Objective Problems to be solvedThe objective of the project is to assess the degree of interference of anthropogenic activities with the hydrosphere in mountain regions. For this purpose, six regions have been selected. Analyses of various factors of agricultural, industrial activities affecting the hydrosphere will permit to assess the efficiency of imposed measures to protect the hydrosphere. The investigation will be carried out on two scales: detailed and regional. This study will also consider the results of monitoring and earlier data filed in archives that would allow to reconstruct the evolution of hydrosphere in studied regions during the last 40 years. The modelling will allow to simulate various alternatives in term of landscape-use leading to an optimum one from the viewpoint of water management.Scientific objectives and approachResults of this work must permit to predict the influences on water (in quantity and in quality) of various landscape-use scenario, in order to give a preference for the choices in land-planning , compatible with a sustainable development. Our project will focus on the following topics:-to identify and solve the correlation between individual factors which influence the quality and volume of water resources in mountain areas.- suggestions for optimum local development from the viewpoint of groundwater protection. Partial output of this work will be the assessment of efficiency of implementation of E.U. and national directives on groundwater protection.- The ultimate objective of the LOWRGREP project is the creation of the ECEMEWAM system (European Centre for Mutual Exchange of Experience in Water management in Mountain Regions) which will lead to a set up of project's own WWW pages. This will provide all data on optimum exploitation from the viewpoint of groundwater protection (general information) and data from yet studied areas to any client interested in the problem. In the case of some very specific issue, the client will be offered to contact an appropriate specialist .The first stage involves collection of all environmental data, their transfer into electronic form and their preliminary processing using a Geographical Information System. The second stage consists in monitoring catchments with two different scales (local and regional). A model will be built up in order to describe the water balance and the trends in water quality under various conditions. The final stage is the design of a software, HYDRODESUSMA: Hydrogeological Decision Support System in Mountain Areas; this software is aimed at the presentation and analysis of all the obtained data and knowledge in user-friendly form that can be easily interpreted by potential users. The system will be designed so that it will be able to integrate further data from the studied regions, to upgrade obtained results and react to further demands.Expected impactsThe HYDRODESUSMA software will serve to solve practical problems such as:· Water management problems. · Limits for tourism:· Demarcation or re-evaluation of protected zones. · Definition or extension of protective measures.· Socio-economic considerations derived from the obtained data· Quantification of rising job opportunities in relation to increasing tourism.· Basic data for establishing appropriate regime inside the protective zones of nature reserves and national parks. Benefit for the environment will be a better protection of water and a better use of landscape in the viewpoint of environmental management. Fields of science natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwarenatural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologyengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringnatural resources managementwater management Programme(s) FP5-EESD - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Energy, environment and sustainable development, 1998-2002" Topic(s) 1.1.4.-1. - Key action Sustainable Management and Quality of Water Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator ASSOCIATION POUR LA RECHERCHE ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT DES METHODES ET PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELS EU contribution No data Address Avenue des Clavieres 6 30319 ALES France See on map Total cost No data Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CHARLES UNIVERSITY PRAGUE Czechia EU contribution No data Address Albertov 6 128 43 PRAHA 2 See on map Total cost No data ECOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DES TECHNIQUES INDUSTRIELLES ET DES MINES D'ALES France EU contribution No data Address Avenue de Clavières 6 30319 ALES See on map Total cost No data LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH Germany EU contribution No data Address Luisenstraße 37 80333 MUENCHEN See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE DE MADRID Spain EU contribution No data Address Ciudad Universitaria 28040 MADRID See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZA Spain EU contribution No data Address Pedro Cerbuna 12 50009 ZARAGOZA See on map Total cost No data VODNI ZDROJE GLS Czechia EU contribution No data Address K Botici 6 100 10 PRAHA 10 See on map Total cost No data