Facilities & Capabilities
CSWM has a broad range of lab, field and software facilities and capabilities;
Laboratory Facilities
CSWM Nutrients Laboratory - Established in collaboration with CEH Lancaster this well equipped facility serves the analytical needs of a number of research projects and external bodies.
X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanner - X-TEK Benchtop CT160Xi. This is a benchtop scanner that uses the same principles as a biomedical CT scanner but can only image an object 70mm in diameter and 120mm tall ( although taller samples can be scanned in sections). The scanner provides a 3D volume image of the object in terms of X-ray attenuation (affected only on the density and atomic number of the material constituents). The volume is discretised into 1000 x 1000 x 1000 voxels and so for a 70mm cube object the resolution is 70µm. Similarly a 5mm cub would allow a 5µm resolution (the maximum possible).
Rainfall simulation lab - Our rainfall simulation lab is equiped with two rainfall simulators: a pressurised computer controlled simulator capable of producing different storm intensity profiles, and a gravity fed hyperdermic system suitable for small-scale work.
There is also a 4 x 1.5m soil flume and a RO grade water supply.
Soil physical analysis - We run a soil physical analysis lab, which is well equiped for basic analysis. It also houses a Malvern Mastersizer 2000 for sizing soils and sediments between 0.01 µm and 1 mm. We also run an ICP-OES for the analysis of soil and include waters.
Radiochemistry: - We have a laboratory facility dedicated to the analysis of radioactive substances in environmental matrices, including separate laboratories for radiochemical separations and counting. The counting lab is equipped with three gamma detectors (HPGe), 10 alpha detectors and 5 liquid scintillation spectrometers, including a Packard 3170 TR/SL with low-level capability and alpha/beta discrimination.
Field Platforms
Argus video system We have been working with the Wyre Borough Council since 2006 on the application of the Argus video system for long-term data collection and coastal management. Click on these links to view the webpages;
1. Monitoring
2. Daily Image Overview
The research group maintains a field experimental site at LEC’s Hazelrigg field station, and excellent relationships with a number of farmers who are prepared to host field experiments.
Andy Folkard’s group has access to the CEH Lake Ecosystems Group’s permanent monitoring buoy network and boat facilities on various Cumbrian lakes. This allows Andy Folkard’s group to carry out research using SCAMP (Self Contained Autonomous Micro Profiler) to characterise turbulent mixing and stratification – the basic physical framework which determines chemical and biological activity and characteristics – in lakes.
Geophysical equipment
We have a range of geophysical tools for studying the subsurface properties at a variety of scales:
- IRIS Syscal Pro 48 electrode, 10 channel DC resistivity and induced polarisation imaging unit.
- DMT Resecs 112 electrode, 6 channel, DC resistivity and induced polarisation imaging unit.
- Campus Geopulse 64 electrode DC resistivity imaging unit.
- 2 x Sensors and Software Pulse Ekko 100 ground penetrating radar systems with a range of surface and borehole antenna.
- Geonics EM38 and EM31 terrain conductivity meters.
- Frequency domain EM system: Stratagem EH4 4-channel unit.
- Time domain EM system: EMIT SMARTem V receiver, Zonge NT-20 transmistter.
- 48 channel Geometrics Geode Seismic reflection/refraction field system.
Software
A number of software packages produced by the Centre for Sustainable Water Management are available for download. For software used in the production of publications that isn’t found here please email the authors.
Freeware
The following are available free of charge for non commercial use. Further details are in the manuals included in each of the downloads.
Generalised Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation (GLUE) - a tool for performing a basic analysis, useful for teaching. (Windows)
Digital Terrain Analysis – software for calculating the topographic index used in the original TOPMODEL implementation. Includes automated filling of sinks. (Windows)
TOPMODEL – an implementation of the original TOPMODEL concept. An example application is also available. (Windows)
Transfer Function Model – an application of a form of data based mechanistic model for rainfall-flow modelling. (Windows)
ProfileR – software for the 2-D Inversion of Surface Resistivity Data. Current version 2.5. (Windows)
EUROSEM - a truly dynamic and distributed soil erosion model for use in field and small catchments for single events. (Windows, code)
Commercial
CAPTAIN is a MATLAB® compatible toolbox for non stationary time series analysis, system identification, signal processing and forecasting.