Strengthening EU-China Collaboration: TUdi Workshop and Symposium in China

A workshop on the application and understanding of erosion models, jointly organised by Beijing Normal University, The Spanish National Research Council  (CSIC), Czech Technical University (CTU) and the Austrian Federal Agency for Water Management (BAW), took place at the Zhuhai Campus of Beijing Normal University, Guangdong Province in China, on 11-13 April 2025. 

Researchers from China and Europe discussed current challenges in terms of process understanding, input data availability and selection, and the performance of currently used simulation models. 

As a basis for model comparison, TUdi partner Peter Strauss from BAW provided a data set from the catchment of the Hydrological Open Air Laboratory in Petzenkirchen, Austria. Results from different erosion modelling approaches and models (e.g. RUSLE, WATEM/SEDEM, BNU-SWEM and SWAT) were analysed and compared. Based on this, the development and application of erosion models and potential outcomes for joint research and data sharing were discussed. The open exchange aimed to reveal which processes may not be well represented in the model of choice and how challenges can be overcome.

TUdi presentation at erosion workshop, Beijing Normal University, April 2025

Following collaboration activities between Europe and China, on 15 April 2025, partners from BAW, Burgas Free University, BOKU University, CSIC, and CTU held a symposium titled “From in-situ field monitoring to modelling”. The event was hosted by Prof. Zhang Shouhong at the School of Soil and Water Conservation at Beijing Forestry University. 

Chinese and European researchers and students discussed several presentations on various topics, including soil erosion and compaction control measures, flash flood and sediment transport risks, and uncertainties in erosion modelling, as part of efforts to strengthen research cooperation.

“From in-situ field monitoring to modelling” symposium, Beijing Forestry University, April 2025