High-resolution river routing at large scales to analyze hydrographic patterns, risks and trends of Canadian and global freshwater resources

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My research program aims to enhance large-scale hydrological modeling schemes in order to analyze current geographic patterns and future trends of global and Canadian freshwater resources. My overarching research questions are: Why and where are freshwater resources at risk due to global environmental change, and how can we mitigate the anticipated effects? My scientific approach consists of three parts. First, I develop new and improved datasets of global hydrography (i.e. maps and databases of watersheds, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, dams, wetlands, waterfalls, urban water use, etc.) at unprecedented quality and resolution. To achieve this, I utilize and blend state-of-the-art methodologies from Geographic Information Science and Remote Sensing to derive scientifically rigorous and reliable data. Second, I enhance, modify, and adapt existing large-scale hydrological model concepts to create a new modeling framework. A cornerstone of these developments is the migration from a raster-based approach (as currently implemented in most global hydrological models) to a vector-based river routing scheme. And third, I apply the improved data and modeling framework to assess various cutting-edge hydrological, ecological or freshwater resources questions. My current efforts and mid-term plans include: river habitat classifications; strategic planning for integrated river basin management and large-scale reservoir operation; assessments of the effects of agricultural land use practices, urban water use, and climate change on downstream water quality and quantity; as well as new approaches in conservation hydrology and environmental flow assessments. In terms of novelty and significance, the combination of seamless data and new modeling techniques will allow for first-time studies at pan-Canadian and global extents at spatial and temporal resolutions that have previously been unachievable. My research program will also help to eliminate some of the most common data restrictions for large-scale hydrological modeling; e.g. several of my data products have already been integrated successfully in a variety of global and Canadian climate, land use and water resources models.