Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Smart Fishways (Adapting fishways to hydrological and climatic uncertainty)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2021-09-01 do 2023-08-31
Smart Fishways is an EU-funded project which aims to assess the effect of hydrological variability on stepped fishways and to develop a technological and methodological framework to monitor fishways' performance in real-time. By combining fish biology, hydraulics and sensor networks, a new generation of smart fishways will be created, capable of self-deciding their optimal configuration.
The problem being addressed is the decrease in efficiency and/or the malfunction of fishways in certain hydraulic scenarios. Fishways are an extension of rivers and therefore, they are also subject to variations in river boundary conditions. However, fishways are designed to be functional in a sensible balance between hydraulics and biological requirements and any anthropogenic or natural river variation modifies its hydraulics over time, producing new passage conditions for the fish fauna. For instance, they can produce a reduction of attraction or even excessive velocities for fish fauna.
Knowing the effect of hydrological variability in fishways allows defining measures to reduce its possible effects on fish fauna and maximize their passage. That is to say, establishing specific measures will allow a higher number of fish to accomplish their migration paths, will support the recuperation of endangered species, and, overall, will ensure the good ecological status of our rivers.
Considering this, the overall objective of the projects are:
1) To develop a framework to monitor fishway performance in real time.
2) To identify key components affecting fish passage and the optimal layouts to facilitate the passage.
3) To set management rules to optimize fishway performance under each hydrological scenario.
4) To develop the first generation of smart fishways, capable of decision-making for optimizing their performance.
The problem being addressed is the decrease in efficiency and/or the malfunction of fishways in certain hydraulic scenarios. Fishways are an extension of rivers and therefore, they are also subject to variations in river boundary conditions. However, fishways are designed to be functional in a sensible balance between hydraulics and biological requirements and any anthropogenic or natural river variation modifies its hydraulics over time, producing new passage conditions for the fish fauna. For instance, they can produce a reduction of attraction or even excessive velocities for fish fauna.
Knowing the effect of hydrological variability in fishways allows defining measures to reduce its possible effects on fish fauna and maximize their passage. That is to say, establishing specific measures will allow a higher number of fish to accomplish their migration paths, will support the recuperation of endangered species, and, overall, will ensure the good ecological status of our rivers.
Considering this, the overall objective of the projects are:
1) To develop a framework to monitor fishway performance in real time.
2) To identify key components affecting fish passage and the optimal layouts to facilitate the passage.
3) To set management rules to optimize fishway performance under each hydrological scenario.
4) To develop the first generation of smart fishways, capable of decision-making for optimizing their performance.
The funding for the EU Smart Fishway project has concluded; however, we have already secured the necessary funding to continue working on it and related projects, to promote the use of the developed technology, and to extend its scope. All milestones have been achieved. In total, two permanent network installations are continuously operational in fishways for long-term testing, and during the project, nine networks were tested. Each installation includes state-of-the-art sensors capable of measuring water levels in the fishways, environmental sensors (covering luminosity, water temperature, air temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity), and a PIT-tag monitoring system for identifying fish within the fishways. This year, a fully functioning Fish IR counter was also designed and integrated into the network. All sensors are integrated through a single gateway that processes algorithms and sends data to the Smart Fishways’ online server.
Additionally, in collaboration with the University of Lisbon and the EcoPeak4Fish project, two smaller networks have been installed in Portugal to assess the effect of hydro peaking (artificial and periodic discharge fluctuations for energy production) on fish; one of these is still operational. Furthermore, the Smart Fishways project has collaborated with the LIFE DIVAQUA project (LIFE 18 NAT/ES/000121) and will participate in the LIFE KANTAUTIBAI project (101074197) until 2027, sharing the developed technology to monitor fishways. This showcases the interest in the technology developed.
Publications, so far, are available at http://www.smartfishways.eu/deliverables.html.
Summary of other results:
- Nine Smart Fishways sensor networks developed and installed (nodes and gateways), all based on our custom technologies.
- The second generation of sensors has been installed.
- Design and implementation of a web server and a webpage to showcase the project and transmit data online.
- Development of obstruction detection algorithms, an algorithm designed to suggest management actions to optimize fishway performance, and a PIT-tag data filtering algorithm.
- Development of Escalas software for fishway modeling and design, considering hydrological variability.
- Collaboration with four main projects: RIBES (River flow regulation, fish Behaviour and Status) European Training Network, EcoPeak4Fish, LIFE DIVAQUA project (LIFE 18 NAT/ES/000121), and LIFE KANTAUTIBAI project (101074197).
- The Smart Fishways project's dissemination activities spanned across four conferences, three research week events, and seven workshops in Estonia, Spain, and Portugal, effectively engaging diverse audiences and promoting the project's innovative technologies. Further details are available at http://www.smartfishways.com/news.html.
Additionally, in collaboration with the University of Lisbon and the EcoPeak4Fish project, two smaller networks have been installed in Portugal to assess the effect of hydro peaking (artificial and periodic discharge fluctuations for energy production) on fish; one of these is still operational. Furthermore, the Smart Fishways project has collaborated with the LIFE DIVAQUA project (LIFE 18 NAT/ES/000121) and will participate in the LIFE KANTAUTIBAI project (101074197) until 2027, sharing the developed technology to monitor fishways. This showcases the interest in the technology developed.
Publications, so far, are available at http://www.smartfishways.eu/deliverables.html.
Summary of other results:
- Nine Smart Fishways sensor networks developed and installed (nodes and gateways), all based on our custom technologies.
- The second generation of sensors has been installed.
- Design and implementation of a web server and a webpage to showcase the project and transmit data online.
- Development of obstruction detection algorithms, an algorithm designed to suggest management actions to optimize fishway performance, and a PIT-tag data filtering algorithm.
- Development of Escalas software for fishway modeling and design, considering hydrological variability.
- Collaboration with four main projects: RIBES (River flow regulation, fish Behaviour and Status) European Training Network, EcoPeak4Fish, LIFE DIVAQUA project (LIFE 18 NAT/ES/000121), and LIFE KANTAUTIBAI project (101074197).
- The Smart Fishways project's dissemination activities spanned across four conferences, three research week events, and seven workshops in Estonia, Spain, and Portugal, effectively engaging diverse audiences and promoting the project's innovative technologies. Further details are available at http://www.smartfishways.com/news.html.
To date, we have developed specific management strategies to address hydrological variability. Among these innovations is the autonomous obstruction detection system for fishways, a significant advance detailed in our publication, "A Step to Smart Fishways: An Autonomous Obstruction Detection System Using Hydraulic Modeling and Sensor Networks." Obstructions represent a primary challenge for the functionality of fishways, which typically require periodic maintenance to remain effective. However, due to high costs and ambiguous regulations, this maintenance is often overlooked. The algorithm we developed tackles this issue by: (1) alerting maintenance teams when intervention is necessary, (2) decreasing the frequency of these maintenance visits, and (3) thereby reducing overall costs.
Additionally, our system has proven capable of evaluating the impact of hydrological variability on other man-made structures that impede fish migration, as discussed in "Fish Upstream Passage through Gauging Stations: Experiences with Iberian Barbel in Flat-V Weirs." This insight has led to the modification of several anthropogenic barriers within the Duero river basin throughout 2022-2023, enhancing their compatibility with fish migration.
The preliminary outcomes from the initial migration campaign and targeted experimental tests underscore the critical role of natural hydrological variability in the efficiency of fishways. These findings have facilitated the development of management practices, as outlined in "Effect of Hydrological Variability on Fishways and Its Implications in their Management," which is currently under review. It is clear that management strategies must be flexible, necessitating ongoing monitoring.
Following this, we have implemented a novel feedback controller algorithm, designed to recommend management actions aimed at optimizing fishway performance, specifically to maximize fish passage. The algorithm employs a pre-trained random forest model that utilizes all collected data to estimate an index of fish ascents.
Potential Impacts:
The socio-economic and wider societal implications of our work are profound. By improving fishway functionality and efficiency, our project directly contributes to the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. This has potential benefits for biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, and the protection of water resources, aligning with broader environmental and socio-economic goals.
Future Directions:
Our immediate focus will be on continuing the dissemination of our project's results, securing the protection of our innovations, completing the pending scientific papers, and expanding the project's scope. For the latest updates, a comprehensive collection of our publications, and further information, please visit www.smartfishways.eu.
Additionally, our system has proven capable of evaluating the impact of hydrological variability on other man-made structures that impede fish migration, as discussed in "Fish Upstream Passage through Gauging Stations: Experiences with Iberian Barbel in Flat-V Weirs." This insight has led to the modification of several anthropogenic barriers within the Duero river basin throughout 2022-2023, enhancing their compatibility with fish migration.
The preliminary outcomes from the initial migration campaign and targeted experimental tests underscore the critical role of natural hydrological variability in the efficiency of fishways. These findings have facilitated the development of management practices, as outlined in "Effect of Hydrological Variability on Fishways and Its Implications in their Management," which is currently under review. It is clear that management strategies must be flexible, necessitating ongoing monitoring.
Following this, we have implemented a novel feedback controller algorithm, designed to recommend management actions aimed at optimizing fishway performance, specifically to maximize fish passage. The algorithm employs a pre-trained random forest model that utilizes all collected data to estimate an index of fish ascents.
Potential Impacts:
The socio-economic and wider societal implications of our work are profound. By improving fishway functionality and efficiency, our project directly contributes to the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. This has potential benefits for biodiversity conservation, fisheries management, and the protection of water resources, aligning with broader environmental and socio-economic goals.
Future Directions:
Our immediate focus will be on continuing the dissemination of our project's results, securing the protection of our innovations, completing the pending scientific papers, and expanding the project's scope. For the latest updates, a comprehensive collection of our publications, and further information, please visit www.smartfishways.eu.