DiBiAS: Digital education module for interdisciplinary adaptation strategies in urban water management to climate change impacts

The aim of the project is to develop digital learning units on the topic of adaptation strategies in urban water management to the impacts of climate change. In particular, the focus is on linking the various sub-disciplines of urban water management as well as the risk analysis and assessment of individual adaptation measures. The target group is students of urban water management.

Project funding

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV)

Project duration

September 2023 to August 2024

Starting Point

Climate change affects urban water management in different ways, be it through increased rainfall, which must be drained from urban areas with as little damage as possible, or through longer periods of drought, which lead to high peaks in demand for drinking and irrigation water supplies. The associated problems have a regional impact and usually affect all sub-disciplines of urban water management.

In university teaching, climate change has so far been viewed and taught as a major challenge associated with major planning uncertainties. However, approaches to solutions are not strategically integrated into teaching, but are often considered in isolation and on a case-by-case basis. What is needed are holistic solution strategies that take into account the various sub-disciplines, combined with approaches to risk analysis and assessment.

Objectives and approach

The aim of the project is to convey suitable adaptation strategies to climate change to students of urban water management in a target group-oriented manner using suitable digital learning units. The learning content, which is based on the basic modules of urban water management, is offered in a digital lecture format (e.g. video combined with animated lecture slides). This provides students with an innovative, time- and location-flexible and self-determined educational offer that prepares them for an increasingly digitally networked world of work and education.

For this purpose, climate-relevant aspects from the various sub-disciplines of (drinking) water supply, urban hydrology and urban drainage, wastewater treatment and water recycling, industrial water management and water quality management are linked and deepened through overarching content. In particular, the focus is on the risk analysis and assessment of individual adaptation measures in various sub-disciplines. This strengthens the holistic, solution-oriented understanding of the interlinked chains of effects.

Students are thus enabled to recognize and evaluate the effects of climate impact adaptation strategies beyond the respective sub-disciplines and to develop holistic solutions. The associated opportunities and risks are methodically analyzed and evaluated. In addition, these strategies should be implementable both in new buildings and, in particular, in existing buildings and thus also reflect transformation processes.

ZIRIUS sub-tascs

ZIRIUS develops the learning units on risk analysis, risk assessment, risk management and governance. In addition, exercises are developed to analyze and evaluate adaptation strategies to climate change in the individual sub-disciplines in an interdisciplinary manner.

Contact Person

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