Michael Tritthart

Michael Tritthart is an Associate Professor of Hydraulics, Hydrodynamics, and Hydroinformatics at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), where he is affiliated with the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering, Hydraulics, and River Research. His research spans numerical modeling of sediment transport, river morphodynamics, and ecohydraulic systems, with a focus on the Danube River and reservoir sedimentation. He has held academic positions since 2009 at BOKU, progressing from Senior Scientist to Assistant and then Associate Professor.

His research interests include hydraulic engineering, hydrodynamics, sediment transport, numerical modeling (especially 3D CFD), river restoration, and ecohydraulics. His work integrates field measurements with advanced computational models to address challenges in river management, sedimentation in reservoirs, and ecological impacts of engineering interventions. He has contributed to numerous international conferences and collaborative projects, often in partnership with institutions like Deltares and researchers such as Helmut Habersack.

The trends in his recent publications highlight a strong focus on sediment management in reservoirs, particularly in tropical and alpine contexts, using integrated physical and numerical modeling. His work emphasizes practical applications in river engineering, including groyne field optimization, side channel reconnection, and the development of technical toolkits like RESSED for reservoir sedimentation. He frequently employs large-eddy simulation (LES) and Euler-Lagrangian approaches to model complex hydrodynamic and sediment transport processes.

Scientific Awards:

• Reinhard Liepolt Prize for Danube Research (2014)
• Journal of Hydraulic Research Best Reviewer Award (2011)

Dr. Tritthart has supervised numerous academic theses and contributed to knowledge transfer in society through lectures and public engagement. He has also been involved in projects related to plastic transport in rivers, self-purification capacity of streams, and climate change impacts on water systems. His work bridges engineering, environmental science, and computational modeling to support sustainable water resource management.

He is based in Vienna and maintains active collaboration with European and international research networks in hydro-environmental engineering.