Utilizing Vacation Time for Research Projects (Hydro Geek Ezine Volume 3)
This is the third edition of HydroGeek. In this edition we are offering five significant research project ideas which you can participate as interns during the vacation time.
Vacations offer a valuable opportunity to engage in meaningful research. During this period, students or professionals can collaborate with experts to identify a suitable topic and pursue a short-term research project. The outcomes of such efforts can be diverse and impactful, including:
📚 Publication in a journal or conference
🧠 Development of a patent or innovative business idea
📘 Creation of a monograph tracing the journey from concept to practical application
The following project ideas are designed with the understanding that leisure time is limited. Each project can be completed with a daily commitment of 4 to 5 hours. The success and rewards of these projects will depend on the researcher’s dedication and sincerity.
The five proposed ideas are original and have not been previously explored. A simple acknowledgement in any resulting publication will be sufficient credit to the editor of this ezine.
💧 Project 1: Optimal Water Quality Selection for Specific Uses Using ANN-MCDM Auto-Selector
Prerequisites:
Knowledge of photo-sensors
Understanding of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)
Familiarity with Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques
Justification:
Climate change, pollution, increasing demand, and unregulated extraction of natural resources have created a significant gap between water availability and usability. An automated system that classifies water based on its suitability for specific uses could help prevent misuse and promote sustainable consumption.
Methodology:
Establish the relationship between water quality parameters and their intended uses.
Use MCDM techniques to assign weights to parameters such as BOD, DO, TDS, TSS, and pH.
Develop a sensor-based system to detect these parameters.
Create a weight function to determine the suitability of water for specific applications based on user input.
Project 2: Short-Term Rainfall Forecasting Using ANN-MCDM
Prerequisites:
Access to climatic data, land use patterns, and cloud characteristics for the preceding 1–5 days
Justification:
Rainfall significantly affects agriculture, industry, and energy production. Accurate short-term forecasting can help stakeholders adjust operations to maintain productivity.
Methodology:
Conduct expert and local surveys, supported by literature review, to identify key rainfall indicators.
Apply MCDM techniques such as AHP or Fuzzy Decision Making to determine the relative importance of each parameter.
Develop a predictive model using ANN to estimate rainfall probabilities for the next 1 to 5 days.
Project 3: Impact of Climate Change on Groundwater Levels in Religious Sites
Prerequisites:
Hydro-meteorological data, future climate projections, and groundwater level records
Familiarity with predictive groundwater modelling
Justification:
Religious sites often experience unregulated groundwater extraction. Climate change may exacerbate this issue by altering rainfall and temperature patterns, leading to unsustainable groundwater depletion.
Methodology:
Collect relevant data on climate and groundwater levels.
Develop a predictive model using tools like Visual Groundwater or custom metaheuristic algorithms to forecast future groundwater levels.
Project 4: Climate Change Effects on Virtual and Green Water in Arid Regions
Prerequisites:
Hydro-meteorological data, future climate scenarios, and water usage statistics
Knowledge of hydrologic modelling
Justification:
Virtual water (used in industrial processes) and green water (used in agriculture) are critical for economic development. Arid regions, already facing water scarcity, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Ensuring adequate availability of these water types is essential for regional sustainability.
Methodology:
Gather data on water usage and climate projections.
Use models like HEC-HMS or develop new metaheuristic-based models to estimate the future availability of virtual and green water.
Compare projected availability with sectoral demands to assess vulnerability.
Project 5: Real-Time Water Energy Conversion and Storage System
Prerequisites:
Understanding of hydropower systems, sensors, MCDM, and Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH)
Justification:
Hydropower generation depends on water head (elevation difference). However, large heads are rare and expensive to harness. A mobile system that detects and relocates to optimal head locations could significantly enhance energy capture from water flow.
Methodology:
Develop a Decision Support System (DSS) using MCDM to evaluate energy potential.
Use GMDH to build a predictive model that guides the system to high-energy locations.
Integrate sensors to collect real-time data and servo motors to reposition the device.
Design a mechanism to open a gate, harness the water head, and convert it into electricity via a built-in dynamo.
Redirect the used water post-conversion.
You can execute all the above projects by visiting the Hydro-informatics Lab at NIT Agartala. If you want to do that, please fill out the form available at this link.
Hydro-navation from History
The Rigveda contains hymns that describe the water cycle, including evaporation, cloud formation, and rainfall—an early understanding of hydrological processes. Click here for a more detailed explanation.
Old books
Electric Transmission of Water Power by Alton D. Adams
"Electric Transmission of Water Power" by Alton D. Adams is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. The work delves into the complexities and practicalities of using water power for generating electrical energy and its distribution across varying distances, highlighting the advancements in electrical engineering. It likely targets those interested in electrical systems, engineering principles, and the historical context of energy transmission. Click here to know more.