Katia Chancibault

Biography

Since 2007, my research has turned to urban hydrology. In line with my host laboratory, the entire water cycle in urban areas is studied: not only the transfer of rainwater in sanitation networks or at the surface but also exchanges between urban areas and the atmosphere and the transfer of ground water to networks. The aim of my medium and long-term work is firstly to better understand the water cycle at the scale of an urban area in connection with the microclimate. Secondly the development of an expert numerical tool to support local authorities in implementing their urban development regulatory documents as part of an adaptation component of their climate and energy plan.

Initially, my work has been aimed pouring suburban basins where the issues of "natural" hydrology and urban hydrology are concurrent. Improved knowledge on the hydrological response of these basins was possible using an analysis of observed data and the development of a hydrological model adapted to suburban areas (Furusho et al, 2013, 2014).

Then, I worked in the development of a urban hydro-climate model to simulate both water and energy balances at the scale of a city. The complexity of the drainage system at this scale where the different types of networks interact (rivers, combined systems and separative stormwater networks) was taken into account (Allard, 2015 (PhD), Chancibault et al, 2020). Now, calibration and evaluation issues of such a model in relation to the interaction between water and energy balances, simulating several more or less urban watersheds with different hydrological responses are at the heart of my work (Stavropulos-Laffaille et al., 2018, 2021, Bernard et al., 2022). On going developments, in collaboration with ENPC/LEESU will allow to simulate impacts of NBSs on both water cycle and thermal comfort. Climate change hydrological impact is then an issue I investigate (Betou, PhD, 2021-2024), with an applications at Nantes metropolitan scale, in collaboration with Technological University of Compiègne (Nathalie Molines) and Cerema (Bernard de Gouvello).

All of these studies and approaches will ultimately make it possible to evaluate cities' adaptation strategies, particularly those based on nature. Nature-based solutions, in which I am particularly interested, are an important part of these strategies (H2020 projects Nature4Cities, URBiNAT). Next steps are to share all of this knowledge and tools to research teams and collectivities from countries characterized by different geographical and climate contexts : Sub-Saharan Countries.