The CHYN is involved in a number of national and international research projects funded by third parties. Some selected project are presented below.
More projects are presented here:
FARMWISE: Future Agricultural Resource Management and Water Innovations for a Sustainable Europe
FARMWISE aims to transform the European agricultural sector by empowering farmers and decision-makers with a state-of-the-art decision support system, combining innovative agriculture technologies, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing. FARMWISE provides new insights into water quality & quantity, agro-ecological impacts, soil health, and nutrient management. Its state-of-the-art framework fosters knowledge sharing between scientists, farmers, and policymakers using a “systems thinking” approach.
At UNINE, Dr. Landon Halloran leads activities related to the evaluation of water usage and risks to water quality in present and future climates. By integrating ensemble modelling, vadose zone physics, GIS data, and field-based case studies, the team will provide valuable quantitative advice on risk scenarios and innovation impacts. FARMWISE is a 6.4M EUR project that brings together 20 partners from across Europe and is funded by Switzerland (SERI) and the European Union (Horizon Europe).
RADMOGG: Resilience and Dynamics of Mountain Groundwater using Gravimetry
In mountain catchments, groundwater is often the source of perennial streamflow during increasingly long periods. Permafrost degradation and decreasing snow accumulation are rapidly altering the annual hydrological dynamics of these systems on which we are increasingly dependent. Groundwater storage quantification is vital for mountain water resource management, yet accurate subsurface water resource monitoring in these catchments is rarely achieved. A highly promising solution to this challenge is time-lapse gravimetry (TLG), a portable and non-invasive geophysical technique wherein mass distribution dynamics (i.e., water storage) are inferred through measurements of imperceptible changes in the value of g.
In RADMOGG, Dr. Landon Halloran and his team develop and apply innovative field and numerical hydrogravimetric methods. RADMOGG investigates subsurface groundwater and permafrost dynamics at multiple field sites, including Réchy (VS), Röthenbach (BE), and Murtèl (GR). The knowledge and tools generated by RADMOGG will enable quantitative applications of TLG and improve our understanding of the resilience of alpine/subalpine hydro-systems in the face of climate change.
WATERWISE – Co-designing sustainable management solutions for resilient Alpine headwaters
Climate change and human activities increasingly threaten mountain headwaters (HW), the primary freshwater sources in the Alpine Space (AS). These pressures challenge water availability, ecosystem services, and the livelihoods of Alpine communities. The WATERWISE project addresses these issues by developing an innovative digital toolbox for local water and land managers. This toolbox, co-designed with scientists, communities, and protected area managers, will facilitate the collection, analysis, and visualization of ecohydrological and climatic data and assess HW vulnerability to climate and land-use changes.
Tested at seven pilot sites, the toolbox will guide the co-creation of sustainable management strategies, enhancing the resilience of water resources, ecosystems, and communities. Its implementation across diverse HW sites and training for end-users will ensure long-term impact.
Through educational materials, storytelling, and outreach, WATERWISE aims to raise awareness and foster collaboration among stakeholders, strengthening transnational efforts to secure the Alpine region’s water resources.