Water and marine modelling

At Syke we have expertise ranging from small forest streams to large hydropower rivers. Our special expertise lies in improving the condition of running waters and utilizing scientific knowledge in their restoration. We provide in-depth ecological understanding and hydrological modeling for the restoration of rivers, streams, and small waters. 

The preparation of a restoration project includes selecting suitable physical, chemical, and biological methods, as well as catchment area management techniques. Environmental flows and ecological compensations can be used to mitigate the environmental impacts of power plants. To support decision-making, we can also assist in comparing the cost-effectiveness of alternatives and involving stakeholders in the planning process. If monitoring data on water quality and biology is collected before and after the restoration, it is easier to assess the achievement of restoration goals.

Our services: 

• Expert services for the application of ecological flow (environmental flow)
• Hydromorphological measurement and modeling services 
• Expert services for the monitoring and research of nature-like bypass channels
• Expert services for the ecological restoration of running waters
• Flow and habitat modelling services
• Expert services for hydraulic design of restoration
• Expert services for the ecological and socio-economic valuation of urban stream
• Decision-support services for water resource projects
• Training and advisory services on the restoration and monitoring of running waters

Our related projects: 

• Assessment of the constructed urban stream in Imatra 2022
• Assessment of environmental flows in Georgia 2013

More about the topic:

• Pages of the National Water Management and Restoration Network (waterinfo.fi) 
• Pages of Riverwiki (therrc.co.uk)

More information: 
Senior Researcher Saija Koljonen, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) 
service@environment.fi  (service=kunnostus)

We provide decision analysis and valuation support for complex planning situations that require decision-making and may involve conflicts. Application areas can include water regulation, watershed planning, ecosystem services, or environmental impact assessments.

MCDA is a systematic approach that helps plan and analyze environmental decisions comprehensively and transparently. It enables the comparison of impacts on different factors and scales, taking into account the perspectives of various stakeholders. It supports interactive planning, where stakeholders actively participate in defining goals, forming alternatives, and evaluating them. This promotes the discovery of common goals and consensus solutions. 

We have applied MCDA in several water resource management projects, such as developing water regulation, assessing fishway alternatives, and planning flood risk management. This approach has helped us find widely accepted solutions that consider economic, social, and ecological objectives. Additionally, we are developing MCDA to support environmental impact assessment procedures. 

Our services: 

• Systematic approaches to identifying and understanding problems
• Decision support services for the systematic evaluation of alternatives and their significance in environmental planning
• Supporting the assessment of cost-effectiveness and social acceptability of water resource projects
• Training services on the application of MCDA in environmental planning 

Examples of collaboration:

• ELY Centers: Use of MCDA to improve the sustainability of regulation of Finland's largest lakes and reservoirs. MCDA for river and lake restoration measures in several water bodies. 
• City of Jyväskylä: MCDA for restoration options of Tourujoki River in Jyväskylä 2014
• Georgia waters: Organizing a 2-day MCDA training and preparing MCDA guidance 2013 

Projects where we have applied MCDA:

• Comprehensive assessment of climate measures in catchment areas – System analysis towards carbon-neutral land use (SysteemiHiili) Catch the Carbon project (2021–2023)
• Right methods for the right problems – Portfolio decision analysis for better environmental management (PORTRIGHT) Academy project (2019–2023)
• Goal-oriented and multi-value approach in urban planning and stormwater management, part of the ATeNAS project (2019-2022)
• Utilization of system analytical methods in agricultural nutrient cycling (2019)
• Winland project ('From Failand to Winland') STN project (2016–2019) 

Our publications on the application of MCDA in environmental projects:

• Marttunen, M., Mustajoki, J., Lehtoranta, V., Saarikoski, H. (2022). Complementary use of the ecosystem service concept and multicriteria decision analysis in water management. Environmental Management, 69, 719–734. (link.springer.com)
• Mustajoki, J., Saarikoski, H., Belton, V., Hjerppe, T., Marttunen, M. (2020). Utilizing ecosystem service classifications in multi-criteria decision analysis – Experiences of peat extraction case in Finland. Ecosystem Services, 41, 101049, pp. 11. (sciencedirect.com)
• Saarikoski, H., Mustajoki, J., Hjerppe, T., Aapala, K. (2019). Participatory multi-criteria decision analysis in valuing peatland ecosystem services – Trade-offs related to peat extraction vs. pristine peatlands in Southern Finland. Ecological Economics, 162, 17–28. (sciencedirect.com)
• Marttunen, M., Mustajoki, J. (2018). Use of expert-generated stakeholder preference profiles in Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis – Experiences from an urban planning case. Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 20(3), 1840002, pp. 29. (worldscientific.com)
• Marttunen, M., Lienert, J., Belton, V. (2017). Structuring problems for Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis in practice: A literature review of method combinations. European Journal of Operational Research, 263(1), 1–17. (sciencedirect.com)
• Mustajoki, J., Marttunen, M. (2017). Comparison of multi-criteria decision analytical software for supporting environmental planning processes. Environmental Modelling & Software, Volume 93, July 2017, 78-91. (sciencedirect.com)
• Saarikoski, H., Mustajoki, J., Barton, D., Geneletti, D., Langemeyer, J., Gomez-Baggethun, E., Marttunen, M., Antunes, P., Keune, H., Santos, R. (2016). Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and Cost-Benefit Analysis: Comparing alternative frameworks for integrated valuation of ecosystem services. Ecosystem Services, 22, 238–249. (sciencedirect.com)
• Marttunen, M., Mustajoki, J., Dufva, M., Karjalainen, T.P. (2015). How to design and realize participation of stakeholders in MCDA processes? A framework for selecting an appropriate approach. EURO Journal on Decision Processes, 3(1), 187–214. (sciencedirect.com)

More Information
Group Manager Mika Marttunen, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
service@syke.fi (service=MCDA)

With climate change, changing temperatures and precipitation affect Finland's hydrology and water management. Changes in lake regulation practices can help adapt to the impacts of climate change. Assessments of changes in flooding help in regional planning, dam safety issues, and preparing for changes in stormwater.

The Syke Watershed simulation and forecasting system (WSFS) can be used together with climate scenarios to assess the impacts of climate change on water levels, floods, droughts, and nutrient loads. Changes in stormwater flows can be assessed using a surface runoff model.

Assessing changes in floods is essential to maintain adequate preparedness, including dam safety. Land use and water management planning must also prepare for climate change. Changing lake regulation practices is an important means of adapting to the impacts of climate change. The water modelling system WSFS-Vemala is used to assess future scenarios with different climate scenarios and the effectiveness of various regulation practices under varying conditions.

Our services:

• Assessments of the impacts of climate change on flows and water levels, floods and droughts, and stormwater flows
• Assessments of the impacts of climate change on floods for dam safety and planning purposes
• Assessments of the need for and alternatives to changes in regulation practices due to climate change 

Our publications related to the topic: 

• Veijalainen, N., Korhonen, J., Vehviläinen, B., Koivusalo, H. Modelling and statistical analysis of catchment water balance and discharge in Finland in 1951-2099 using transient climate scenarios. (2012) Journal of Water and Climate Change (2012) 3 (1): 55–78. (iwaponline.com)
• Veijalainen, N., Lotsari, E., Alho, P., Vehviläinen, B., Jukka Käyhkö, J, National scale assessment of climate change impacts on flooding in Finland. (2010). Journal of Hydrology, Volume 391, Issues 3–4, 24 September 2010, p. 333-350. (sciencedirect.com)
• Veijalainen, N.; Ahopelto, L.; Marttunen, M.; Jääskeläinen, J.; Britschgi, R.; Orvomaa, M.; Belinskij, A.; Keskinen, M. 2019. Severe Drought in Finland: Modeling Effects on Water Re-sources and Assessing Climate Change Impacts. Sustainability, 11(8), 2450. (mdpi.com)
• Parjanne, P., Rytkönen, A.-M., Veijalainen, N. 2021. Framework for climate proofing of flood risk management strategies in Finland. Water security 14: 10096. (researchgate.net)

More about the topic:

• Water situation (waterinfo.fi)
• Watershed simulation and forecasting system (WSFS)

More Information
Hydrologist Noora Veijalainen, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke),
service@ymparisto.fi  (service= vesistomallinnus)

We provide services for assessing water flows, the transport of substances (e.g., nutrients, suspended solids, and environmental toxins), and water quality in rivers, lakes, or coastal areas. We can produce forecast calculations to support environmental planning and decision-making by selecting the best option. We have assessed the impacts of wastewater, aquaculture, water construction, and regulation, and predicted future water quality developments. 

We have participated in numerous water planning and risk management projects. The range of methods we use extends from high-resolution local models to extensive coupled model systems. We can adapt the models to suit each situation. Ice cover and its formation can also be included in the calculations. 

The models we use include:

• In lake modelling COHERENS (3-D, 2-D) and MyLake (1-D).
• In river modelling SOBEK (1-D, 2-D) and COHERENS (2-D, 3-D) (excluding rapids)
• In hydrology and catchment water quality modelling:  WSFS-Vemala
• In coastal water quality modelling: WSFS-Vemala and FICOS

Our publications related to the topic

• Aalto, S. L., Saarenheimo, J., Ropponen, J., Juntunen, J., Rissanen, A. J., Tiirola, M. (2018). Sediment diffusion method improves wastewater nitrogen removal in the receiving lake sediments Water Research Volume 138, 1 July 2018, p. 312-322. (sciencedirect.com)
• Juntunen, J., Meriläinen, P., Simola, A. (2017). Public health and economic risk assessment of waterborne contaminants and pathogens. Science of The Total Environment Volumes 599–600, 1 December 2017, p. 873-882. (sciencedirect.com)
• Happonen, M., Koivusalo, H., Malve, M., Perkola, N., Juntunen, J., Huttula, T.  (2016) Contamination risk of raw drinking water caused by PFOA sources. Science of The Total Environment Volume 541, 15 January 2016, p. 74-82. (sciencedirect.com)

Examples of collaboration

• Turun Seudun Vesi Oy: Harmful substances - Pathways, health risks, and management
• Jyväskylän Energia: Assessment of the risk caused by backflow on the water quality of Tuomiojärvi
• Etelä-Karjala Regional Council: Improving the water quality of Lake Saimaa with pumping solutions
• Ramboll Oy, City of Tampere: Water impact assessments related to the construction of Hiedanranta 

More information
Researcher Janne Ropponen, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
service@syke.fi (service= vesistomallinnus)
 

Hydraulic models help identify potential flood areas and assist in land use planning, rescue operations, and communication. Hydraulic modelling also provides tools to simulate dam breaks and the transport of harmful substances in water bodies.

The models we use for describing river geometry include:   

• Hydraulic geometry model of river bathymetry and flood heights using, for example, a digital elevation model (DEM) 
• Using ArcGIS or QGIS applications (open source) and HEC-RAS application (available for free)
• Preparing HEC-RAS model based on geometry, 1D or 2D modeling (including dam break, river ice, and lake regulation analyses), model calibration, and simulation of desired scenarios including uncertainty analyses (e.g., different flood probabilities) 

Our services:

• Hydraulic modelling and flood risk management planning
• Hydraulic mapping at different stages (river geometry, modelling, calibration, and simulation)
• Courses on hydraulic and flood modelling, either on the entire topic or specific areas 

More about the topic

• Water situation (waterinfo.fi)
• Hydraulic modelling and mapping services - video (youtube.com)

Examples of collaboration

• Regional Andean Program to Enhance Weather, Water, and Climate Services and Development (PRASDES), 2016
• Latvia: Flood Information System acquisition and integration into Integrated Environmental Information system in Latvia. Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, 2015
• Georgia: Adaptation to climate change in Georgia through improved capacities on flood risk management, 2012-2014 

More information
Chief Engineer Mikko Huokuna, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
service@environment.fi (service=floodmapping)

At Syke we have comprehensive expertise in flood modelling and mapping. Mapping flood risks is essential for effective flood risk management. Flood maps and the flow models used as their base data can identify potential flood-prone areas and help in land use planning, rescue operations, and communication. Flow models can also simulate the transport of hazardous substances in water bodies.

You can explore flood maps of Finland on waterinfo.fi (in Finnish)
Hydraulic modelling and mapping services - video (youtube.com)

We have developed new methods for national flood risk management needs and widely applied existing solutions used nationally and internationally in flood risk management. We can produce solutions that account for uncertainties, even in rare and challenging cases.

Our expertise includes:

• Flow modeling (e.g., HEC-RAS 1D and 2D models for running waters, dam breaks, transport modeling)
• Geospatial expertise (ArcGIS, QGIS)
• Flood damage assessment
• Ice jam expertise
• Regulation expertise

We can tailor a comprehensive flood training package or offer our expertise for specific work phases as needed. Training can be designed using the client's own data and, where possible, open-source software. This way, the learning process and its benefits become quickly tangible.

Extensive experience in various types of projects

Our project experience ranges from individual channel sections to large water bodies. In addition to our own agency, we are familiar with ELY Centers, municipalities, and key players in the field, and we have experience in international projects. Feedback from ELY Centers and international partners on our training has been very positive.

We have conducted extensive training covering the entire flood mapping process, from flow modeling to a finished flood map service, in the 2010s:

• Latvia: Flood Information System acquisition and integration into Integrated Environmental Information system in Latvia. Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, 2015
• Georgia: Adaptation to climate change in Georgia through improved capacities on flood risk management, 2012-2014
• South America: Regional Andean Programme to Enhance Weather, Water, Climate Services and Development PRASDES, 2016
• China: Guangdong Hydropower Planning and Design Institute, 2014
• Numerous HEC-RAS and flood map training sessions for the environmental administration 

In addition, we have conducted shorter one-day training sessions or lectures on floods and preparedness at various events (e.g., Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences' water management continuing education). Events have been organized for ELY Centers, universities, and municipalities. 

Our publications related to the topic

• Väisänen, S., Lehtoranta V., Parjanne, A., Rytkönen, A-M., Aaltonen, J. 2016. Resident’s willingness to invest on flood mitigation measures and to purchase flood insurance. FloodRisk2016. Conference paper. 8 s.   (e3s-conferences.org)
• Kämäri, M., Alho, P., Veijalainen, N., Aaltonen, J., Huokuna, M., Lotsari, E. 2015. River ice cover influence on sediment transportation at present and under projected hydroclimatic conditions.    Hydrological Processes, vol 29, issue 22. pages 4738–4755, 30 October 2015.  (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
• Parjanne, A., Huokuna M. 2014. Tulviin varautuminen rakentamisessa - opas alimpien rakentamiskorkeuksien määrittämiseksi ranta-alueilla. YO 2014. Suomen ympäristökeskus. Ympäristöopas 2014. 80 s. (helda.helsinki.fi, In Finnish)
• Veijalainen, N., Jakkila, J., Nurmi, T., Vehviläinen, B., Marttunen, M., Aaltonen, J. 2012. Suomen vesivarat ja ilmastonmuutos – vaikutukset ja muutoksiin sopeutuminen. WaterAdapt-projektin loppuraportti. Suomen ympäristö 16/2012. (helda.helsinki.fi, In Finnish)
• Huokuna, M. 2011. Selvitys jäitä pidättävien rakenteiden vaikutuksista jääpatojen aiheuttamiin vedenkorkeuksiin Kokemäenjoen alaosalla. 2011. Porin tulvasuojeluhankkeen tutkimuksia (cms.pori.fi In Finnish)

More information                                                                                                               
Development Engineer Juha Aaltonen
Development Engineer Tanja Dubrovin 
Chief Engineer Mikko Huokuna 
Development Engineer Mikko Sane 
service@syke.fi (service=floodmapping) or firstname.lastname@syke.fi

The EU Priority Substances Directive has set environmental quality standards for selected substances and metals that should not be exceeded in natural surface waters. The forms and toxicity of metals in the aquatic environment are closely linked to water quality. Mechanistic biotic ligand models have been developed to assess both the bioavailable fraction of metals and concentrations safe for organisms. Currently, models exist for several metals (e.g., Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Co, and Ag). 

At Syke, we use these models to assess the risks of metal concentrations in various surface water bodies. We also participate in the development of these models by providing the necessary toxicity test data. For practical regulatory work, we have published guides on the use of these models. Additionally, we conduct development work where models are used to assess the ecological impacts of metal emissions downstream of discharge sites. 

Our publications on the topic (in Finnish)

• Laamanen T., Mäkinen J., Koivuhuhta A., Nilivaara-Koskela R., Karppinen A., Hellsten S. (Toim.) 2019. kaivosvesiä vastaanottavien vesistöjen hallinta ja kunnostaminen. KaiHali-projektin loppuraportti. Suomen ympäristökeskuksen raportteja 38/2019. (helda.helsinki.fi) 
• Siimes, K., Vähä, E., Junttila, V., Lehtonen, K.K., Mannio, J. (Toim.) 2019. Haitalliset aineet Suomen vesissä. Tilanne ja seurannan suuntaviivat. Suomen ympäristökeskuksen raportteja 8/2019. (helda.helsinki.fi) 
• Leppänen M.T., Peters A., Järvistö J., Baken S., Cooper C., Garmo Ø.A., Hoppe, S., Merrington G., Ndungu K., Perämäki S., Rasilainen M., Schlekat C. & Väisänen A. Are the Biotic Ligand Models (BLM) suitable for assessing the ecological risk of metals in Nordic freshwaters? Scientific article. To be submitted in 2025.

More about the topic
Bio-met.net
PNEC-pro - Leiden University (universiteitleiden.nl) 
Biotic Ligand Model - Windward Environmental LLC (windwardenv.com)

More information
Senior Researcher Matti Leppänen, Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) 
matti.t.leppanen (@) syke.fi