Market consultation 'New NEMO groundwater module at local scale'

For whom? 

We focus primarily on companies and (research) organizations with expertise in: 

• simulation of groundwater flow; 
• groundwater modeling;
• nutrient transport in groundwater and related processes in three-dimensional hydrological systems (including denitrification); 
• digitization of these modelings; 
• ...

Do you have expertise in any of the above fields? Do you have ideas for a solution, in part or in whole? Are you willing to share your insights with us so that we can prepare good and realistic tender specifications for the development? Are you yourself interested in contributing to the development of the new NEMO groundwater module? Then sign up now.

Purpose of the project

The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) is currently using the NEMO tool to calculate how nitrogen and phosphorus enter watercourses in agricultural areas over land, through soil and through groundwater.

The NutrientEmissionsMOdel is a mechanistic model that starts from the fertilization and cultivation on agricultural plots and takes into account various processes such as crop growth, mineralization, erosion, etc. and thus calculates the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus (originating from agriculture) to surface water on the basis of scenarios.

The groundwater module of NEMO is responsible for three sub-aspects:

• groundwater flow and groundwater levels;
• groundwater nitrate transport, denitrification and phosphate transport;
• the amount of drainage occurring and the nitrate and phosphate content in drainage water.

The NEMO groundwater module can simulate results and trends at the regional (Flemish) level and for river basins.

The model is less suitable for making detailed statements at the local scale. Indeed, the uncertainty in model results increases at smaller spatial scales, partly due to uncertainties in underlying datasets and partly due to the structure of the different modules in the model. However, this fineness will be needed in the future to evaluate area-specific policy measures.

VMM would therefore like to have an updated NEMO groundwater module developed, which takes better account of local conditions and can better simulate local processes (travel times, drainage, denitrification, nutrient concentrations, etc.), thus supporting area-specific fertilizer, agricultural and integrated water policies.

Purpose and approach of the market consultation

During the public part of the market consultation, we will explain the above challenges and project objectives in further detail.

No preparation (in the form of presentations, pitches or the like) is expected from you. Based on a thorough needs analysis, Verhaert has developed a number of scenarios and solution directions that include the high priority functionalities for NEMO.

During the market consultation you and the other participants will be invited to evaluate these scenarios on a number of parameters such as technological feasibility, operational and management risks, 'future proof' character, scalability and expandability, etc. and this within the constraints imposed by VMM.  

For a smooth discussion and good result, it is advisable to have your company or organization represented by employees who can correctly assess the parameters mentioned above.

Verhaert will summarize the public discussion afterwards in a report that we will make available on the PIO website. We will also provide you with this report by e-mail.

Besides a public part, there is also a confidential part to the market consultation. If you are interested, you can sign up for a short 1-on-1 interview with the staff of VMM and Verhaert. In this interview you can provide more confidential or company-sensitive information. The information will not be included in the public report.

The results of the market consultation (open and confidential part) should enable us, together with VMM, to come up with a realistic and successful public tender for the development of the renewed NEMO groundwater module in the fall of 2024. If interested, your company or organization can then bid for the tender.  

Preliminary agenda

• 12:50 - 13:00 Reception
• 13:00 - 13:10 Welcome & introduction PIO (An Schrijvers, PIO)
• 13:10 - 13:30 Current situation and vision/ambition on renewed NEMO (Jan Coppens, VMM)
• 13:30 - 14:05 Presentation and validation of solution directions via interactive question session in group - Part 1 (Yves Vervoort, Verhaert)
• 14:05 - 14:15 Break
• 14:15 - 15:00 Presentation and validation of solution directions via interactive question session in group - Part 2 (Yves Vervoort, Verhaert)
• 15:15 - 17:00 Possible short one-on-one discussion with VMM and Verhaert (exact time to be confirmed after registration) 

Register

Participation is of course free, but registration is mandatory. You will receive the link for participation in a timely manner after registration.

The market consultation will be in English in case there are attendees who do not speak Dutch.