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Society - Water - Technology

A Critical Appraisal of Major Water Engineering Projects

  • Offers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the evaluation of major water engineering projects
  • Social and environmental aspects are taken in full consideration for the evaluation of technical projects
  • Gives an outlook on the perspectives of major water engineering projects, their relevance in the past and the future and on the undesired path dependencies as a result of their implementations
  • Includes a world-wide map with planned major water engineering projects and their expected effects on nature resources and societies
  • Shares valuable ideas for decisions makers on planning water management policies in a sustainable way and redirecting funding sources in ways that consider both environmental and human needs
  • Special focus is given to the possibilities of path creation in order to give new opportunities in locked in situations
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: Water Resources Development and Management (WRDM)

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Table of contents (17 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
  2. Context and Objectives

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Introduction: A Critical Appraisal of Major Water Engineering Projects and the Need for Interdisciplinary Approaches

      • Reinhard F. Hüttl, Oliver Bens, Christine Bismuth, Sebastian Hoechstetter, Hans-Georg Frede, Hans-Joachim Kümpel
      Pages 3-9Open Access
  3. Major Water Engineering Projects – Challenges, Problems, Opportunities

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 31-31
    2. Major Water Engineering Projects: Definitions, Framework Conditions, Systemic Effects

      • Sebastian Hoechstetter, Christine Bismuth, Hans-Georg Frede
      Pages 33-45Open Access
    3. A Global View on Future Major Water Engineering Projects

      • Klement Tockner, Emily S. Bernhardt, Anna Koska, Christiane Zarfl
      Pages 47-64Open Access
    4. Water Governance: A Systemic Approach

      • Petra Dobner, Hans-Georg Frede
      Pages 79-87Open Access
  4. The Fergana Valley – Uzbekistan’s Hydro-Agricultural System Between Inertia and Change

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 99-99
    2. Between Multiple Transformations and Systemic Path Dependencies

      • Timothy Moss, Petra Dobner
      Pages 101-111Open Access
    3. Where Water Meets Agriculture: The Ambivalent Role of Water Users Associations

      • Timothy Moss, Ahmad Hamidov
      Pages 149-167Open Access
  5. The Lower Jordan Valley – The Red Sea-Dead Sea Conveyance Project and Its Complex History

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 187-187
    2. Reclaiming the Dead Sea: Alternatives for Action

      • Abdallah I. Husein Malkawi, Yacov Tsur
      Pages 205-225Open Access

About this book

This book presents the results of the Interdisciplinary Research Group "Society – Water – Technology" of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities. It describes interdisciplinary evaluation criteria for major water engineering projects (MWEPs) and portrays an application to the Lower Jordan Valley (Middle East) and the Fergana Valley (Central Asia). Both areas are characterised by transboundary conflicts, by challenges due to demographic and climate change and by political and societal pressures. Based on the findings, the book provides recommendations for science and political decisions makers as well as for international financing institutions. In addition, it outlines research gaps from an interdisciplinary perspective.

In the past, MWEPs have been used as an instrument to cope with the demands of growing populations and to enhance development progress. Experiences with MWEPs have shown that a purely technical approach has not always brought about thedesired results. In many cases, MWEPs have even resulted in negative implications for society and environment. Therefore, improved management strategies and enhanced technologies for a sustainable water resource management system are a prerequisite to meet present and future challenges. And, moreover, the continuous evaluation and optimisation of these measures is, likewise, a must.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany

    Reinhard F. Hüttl

  • Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam – GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany

    Oliver Bens, Sebastian Hoechstetter

  • IRG Society - Water - Technology, Berlin - Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Berlin, Germany

    Christine Bismuth

About the editors

Reinhard F. Hüttl
Reinhard F. Hüttl is chairman of the board and scientific executive director of the German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (GFZ). He is member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) and president of the German Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech). He is a professor of the Soil Protection and Recultivation Department at the Brandenburg Technical University in Cottbus (BTU) and spokesperson of the Interdisciplinary Research Group “Society – Water – Technology” at the BBAW. Hüttl, R. F., Schwartze, S. (2013): Editorial: Zentralasien; ein Reallabor und Observatorium für die Geowissenschaften. System Erde, 3(2), p. 5–5.
Grünewald, U., Bens, O., Fischer, H., Hüttl, R. F. J., Kaiser, K., Knierim, A. (Eds.) (2012): Wasserbezogene Anpassungsmaßnahmen an den Landschafts- und Klimawandel, Stuttgart: Schweizerbart, 299.
Hüttl, R. F., Bens, O. (Eds.) (2012): Georessource Wasser – Herausforderung Globaler Wandel: Beiträgezu einer integrierten Wasserressourcenbewirtschaftung in Deutschland, acatech Studie, München.
Frede, H.-G., Bücker, A., Hüttl, R. F. et al. (2012): Wassernutzung und Wassereffizienz in Landschaften. In: Hüttl, R. F., Bens, O. (Eds.): Georessource Wasser – Herausforderung Globaler Wandel: Beiträge zu einer integrierten Wasserressourcenbewirtschaftung in Deutschland, acatech Studie, München, p. 91–157.
Germer, S., Bens, O., Hüttl, R. F. (2011): Global Change: Challenges for Regional Water Resources, Editorial. Die Erde, 142(1-2).
Hüttl, R. F, Emmermann, R., Germer, S., Naumann, M., Bens, O. (Eds.) (2011): Globaler Wandel und regionale Entwicklung. Anpassungsstrategien in der Region Berlin-Brandenburg, Heidelberg: Springer.

Oliver Bens
Oliver Bens is head of staff of the scientific executive board of the German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (GFZ). As a geoscientist, he is responsible for the research field earth and environment and in charge of media and communication at GFZ. He is a member of the Brandenburg Council for Sustainable Development.
Hoechstetter, S., Bens, O., Bismuth, C. (2013): Konflikte um die Georessource Wasser in Zentralasien: Analyse und Neuausrichtung von Entwicklungspfaden im Ferganatal. System Erde, 3(2) p. 50–55.
Grünewald, U., Bens, O., Fischer, H., Hüttl, R. F. J., Kaiser, K., Knierim, A. (Eds.) (2012): Wasserbezogene Anpassungsmaßnahmen an den Landschafts- und Klimawandel, Stuttgart: Schweizbart.
Hüttl, R. F., Bens, O. (Eds. ) (2012): Georessource Wasser – Herausforderung Globaler Wandel: Beiträge zu einer integrierten Wasserressourcenbewirtschaftung in Deutschland, acatech Studie, München.
Frede, H.-G., Bücker, A., Bens, O. et al. (2012): Wassernutzung und Wassereffizienz in Landschaften . In: Hüttl, R. F., Bens, O. (Eds.): Georessource Wasser – Herausforderung Globaler Wandel: Beiträge zu einer integrierten Wasserressourcenbewirtschaftung in Deutschland, acatech Studie, München, p. 91–157.
Germer, S., Bens, O. & Hüttl, R. F. (2011): Global Change : Challenges for Regional Water Resources, Editorial. Die Erde, 142(1-2).
Hüttl, R. F, Emmermann, R., Germer, S., Naumann, M., Bens, O. (Eds.) (2011): Globaler Wandel und regionale Entwicklung. Anpassungsstrategien in der Region Berlin-Brandenburg, Heidelberg: Springer.

Sebastian Hoechstetter
Sebastian Hoechstetter is a research consultant and a research associate at the German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam (GFZ). With a geoecological background his research interests include landscape ecology, climate adaptation, urban ecology and water research. He is a research associate in the Interdisciplinary Research Group “Society – Water – Technology” at the BBAW.
Hoechstetter, S., Bens, O., Bismuth, C. (2013): Konflikte um die Georessource Wasser in Zentralasien: Analyse und Neuausrichtung von Entwicklungspfaden im Ferganatal. System Erde, 3(2), p. 50–55.
Hoechstetter, S. (2009): Enhanced methods for analysing landscape structure: Landscape metrics for characterising three-dimensional patterns and ecological gradients, (Fernerkundung und angewandte Geoinformatik; 6), Rhombos Verlag.

Christine Bismuth
Christine Bismuth is the scientific coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Research Group “Society – Water – Technology” at the BBAW. She is an environmental scientist and has worked as a research associate at the Institute of Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Potsdam.
Hoechstetter, S., Bens, O., Bismuth, C. (2013): Konflikte um die Georessource Wasser in Zentralasien: Analyse und Neuausrichtung von Entwicklungspfaden im Ferganatal. System Erde, 3(2), p. 50–55.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access