City & Environment
In a context of global change (climate change, urban sprawl or densification, regulatory changes related to the WFD, emergence of new pollutants, changing practices, etc.), sustainable urban development must control both its impact and its vulnerability with regard to the water cycle. The research carried out on the theme of Cities & the Environment within the GERS department is based on observation and modeling and focuses on three areas:
- urban water management and adaptation to global changes;
- environmental assessment of urban soils and recycled materials;
- Hydrographic networks, flash floods, and flood risks.
This work is supported by the Nantes Observatory of Urban Environments (ONEVU), which the department has coordinated since its creation in 2006 and which is now part of the National Observation Service (SNO) Observil. The unit also contributes to the Cévennes Vivarais Hydro-Meteorological Observatory and has contributed to the HYMEX structural research program.
Twenty-four permanent staff members (14 researchers/engineers, 9 technicians, 1 administrative staff member) are currently working on this topic.
Numerous scientific partnerships have been developed internally at the regional level (Agrocampus Ouest, IMN, IRSTV, OSUNA, University of Nantes, etc.) and at the national level (CEREMA, CNRM, ENGEES, ENPC, ENTPE, IGE, INSA Lyon, IRSN, IRSTEA, Universities of Franche-Comté, Lorraine, Poitiers, Strasbourg, etc.). It is worth highlighting the close links between the department and the Institute for Research in Urban Science and Technology (IRSTV, a CNRS research federation). The department is also heavily involved in OSUNA.