University of Guelph hosts engineering student for a summer project on 2-D flood modelling into research Ontario’s Spencer Creek Watershed
One Tunisian student is focusing on the Spencer Creek watershed in Dundas, Ontario (near Hamilton), in the hopes of understanding — and preventing — floods in the area and across Canada. Houssem Hmaidi is an engineering undergraduate at the University of Medjez El Bab who is spending his summer at the University of Guelph through Mitacs’ Globalink program. Under the supervision of Dr. Andrew Binns, he’s working on a 2-D modelling project that simulates real and staged flooding events in the region, using software developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Building on previous hydraulic modelling conducted by another student, Houssem’s 2-D flood inundation modelling is suitable to assess flood patterns in urbanized areas, where human habitation and development affect flood risk.
“By modelling real and simulated floods, the program helps researchers develop prevention and response plans,” Houssem explains. “We also gain insight into morphology, or how a body of water changes shape over time, and sediment transport, and how all these factors affect flooding and what we can do to prevent it. Existing research from other Canadian creeks, rivers, and watersheds also helps inform the project.”
Although Houssem was relatively new to research as an engineering student, support from Dr. Binns has helped him hit the ground running: “My professor has been so helpful and patient as I get adjusted and learn more about the project.” Houssem’s been fortunate to encounter similar kindness from the University of Guelph, residents around the city, and fellow Globalink research interns from around the world.
Houssem’s research project arose from his interest in pursuing an internship abroad. When he heard about Mitacs’ Globalink Research Internship from his university, he jumped at the chance to apply. “I wanted to do an internship abroad and was especially interested in going to Canada because I’m a big fan of Canada’s political landscape,” he says. “Now I’m preparing for my English proficiency certificate and hoping to return here for graduate studies. I’m living the dream.”
Mitacs thanks the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario for their support of the Globalink research internship in this story. Across Canada, the Globalink research internship program also receives support from Alberta Innovates, the Government of British Columbia, the Government of New Brunswick, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Nova Scotia, the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Government of Quebec, the Government of Sasketchewan and Research Manitoba.
In addition, Mitacs is pleased to work with the following international partners to support the Globalink program: Universities Australia; the China Scholarship Council; Campus France; the German Academic Exchange Service; Mexico’s Secretariat of Public Education, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and the National Autonomous University of Mexico; and Tunisia’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Mission Universitaire de Tunisie en Amerique du Nord.
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