Current projects at the VHO and AdMaS institutes
Implementation of biochar for adsorption of rainwater pollution from green roofs
Program: Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic – OP TAK – Application – DEEP TECH – Call III
Research institutions:
Institute of Municipal Water Management – co-recipient
ASIO NEW – recipient
Project period: 01.01.2026 – 31.08.2027
Project objective: The objective of the project is to address the activation process of pyrolysis technology for organic materials, specifically waste wood, and subsequent research into biochar-based adsorption materials. It is expected that steam-activated biochar may exhibit an increase in specific surface area (SBET) of approximately 30–40% compared to conventional biochar. Activated biochar also allows the capture of heavy metals, nutrients (e.g., phosphorus), pesticide residues, and microplastics from rainwater, with preliminary tests showing capture of >80% phosphorus and 60–70% heavy metals. Another goal of the project is to design a filtration assembly as a modular system that can be supplemented, if necessary, with materials for water softening, UV lamps, etc. The project has application potential in the purification of rainwater from green roofs, but also in other elements of existing urban infrastructure.
MONIWATER – Prediction and detection of blockages and storm surges in sewer networks using artificial intelligence
Program: MPO, TWIST_1VS – TWIST Program – Subprogram 1 “Applied Research in Strategic Areas (1st Public Competition)
Research institutions:
Institute of Municipal Water Management – co-recipient
VDT Technology a.s. – recipient
Pražské vodovody a kanalizace, a.s. – co-recipient
Project period: 01.09.2025 – 31.08.2027
Project objective: The objective of the project is to develop and test a functional prototype system that will enable early warning of crisis situations, which should contribute to reducing maintenance costs and mitigating negative impacts on infrastructure and the environment.
Research and development of drinking water supply technology in case of emergencies in the upstream distribution system
Program:MPO, TWIST_1VS – TWIST Program – Subprogram 1 “Applied Research in Strategic Areas (1st Public Competition)
Research institutions:
Institute of Municipal Water Management – co-recipient
D-PLUS PROJEKTOVÁ A INŽENÝRSKÁ a.s. – recipient
Pražské vodovody a kanalizace, a.s. – co-recipient
VDT Technology a.s. – co-recipient
Project period: 01.09.2025 – 31.08.2027
Project objective: The objective of the project is to use industrial research and experimental development to design a new comprehensive system that will combine mathematical modeling of the distribution network with real-time measurement of flow and pressure conditions in the water supply system, data transmission, immediate evaluation, and feedback into the system in the form of effective water distribution control. The system will thus be able to provide timely predictions of water consumption, undesirable phenomena in the system, fault diagnostics, or data for preparing for emergency situations.
URBAN WATERCARE 2025: A comprehensive approach to sustainable water management in cities and municipalities
Program: BUT – Internal projects at BUT
Research center: Institute of Municipal Water Management
Project period: 01.03.2025 – 28.02.2026
Project objective: The project focuses on key challenges facing water management infrastructure in cities and municipalities. Thematic work modules PM1, PM2, and PM3 deal with mathematical modeling of drinking water supply systems and innovative approaches to wastewater treatment.
Implementation of advanced pressure sewerage management technology into production and operational practice
Program: OP TAK, Support Program Application, Call I.
Research centers: PRESSKAN system, a.s., Prostějov and Institute of Municipal Water Management BUT Brno
Project period: 01.09.2024 – 31.05.2028
Project objective: The project further develops and implements an industrial solution for optimizing pressure sewer operation, which is protected by European patent No. EP3263786B1. Both project partners have a long-term cooperation in this area, which has now also been supported by a subsidy in the form of a grant project from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic. The aim of the project is to implement technology for automatic flushing of pressure sewer systems into the production and operational practice of pressure sewer systems so that the existing elements and components of pressure sewer systems are adapted to the requirements of the new technology. To verify the possibilities of using mathematical modeling methods for simulation and prediction of wastewater quality in pressure sewer networks. As part of industrial research, procedures that can be used in the automatic flushing process will first be verified and tested in a laboratory environment.
Assessment of the significance of the impact of healthcare facilities on the load of micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment plants
Program: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic – 7th public competition of the Environment for Life program_PP1
Research institutions:
AdMaS
– recipient (08.09.2023 – not specified)
ALS Czech Republic, s.r.o.
– co-recipient (May 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2026)
Botanical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i.
– co-recipient (May 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2026)
Project period: 01.05.2024 — 31.12.2026
Project objective: The aim of the project is to determine the impact of healthcare facilities on the overall load of micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and to assess the suitability of decentralized reduction of these substances at highly loaded healthcare sources. The project will be implemented for two model cities, namely Brno in the category of over 100,000 population equivalents (PE) with many specialized healthcare facilities serving the entire region, and a city in the South Moravian Region (a city such as Ivančice, Blansko, Vyškov) in the category of over 10,000 PE with one significant healthcare facility of local importance. This project is being submitted in connection with the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on urban waste water treatment (2022/0345/COD), which stipulates the obligation to monitor and reduce micropollutant pollution at waste water treatment plants from 2036 for WWTPs with a population equivalent of over 100,000 EO, and from 2041 for WWTPs with a capacity of over 10,000 EO.
More information: https://www.vut.cz/vav/projekty/detail/35846
Center for Environmental Research: Waste and Circular Economy and Environmental Safety
Program: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic – 2nd public tender Program to support applied research, experimental development, and innovation in the field of the environment – Environment for Life
Research institutions:
AdMaS Center – co-recipient
BUT, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Process Engineering – recipient
BUT, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Automotive and Transportation Engineering – co-recipient
BUT, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Building Materials and Components Technology – co-recipient
Project period: 01.01.2021 – 31.12.2026
Project objective: The objective of the Environmental Research Center for Waste and Circular Economy project is to establish a long-term, professional, interdisciplinary research base consisting of key research organizations with long-term expertise and professional capacity to conduct research in the field of waste and circular economy in a broader context. The Center’s activities bring together the natural sciences, technical sciences, and humanities in a multidisciplinary way.