At the end of 2019, the EGAR research group was again able to obtain support from the EEA financial mechanisms,  respectively Iceland Liechtenstein Norway grants.

At the turn of 2019 and 2020, the RG representatives will discuss current topics in urban engineering and wastewater treatment with the Norwegian partners of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, respectively, with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo.

The aim of the project with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology is to prepare a joint doctoral study program in the field of water management and water structures, the effect of which is to strengthen institutional cooperation in the field of education. Young AdMaS researchers visited the University of Trondheim in the second half of October. An important part of the visit was a tour of the research infrastructure and a presentation of the functioning and setting of the parameters of the Norwegian doctoral program.

The aim of the project with Norwegian Institute for Water Research is to strengthen research cooperation between BUT, resp. AdMaS Centre and this research institution in the preparation of joint research projects for the removal of antibiotics and the removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria in wastewater.

The cognitive journey, again with a tour of the research infrastructure, is planned for mid-December 2019.

On 23 – 24 October 2019, a Road Conference was held at the Exhibition Center in České Budějovice, which was this year attended by a record number of 1208 delegates .

At the exhibition stand, the Director of the AdMaS Center, dr. Zdenek Dufek, prof. Jan Kudrna, Ing. Petra Okřinová and Ing. Tomáš Efenberk  represented the research and activities of the AdMaS Center and FCE as a whole  and made contacts for possible future cooperation.

In the professional section, professor Kudrna presented an article on the topic “Innovation of Classification of Variable Parameters of Road Surface” on which h worked along with Dr. Jan Podrouzek, Ing. Karel Spies and Ing. Květoslav Urbanec from Consultest company.

Company ARDEC s.r.o., under the auspices of the expert group “Drainage of Urbanized Areas CZWA” and the AdMaS Research Center, held in Velké Bílovice on October 3 – 4, 2019 already XIX. annual international conference and exhibition called “URBAN WATER 2019”.

The AdMaS Center presented itself at the conference by a number of contributions. Jakub Raček presented an article by the team of authors entitled “Characteristics of solid carbonaceous product after microwave torrefaction of sewage sludge” focused on energy utilization and transformation of RC into PPL / biochar for agricultural use, as well as article “Implementation of terrestrial scanning of water management facilities for practical use”. The article presents possibilities of using photogrammetry and laser scanning technology with data evaluation for selected water management facilities such as reservoirs and drinking water pumping stations. The water management object was captured using the technology of static laser scanning with the help of so-called ground scanners. This technology also allows to capture a laser point cloud together with classic snapshots. The user output of the whole process of capturing the cloud, images and their interconnection is then a web application for the needs of the water operator with the implementation of photogrammetry including panoramic images and the publication of point clouds using ground laser scanning.

Tomáš Chorazy presented work entitled “Possibilities of gastro waste processing for material utilization by pyrolysis”. Given the new legislation in the Czech Republic related to the prohibition of the use of gastro waste for feeding livestock, as well as the prohibition of crushing the waste into drains, it is necessary to find a new way of its material transformation into a usable product, respecting the principles of circular economy. A suitable processing technology is pyrolysis with the resulting products: solid carbon product (bioch

The article “Obtaining and the utilization of thermal energy from waste water” presented by Kristýna Velikovská dealt with a summary of the latest findings in the field of waste heat recovery and presentation of goals and proposed prototypes of the project TAČR “Obtaining and the utilization of thermal energy from waste water in combination with using of purified water ‘.

Ivo Korytář, in his article “Characteristics of wastewater generated during the cleaning of roads and road tunnels” summarized the latest findings concerning such contaminated wastewater and current methods of treatment.

The contribution “Biochar as an alternative substitute for adsorption materials”, presented by Tomáš Macsek, summarized the latest findings of the use of solid pyrolysis product – biochar, as an alternative cheap substitute for granulated activated carbon for the removal of selected micropolutants.

Jan Ševčík in his paper “Energy potential of dried sewage sludge” dealt with the value of the energy potential of sewage treatment plant as a solid alternative fuel. Contribution „Removal of selected drugs from wastewater by means of advanced oxidation processes presented by Tomáš Macsek focused on removal of selected drugs (azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, diclofenac, metoprolol, citalopram) from treated waste water from municipal mechanical-biological wastewater treatment plant Brno-Modřice using technology of advanced oxidation processes. In the experiment, the processes of simple ozonization, ozonization combined with UV radiation and ozonation combined with hydrogen peroxide dosing were tested on a pilot scale. The last post in this section was “Removal of selected pollutants by wood decaying fungi” presented by Adéla Žižlavská. The article dealt with the utilization of the potential of the enzymatic system of wood decaying fungi, especially the so-called white rot fungus and the effectiveness of wood decaying fungi on degradation of sulfonamide antibiotics from wastewater using biological carriers created by 3D printing inoculated with mycelium Trametes versicolor. The article of Jana Majerová and Rostislav Drochytka dealt with the experience and knowledge of trenchless rehabilitation of sewer pipes.

There was an accompanying exhibition in the adjacent areas by the companies ACO Building Elements, ARKO TECHNOLOGY as, AQUA PROCON sro, AQUATIS as, ATER, sro, DHI as, ENVI-PUR sro, HUBER CS, sro, KUNST sro, Pipelife Czech sro , PREFA Brno as, REKUPER Sychrov Ltd., VAG Ltd., VODA CZ Ltd., ZEPRIS, AVK VOD-KA Inc., DISA Ltd., EUTIT Ltd., GEREX Ltd., KASI Ltd., KROHNE CZ, Nicoll Czech Republic Ltd., Environment and Fluid Technology Ltd., SAINT-GOBAIN PAM CZ Ltd., TECHNOMA Inc., Tra-Sig-Ma Ltd., WAVIN Ekoplastik Ltd. and the company ZEMSKÝ Rohatec.

The nineteenth year of the conference confirmed that the conference is in favor of participants, as evidenced by the very active participation of more than 350 delegates from research institutes and universities, design and supply companies, sewerage operators as well as representatives of municipal councils, CEI, etc. A selection of photographs illustrating the atmosphere of the conference, lecture hall, exhibition hall and social evening with a rich cultural program can be found at http://mestskevody.ardec.cz/ and facebook.

We look forward to meeting you in Velké Bílovice at the conference “URBAN WATER 2020” on October 1. – 2., 2020.

On October 1, 2019, the General Meeting of NCC CAMEB was held at the CTU in Prague.

The meeting was opened by the Chairman of the Board, Assoc. prof. Ing. Lukáš Ferkl, Ph.D., who welcomed the present and the chairman of TA CR, prof. Ing. Petr Konvalinka, CSc., FEng.

Representative of individual projects presented the state of solution and then prof. Konvalinka took the floor. He informed about the TA CR plans for the continuation of the NCC II program, which will be announced in May 2020 and should last for 6 years. Companies will be supported as in other TA CR projects, funding is expected to be 80%.

The General Meeting agreed on the preparation of the project for the NCK II call, including the involvement of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Technical University of Ostrava, which expressed interest to cooperate.

The preparation of the application for the extension of the existing NCC for another two years was also approved.

The plan also includes an informal external meeting of Council members, deputy members and representatives of subprojects for the horizontal integration of research topics and investigators in the month of February, 2020.

 

Staff of the EGAR Research Group from AdMaS Center, led by doc. Ing. Jaroslav Raclavský, Ph.D., carried out a hydraulic assessment of the sewerage network of the city of Znojmo this year in the area of contract research for the WATERWARE STOCK COMPANY, a.s. In 2018, measurements of selected hydraulic parameters (pict. 1) were performed on the sewer network and this year the hydraulic model of the sewer network was created (pict. 2). The model was calibrated and verified according to the measured values and technical measures were proposed to improve the operation of the sewer network in Znojmo.

Basic information about the sewer network:
• there is a single sewer system in the city. The waste water is treated at the WWTP Znojmo-Dobšice. Sewer construction began around 1905;
• length of sewers in Znojmo – 130 km;
• 11 municipalities are currently connected to the WWTP Znojmo-Dobšice.

 

From 19 to 20 September 2019, staff of the AdMaS Research Group Technology o Building Materials attended an international conference IVIS 2019 (14 th International Vacuum Insulation Symposium; http://ivis2019.jp/) in Kyoto, Japan. There they presented new research team findings in in the field of vacuum insulation development (VIP). The event also included the annual meeting of the Association for Vacuum Insulation Panels VIPA International, of which BUT in Brno and AdMaS Center has been a member since2018.

Photo:https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOXXXTwWwcHcCG_D27hGE1wLp1WKoisGIrpOWy1inXyjUJS0eXY8Qhv41s3bQlGow/photo/AF1QipNP9a2TqEfpJ6QVV_4Emyhhvvn_4EmyhhvSnpdzpvdzzbgbg

The whole galery: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOXXXTwWwcHcCG_D27hGE1wLp1WKoisGIrpOWy1inXyjUJS0eXY8Qhv41s3bQlGow?key=S0pXbktwb2hpcktOdnNzMMltTHVTvS82

 

On 24 – 27 September 2019, the last International Scientific Board of the AdMaS Center was held. The scientists, led by the director, welcomed the board members who came to us from all over Europe: Dr. Andrea Giuseppe Capodaglio from the Italian University of Pavia, Prof. Dr. Ing. Harald Garrecht from the University of Stuttgart, Ass. Prof. Dr. Alfred Strauss from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna and Prof. Dr. Humberto Salazar Amorium Varum from Universidade do Porto.

During their stay, the professors took part in the celebrations of the 120th anniversary of the foundation of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and the evening performance Night at Karlštejn in the Brno City Theater.

Both the AdMaS Center and the Faculty held meetings with individual research groups for two days, whose representatives presented their achievements and ideas for 2019.

Towards the end of the week, the staff of the Center said goodbye to the professors and thanked them for their support, motivation and very friendly yet professional relationships.

 

 

  

On Friday, September 27, 2019, in the evening, the gate of the AdMaS Center opened to visitors of the popular event Scientists’ Night, this time on the theme of Considering the Planet.

The staff of the individual laboratories, in collaboration with students and family members, prepared several sites reflecting the current research conducted in them. They prepared a demonstration of interesting devices for the visitors, explained their use and attracted two hundred guests in the form of a competition or a practical demonstration. The most popular were, as in past years, 3D printer products, a tomograph contest, a drone simulation flight and, of course, the production of asphalt pavement and playing with Liebherr toy cars.

An electric car, bestowed from E.ON,  was also quite acclaimed and admired.

Both young and old guests gained not only new knowledge, but also many ecological souvenirs, the smallest one a favorite sweet surprise.

In August we welcomed 2 foreign trainees to the road laboratory of the AdMaS Research Center.

On August 6, 2019 arrived first student, Arnaud Chuter from France, who is studying civil engineering at EI.CESI University in Angoulême (https://angouleme.cesi.fr/ecoles-formations). Arnaud’s specialization is traffic construction and will stay here until October 25, 2019.

The second student is Riko Sakuda, who came from Japan thanks to the IAESTE organization. Riko is studying at Yokohama National University (Yokohama National University – https://www.ynu.ac.jp/english/) and will be here till mid-October. Her main specialization is urban communications and urban infrastructure.

Both students are very active and have been involved in research activities both at the AdMaS Center and the Institute of Roads. They are also cooperating on solving partial tasks within current research projects. One of them is a project of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic TH04020154 entitled: “Optimization of the construction, repair and operation of asphalt-concrete sealing cladding”. So far we are very satisfied with both students.

Arnaud Chuter already participated in excursion to the mixing plant in Rajhradice, where he assisted in the sampling of aggregates. In the months of September and October, further professional excursions to cooperating companies or directly to the road construction are planned. Last but not least, there is a plan for a joint discussion of students of the 2nd year of the Master’s program with a focus on traffic constructions.

The research group Mathematical Modeling succesfully cooperated with the Institute of Geonics AS CR, specifically with Dr. Leona Vavro and Dr. Martin Vavro, and on 19 September 2019 welcomed an important expert in the field of rock fracture testing, prof. Yuzo Obaru, from Japanese Kumamoto University.

It was on the day of the 120th anniversary of BUT that prof. Obara presented a lecture in the STM Institute and then visited the AdMaS Center in the afternoon. In the lecture “Crack Front Geometry and Stress Intensity Factor of Semi-Circular Bend Specimens with Straight Through and Cracked Chevron Notches” he presented his team’s current results in experiments as well as numerical analysis of the influence of voltage initiator concentrator on stress intensity factor .

By the way, prof. Y. Obara used to be a Director of GeoX CT Center and a Vice-Dean of Faculty of Engineering of Kumamoto University, which also celebrated  120th anniversary of its founding in year 2017. The visit organized Prof. Zbyněk Keršner, Assoc. Stanislav Seitl and Dr. Hana Šimonová.

The picture from the AdMaS area depicts prof. Z. Keršner, prof. Obaru, Dr. L. Vavro and Dr. M. Vavro. Ing. Lucia Osuska from the research group Technology of Building Materials in an eye-catching presentation of the center’s research.