Manuela Wimmer

Prof. Dr. Manuela Wimmer serves as Professor of Environmental Engineering at Hof University of Applied Sciences within the Faculty of Engineering Sciences. She leads the research group "Sustainability and Project Management in Water Management" at the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa) and heads the "Sustainable Water Management and Engineering" study program. Previously, she directed the Institute for Water and Energy Management (iwe) from 2015 to 2020 before its integration into inwa.

Her research bridges environmental engineering and digital innovation in water systems, focusing on smart water infrastructure, sustainability frameworks, and project management methodologies. Key investigations include IoT applications for groundwater protection, data-driven decision systems in water supply, and risk assessment of digital transformation in municipal utilities. She examines how technologies like AI and sensor networks enhance resource efficiency while addressing cybersecurity and regulatory challenges.

Publications reveal a consistent emphasis on practical implementation of digitalization in Germany's water sector, with the SmaDiWa study establishing benchmarks for technological adoption. Her work identifies critical gaps between theoretical potential and operational realities, particularly regarding legacy infrastructure integration and workforce reskilling.

Prof. Wimmer actively supervises student research in environmental engineering and project management, guiding theses on nanofiltration systems, wastewater optimization, solar-powered purification, and digital project tools. She facilitates industry collaborations where students address real-world challenges like industrial water recycling and smart grid integration.

She directs the inwa research group focused on sustainable water project lifecycle management and participates in strategic water initiatives through the Bavarian Environmental Cluster and DVGW.