re•flect is a research project that aims to visualise the strategic use of daylight in river restoration, letting stakeholders co-design and reflect on restoration scenarios, helping rivers reflect again.
Founded by
Partners
Lead research institutes
Introduction
Imagine two streams: one in the city, hidden under roads in dark culverts, and another in the farmed countryside with fields running up to the stream edge. One stream is too dark, the other too light. Too little or too much daylight affects the water quality, water temperature, and stream biodiversity. Neither stream is visually appealing nor beneficial for wildlife.
Restoring the light regime in these streams can enhance ecosystems, biodiversity, and local quality of life. However, restoration goes beyond environmental engineering; it requires constructive engagement with people, who may have varied concerns—from land loss and flooding risks to wildlife preservation, recreational spaces, and aesthetic appeal.
We will advance research on the ecological and social aspects of daylight optimisation in river restoration, developing inclusive decision-making tools that support visualisation of current and future scenarios and enable collaborative design across diverse groups.
Many open watercourses in urban areas have been culverted for hygienic and aesthetic considerations.
This practice now poses a challenge for cities by mixing clean and contaminated water, necessitating comprehensive wastewater treatment.
The absence of vegetated riverbeds in culverts results in faster water flow and the loss of natural filtration processes.
Plants are unable to survive in the darkened conditions within culverts.
Most animal species avoid the interior of culverts, with only a few inhabiting the shaded areas near the entry or exit points.
When urban streams are buried:
When rural streams get too much daylight:
The banks of European rivers would naturally support trees and riparian woodlands.
However, in many places, agriculture and human infrastructures have replaced natural riparian woody vegetation.
This exposes rivers and streams to direct sunlight and higher temperatures, as well as agricultural pollutants
This threatens populations of fish such as salmon and trout which require cool, clean water to thrive.
Aims
Daylighting of culverted streams in Zürich
Shading of rural rivers in Scotland
Our Team
SCIENTIFIC LEAD
Professor, Planning for Biodiversity and Vegetation Development, the Institute of Environmental Planning, Leibniz Universität Hannover.
Research area: land system science, vegetation mapping and GIS analyses, urban ecology, green infrastructures, remote sensing with drones and satellite time series, ecosystem restoration, and integrated Landscape approaches
PROJECT LEAD
Full Professor, Ecosystem Management group, the Department of Environmental Sciences, ETH Zurich.
Board of NatureScot, the Scottis Government agency for biodiversity, conservation and restoration.
Research area: plant reproductive processes both in natural and human dominated environments, plant genetics, conservation and human livelihoods
POSTDOC SCIENTIST
Postdoc, Ecosystem Management group, the Department of Environmental Sciences, ETH Zurich.
Research area: landscape visualisation, landscape perception and preferences, ecosystem services, urban wetlands
CO-PI
Senior scientist, Institut für Umwelt- und Verfahrenstechnik (UMTEC), Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (OST) .
Research area: planning multi-functional blue green systems (Infrastructure and Policy) in urban areas
CO-PI
Senior scientist, Economics and Social Sciences group, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
Research area: social science research on landscape development, landscape services and natural hazards
PROJECT MANAGER
Senior scientist, Ecosystem Management group, the Department of Environmental Sciences, ETH Zurich.
Research area: developing and using dedicated tools to support stakeholders’ engagement such as agent-based models and role-playing games.
Our Research Progress
We are exploring various visualization tools and gathering stakeholder requirements.
Illustration Generated by ChatGPT4 with DALL-E
The first attempt of the Prompt
a realistic drawing of a meandering stream with European vegetation next to a street in an urban environment.
Prompt modified by ChatGPT4 and used for image generation
A realistic drawing depicting a meandering stream with European vegetation, such as willows, oaks, and shrubs, flowing beside a street in an urban environment. The scene should showcase a juxtaposition of nature and urbanity, with buildings visible in the background. The focus is on the stream, with clear water and smooth stones visible beneath the surface. Alongside the stream, a narrow, cobblestone street winds through the scene, lined with quaint European-style lampposts and small, picturesque buildings typical of a European city. The atmosphere should be serene, with soft sunlight filtering through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the stream and street.
Inpainting with Generative AI tool (Stable Diffusion) - 1
Inpainting with Generative AI tool (Stable Diffusion) - 2
Explore and modify riparian habitats in game engine (Unreal Engine)
Get Involved
We’re seeking participants to share insights and help shape our project. If you’re interested in discussing challenges you've encountered in past river restoration projects, using tools to communicate, and your preferences for the design of our new tool, we’d love to hear from you! The interview will take 1-1.5 hours, and your input will make a meaningful impact.
Take Part in Our Interview!
Join Our Advisory Board!
What is expected:
Attendance and Engagement: Participate in scheduled meetings and engage actively in discussions.
Strategic Input: Provide high-level guidance on the project’s direction, methodology, and impact goals.
Network Support: Leverage your professional network to assist with project dissemination, partnerships, and outreach if needed.
Confidentiality and Intellectual Property Respect: Maintain confidentiality regarding all project details, methodologies, and findings. Advisory board members are expected not to share, replicate, or disclose any project information to external parties or other research teams.
What you can expect from us:
Early Access to the Visualisation Tool: Exclusive opportunity to use and test our tools or resources prior to wider testing phases and academic publication.
Clear Communication and Regular Updates: Frequent updates on project progress, key findings, and any emerging challenges.
Structured Meetings: Scheduled advisory board meetings at key project milestones, with agendas shared in advance.
Opportunities for Input: Dedicated time for board members to provide insights, raise concerns, and contribute to decision-making processes.
Recognition of Contribution: Acknowledgment of your role and contributions in project publications, presentations, and other public outputs.
Interested? Contact us at xuezhu.zhai@usys.ethz.ch or click the button to join.