovative approach of urban water the watershed scale will be used, as well as “hydrology approach” (the basin wide) than a human, economic, functional definition. Selected regional/urban watersheds will be identified to establish comparative research and integrate multiple water dimensions. Starting the second year, the SWAN central seminar and the workshops will allow integration of European students and scholars with the US scholars and students into specific activities, related to water in cities, smart growth and water, “greening”, recycling water. An international conference and a publication will be organized on Changing paradigms in urban water studies, management and education.
Months 12-45, with partners 2, 3, 4 and 6
 
Task 4-2: Development of a geo-spatial database and visualization tools
Developing a new understanding of urban water and our ability to develop an integrated physical and social modeling structure will require detailed knowledge of the relationships between changing urban land use/cover, population dynamics and water supply and demand. Initially we will utilize the knowledge represented by the partner groups to establish the spatial and temporal resolution requirements for these datasets to fulfill the modeling objectives. Through the use of a set of surveys of partners we will first establish the required resolutions. Then we will create a set of prototype datasets utilizing available remote sensing, census and water supply and demand data for 3-4 of cities. These urban datasets will be shared with the partner groups enabling subsequent modeling efforts with a consequent set of data for all partners to evaluate and utilize.
Months 6-36, with partners 5, 4 and 1
 
Task 4-3: Urban water in the framework of stakeholders workshops
WP4 along with WP2 and WP1 and together with partner 6 will contribute and facilitate participatory and collaborative urban water planning and conflict resolution activities. It will prepare the specific urban data for these workshops to arrive at common definitions of problems, scenarios and management alternatives. One of the stakeholders workshops will be organized within this task (D 1.3) as part of the International conference on changing paradigms in urban water studies, management and education (D 4.2). As in task 1-3, these workshops will lead stakeholders (mangers, decision makers, NGO) to collaboratively discuss and elaborate different management alternatives and strategies to cope with future changes in water demand, availability and conservation within an integrated approach.
Months 12-36, with partners 2, 3 and 6    
 
List of deliverables

D 4.1: Working papers: “Geo-spatial database and visualization tools”

D 4.2: Publication (edited book): “Water and urban development”
 

WP 5 - FEASIBILITY STUDY

FEASIBILITY STUDY
 

Objectives
By preparing a final report on the Feasibility study, we will work on a list of activities and activities and actions to be implemented to open new scientific collaborations and suggest new institutional opportunities.
Our objectives are :
- to analyse the strenghs and weakness of the activities carried out within this project to open UMI3157 to additional European research partners
- to assess the external opportunities and threats to this venture
- to assist in the identification of solutions to identified problem areas in order to pave the way for smooth implementation of the envisioned consortium.
Quality control and evaluation of project feasibility and progress will take place throughout the duration of the project.
 
Description of work and role of partners
Task 5.1: Guidance and assistance to prepare the Feasibility Study
The analysis will began with an initial scoping of project objectives, project design and scientific content. In this task, the CNRS will organize the work and initiate the collaborations with the partners in order to prepare the Feasibility study. CNRS offers qualified staff to give us a global view as regards all formal, legal and administrative issues that well might occur in our work.
Moreover, each participant will ask for his own legal department support to prepare the Feasibility study.
 
Task 5.2: Risk assessment analysis
Risks are an inherent element of all action. In order to avoid failure of our Feasibility study we will conduct a risk analysis (D7.3). Evaluation criteria will provide the basis for objective assessment of the alignment of project developments with the Project objectives and will be defined based upon the results of the initial scoping and will be agreed upon with the Project partners.
This report will:
- Establish a procedure to identify and monitor risks
- Take measures to suppress or mitigate their effects (creation of tools, actions to be undertaken…)
The CNRS will work closely with its Legal office in Paris and with the Partners legal departments resources.
 
Task 5.3: Final report on the Feasibility Study
Consequent to our action plan and to the risk analysis assessment, we will start to work on the Feasibility study itself: we will produce a report that will help the UMI3157 prepare the way for opening our institutional arrangement to additional Member States or Associated Countries’ research organizations.
In this task, the Stakeholders Committee will strongly contribute to the report. He will:
- produce strategic scientific orientations
- suggest new institutional opportunities
- link our field of activity with on-going and future European policies.
The report will give detailed information on how we will reach our objective to create a EU/USA Sustainable Water Centre (SWC) in the USA. It will include but not be restricted to the relevance of research activities for EU policy processes (science policy, water policy), suitability of potential partner expertise and partner aims, and organizational and financial viability of potential cooperation set-ups.
 
List of deliverables
D5.1: Short report on the action plan to build the Feasibility study
D5.2: Stakeholders Committee recommendations for buiding the Feasibility study 1
D5.3: Report on the risk analysis assessment
D5.4: Stakeholders Committee recommendations for buiding the Feasibility study 2
D5.5: Stakeholders Committee recommendations for buiding the Feasibility study 3
D5.6: Final report on the new institutional arrangement

 

WP 6 - MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

 

Objectives
The Management strategy, organized by the CNRS, will operate to create a high degree of integration among the partners, crucial for achieving the SWAN project objectives. Work Package 6 will ensure an efficient management structure as well as the capacity to react to any problems.
This will be possible due to regular communication and meetings (physical or electronic) between all the nodes of the network. WP 6 will also organize the activities to produce the three main reports that will lead to the Sustainability Water Center.  
 
Description of work and role of partners
Task 6.1: Project management
This task will organize the work plan according to the management structure (Governing Board and Work Packages) which will also be used as the monitoring plan.
- Starting and monitoring the tasks
- Completion of the deliverables in time
- Resolution of emerging problems.
This task will organize the agendas of the meetings and other informal exchanges (videoconference, mail, phone and collaborative platform).
 
Task 6.2: Financial and administrative management
- Carry out the Consortium Agreement signature process;
- Formalize the management and collaboration rules within the consortium;
- Set up the collaborative platform;
- Manage the project financial issues;
- Receive the advance payments from the European Commission;
- Distribute the European contribution to the partners;
- Implement the Certificate of Financial Statements;
- Receive and compile the progress reports before sending them to the European Commission;
- Organize the meetings;
- Promote the socio-economic action plan within the network.
 
List of deliverables
D6.1: Consortium Agreement signed
D6.2: Report on management and collaboration rules
D6.3: First Consortium Report: “An agenda for a Sustainable Water Center”
D6.4: Mid-term Consortium Report: “Building integrated water research for sustainability”
D6.5: Report on the socio-economic action plan
D6.6: Final Strategic Report: “Towards a Sustainable Water Center”

 

WP 7 - DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

DISSEMINATION AND COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
 
Objectives
The Dissemination strategy, led by the CNRS, aims to disseminate information on the activities and ongoing or emerging objectives of the SWAN project to all relevant parties (European scientific community, stakeholders and policy markers, public).
By promoting the analysis and representation of approaches and tools used in the project, by preparing dissemination products and channels and by aligning the dissemination strategy with relevant EU programs and policies calendar, SWAN intends to ensure a systematic dissemination of the support actions objectives and outcomes.
 
Description of work and role of partners
Task 7.1: To design and implement a dissemination plan
This first task will define the Plan for Dissemination and if necessary to update it during its execution. The definition of this plan will take into account two important needs: (i) the identification of the target audience; and (ii) the various dissemination channels used by the partners.
The dissemination plan will be drawn up as follows:
- involvement of the stakeholders and dissemination to policy-markers;
- the main idea is to involve in the dissemination strategy stakeholders who will improve policy-markers’ interest as well as to increase the EU research capacity and implement new collaborations within the joint institute or with additional Member or Associated States;
- web portal on the website;
- newsletters and articles;
- dissemination to the general public.
This dissemination will take different forms described in details en section 3 Impact. We can quote the website, press releases in well-established newspapers, leaflets publication or articles on EU websites… The aim is also to maximize coverage in press, radio and TV.
The work package leader will collaborate closely with the project manager and the project coordinator to implement the dissemination plan. To implement the dissemination strategy, they will be in charge of the dissemination schedule as well as collecting the dissemination components before submitting them through appropriate channels and helping to organize the dissemination. They will make a report during each Progress meeting on new dissemination opportunities and improvements to be carried out in the updated dissemination plan with:
- suggestions on the content for stakeholders and policy-markers;
- coordinating the partners’ suggestions.
Moreover, the work package leader will ensure with the management team:
- management of confidentiality issues;
- communication outside the network;
- identification of the next development steps.
 
Task 7.2: To set up the SWAN project website and collaborative platform
The project website will be established at the beginning of the project by the project manager. This website will be one of the most dissemination tools with:
- the collaborative platform (private access for the consortium members) where the partners will upload and download internal reports as well as find and share information about the project activities;
- the website portal dedicated to the scientific community and stakeholders to foster new collaborations (with relevant information on the Feasibility study);
- general information for the public.
The website will also be used to implement the recruitment strategy within the network and will provide links with other related European projects and/or ongoing European or international policies. Moreover, e-meetings will be organized each 3 months between the management team and the WP teams on the work progress to resolve any emerging problems.
 
Task 7.3: Dissemination material
The purpose is to prepare and produce dissemination material to implement the dissemination strategy. Standardized printed dissemination material (brochures, newsletter…) will be produced for dissemination purposes. The printed dissemination material includes the project brochures, the newsletter, the project information package and the project posters.
 
Task 7.4: International conferences
SWAN project international conferences will be organized to keep informed all the stakeholders concerning the progress and achievement of the project within a wider EU policy perspective. To minimize travel costs, these will be held in conjunction with other project events. Two international conferences will be held in month 24 (in the framework of WP4: “Changing paradigms in urban water studies, management and education”) and in month 48 (final international conference: “An agenda for the Sustainable Water Center”).
 
List of deliverables
D7.1: Website and collaborative platform established
D7.2: Report on the plan for dissemination
D7.3: Report on the International conference 1
D7.4: Report on the International conference 2 (final conference)