Oddbjørn Bruland is a Professor in Water Resources Engineering at NTNU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and serves as Program Leader for the MSc in Hydropower Development. He holds a PhD and master's from NTNU, and an executive master's in Technology Management from MIT/NHH/NTNU. His expertise spans hydropower optimization, flood risk management, snow hydrology, and digital transformation in environmental systems. Bruland's research focuses on: 1) Snow as a resource for hydropower/skiing through snowpack modeling and melt processes, 2) Flood risk mitigation using advanced hydrodynamic modeling and GIS tools, 3) Hydropower planning balancing techno-economic and socio-environmental factors, and 4) Digital innovation like VR visualization of natural hazards. His strategic initiatives include NTNU's 'World of Wild Waters' project and the HydroCen Labs infrastructure. Recent work emphasizes flash flood dynamics in steep Norwegian rivers, using models like TELEMAC-2D and high-performance computing. He leads projects like Trygg Elv (flood detection algorithms) and QuickAware (VR landslide awareness tools). His publications address critical issues in cold region hydrosystems, hydraulic infrastructure optimization, and climate adaptation strategies. Bruland has held leadership roles including Water Resources Group Leader (2016-2020), Board Chair for NTNU/NHH's Tech Management program, and Chair of Strindheim Ski Club. He advises on flood protection policies and infrastructure resilience, advocating for evidence-based decision-making in environmental management.





