Water erosion occurs when the Earth’s surface is disturbed by rain drops and the surface flow of water. These are the cause of so-called rill erosion, with the depth and width of channels ranging from several centimetres to decimetres. When a large amount of water collects and rills deepen over time, they can occur in various shapes and sizes.

At the Institute of Landscape Water Management, scientists have developed a rain simulator which, thanks to its unique structure, allows laboratory conditions to approximately match the reality of the landscape. Data thus obtained are then used in modelling water erosion and other natural processes.

A new invention developed by Ing. Jan Ručka, Ph.D. at the Institute of Municipal Water Management of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at BUT is equipment intended for use in waterworks – a measuring attachment on an underground water hydrant. BUT has protected this new device as a utility model and industrial design.

The purpose of the regulator is to improve the function of horizontal sand catchers, the current solution for which simply takes the form of standardized solid concrete structures. A disadvantage of the current design is that it cannot react to a fluctuating flow-rate of water.

Cooperation between the research team led by Ing. Petr Horák, Ph.D. and Ing. Marcela Počinková, Ph.D. of the Institute of Building Services and the company Asio, spol. s r.o. has resulted in a sewer heat exchanger which under suitable conditions can be installed in a sewer and withdraw heat from waste water in coordination with a heat pump.

Overheated rooms caused by excess sunshine is, especially in summer, a normal phenomenon which inconveniences lots of households and workers in office buildings. Air-conditioning is the usual solution, but it is not cheap. However, Ing. Milan Ostrý, Ph.D. of the Institute of Building Structures and his research team have found a solution that offers a more suitable economic and effective alternative, which is usable in all types of buildings.