Year of Establishment: 1937

Number of Endorsement’s Act/Government’s Gazette Number 362/17.9.1937

 

Address / Communication:

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus

School of Agriculture, Τ.Κ. 54124

Email: dimkarp@agro.auth.gr

Tηλ: +302310 998707

 

Members – Teaching Staff

Dimitrios K. Karpouzos, Professor, Director of the Laboratory
Tel.: +30 2310 998707
e-mail: dimkarp@agro.auth.gr

Pantazis E. Georgiou, Professor
Tel.: +30 2310 998752
e-mail: pantaz@agro.auth.gr

Ioannis Panagopoulos, Assistant Professor
Tel.: +30 2310 998708
e-mail: ypanag@agro.auth.gr

Dr. Charalampos Georgousis, Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP)
Tel.: +30 2310 998713
e-mail: harisg@agro.auth.gr

Dr. Sofia Kavalieratou, Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP)
Tel.: +30 2310 998732
e-mail: kavalier@agro.auth.gr

Dimitrios Kalampidis, Laboratory Teaching Staff (EDIP)
Tel.: +30 2310 991645
e-mail: dkalampi@agro.auth.gr

 

Emeritus and retired professors

Evangelia Anastasiadou-Partheniou, Emerita Professor

Vasileios Antonopoulos, Emeritus Professor

Thomas Zisis, Emeritus Professor

Diamantis Karamouzis, Emeritus Professor

Christos Babatzimopoulos, Emeritus Professor

Dimitrios Papamichail, Emeritus Professor

Niki Kalaitzidou–Paikou, Retired Associate Professor

 

Research Field

The field of expertise includes general and agricultural hydraulics, the rational and sustainable use of water in agriculture, irrigation and drainage, as well as the management of surface and groundwater resources. It also encompasses the study of water quality and reuse, pollution of streams, lakes, and aquifers, the study and optimization of land reclamation projects and their environmental impacts, the water balance in the unsaturated zone, agrometeorology, and the estimation of evapotranspiration. Furthermore, it includes numerical simulation and the development of computational models, decision support systems, smart and precision irrigation technologies, as well as the use of geospatial technologies and artificial intelligence for the optimal management of water resources under conditions of climate variability and change.

 

History

The Laboratory of General and Agricultural Hydraulics and Land Reclamation was established in 1937 by Legislative Decree A.N. 835/37 (Government Gazette 362/17.9.1937), alongside the founding of the then School of Agriculture and Forestry. By Government Gazette (FEK) 124/83, the Laboratory was incorporated into the Sector of Land Reclamation, Soil Science, and Agricultural Engineering, assuming responsibility for the field of expertise of “general and agricultural hydraulics; hydraulics of closed and open conduits; irrigation and water quality; drainage; surface and groundwater hydrology; hydraulic works of land reclamation; computational hydraulics and mathematical modeling; mathematics applied to agronomy and computer programming; the plant–soil–water relationship; soil and water pollution; and environmental protection.”

 

The Directors who have served are as follows:

Konstantinos Christopoulos†, Professor Emeritus (1937–1968)

Georgios Terzidis†, Professor Emeritus (1970–1998)

Zafeiris Papazafeiriou†, Professor Emeritus (1998–2000)

Christos Babatzimopoulos, Professor Emeritus (2000–2012)

Vasilis Antonopoulos, Professor Emeritus (2013–2018)

Dimitrios Papamichail, Professor Emeritus (2018–2021)

 

The Laboratory of General and Agricultural Hydraulics and Land Reclamation is inextricably linked to the history of agricultural education in Greece. Since its establishment in 1937, under the directorship of Professor Konstantinos Christopoulos, it has served as a key pillar for the development and dissemination of the science of hydraulics and land reclamation works. At the same time, by promoting an interdisciplinary approach from its very early stages, the Laboratory has made a substantial contribution to the education of other scientific fields, through the teaching of courses in the Departments of Civil Engineering and Rural and Surveying Engineering.

During the 1960s, the Laboratory undertook the “Final study of land reclamation works for the full development of the Nestos plain,” contributing decisively to the development of one of the country’s most important agricultural regions. These works remain in operation to this day, serving as a living example of the enduring link between scientific knowledge and practice.

In the field of education, the Laboratory played a leading role in shaping postgraduate studies in Greece. In 1973, on the initiative of Professor Georgios Terzidis, the first comprehensive two-year postgraduate program in the field of land reclamation works was established, becoming a landmark for its time. In 2000, the program evolved into a modern postgraduate program in Water Resources and Agricultural Engineering, responding to the growing demands of science and society.

Today, the Laboratory actively participates in the Postgraduate Program “Management of Soil, Water, Energy Resources and the Agricultural Environment” of the School of Agriculture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, contributing to the education of scientists with a comprehensive understanding of the sustainable management of natural resources.

Graduates of the programs associated with the Laboratory now hold key positions in the public and private sectors, as well as in research institutions and universities in Greece and abroad, confirming its long-standing contribution to scientific advancement and productive development.

At the same time, the Laboratory’s members actively participate in national and international research projects, collaborate with public and private sector bodies, and develop synergies with European and international institutions, contributing to the production and dissemination of innovative knowledge in the field of water resources management.

Teaching Activities

The members of the Laboratory of General and Agricultural Hydraulics and Land Reclamation actively contribute to the educational work of the Department of Agriculture, covering a broad and dynamically evolving range of subject areas related to water management in agriculture and the environment.

At the undergraduate level, teaching includes both fundamental and specialized subjects such as general and agricultural hydraulics, irrigation and drainage, land reclamation works, surface and groundwater hydrology, meteorology and climatology, water and soil quality and pollution, natural wastewater treatment systems, as well as the management and protection of water resources and wetlands. At the same time, emphasis is placed on modern scientific approaches through the teaching of subjects related to numerical analysis, optimization methods, computational models for the simulation and management of water resources and irrigation, applied mathematics, and computer programming.

At the postgraduate level, the Laboratory’s academic staff actively participate in the Postgraduate Program “Management of Soil, Water, Energy Resources and the Agricultural Environment,” contributing to the teaching of cutting-edge courses focusing on water resources management, water quality and environmental protection, surface and groundwater hydrology, irrigation and drainage, hydroinformatics, and the complex interaction between plant–soil–water systems.

The Laboratory’s educational activity combines fundamental scientific knowledge with modern technologies and tools (such as informatics, modeling, and data analysis), preparing students to address contemporary challenges in the sustainable management of water resources and the adaptation of agriculture to climate change.

 

Research Activities

The research carried out at the Laboratory of General and Agricultural Hydraulics and Land Reclamation, at both theoretical and applied levels, focuses on the following topics:

Irrigation – Drainage

• Simulation models of evapotranspiration and irrigation scheduling
• Water–plant–soil–atmosphere relationships
• Water–crop yield relationships and water productivity
• Design and operation of modern irrigation methods
• Design and optimization of collective irrigation networks
• Digital tools and information technology applications for irrigation scheduling
• Calculation and analysis of the water balance in cultivated soils
• Study and design of drainage networks
• Determination of crop coefficients under Greek and Mediterranean conditions
• Evaluation of irrigation and drainage projects in terms of their environmental impact
• Irrigation with treated wastewater and applications of the circular economy
• Drainage methods for heavy soils
• Mathematical models for water management in irrigation and drainage systems
• Precision irrigation, field sensors, and IoT applications

 

Groundwater Hydraulics

• Mathematical models of flow and contaminant transport in aquifers (unconfined, confined, karstic, and coastal)
• Analysis of pumping test data for steady and unsteady flow, and constant and variable discharge, for various types of aquifers
• Study of seawater intrusion (salinization) in coastal aquifers
• Management and protection of groundwater (nitrate pollution) – vulnerability assessment
• Interaction between groundwater and surface water
• Application of machine learning techniques and metaheuristic algorithms in aquifer modeling and in solving the inverse problem

 

Open Channel Hydraulics

• Mathematical models of flow in rivers and canals
• Pollution and sediment transport models
• Flood routing and flood protection
• Hydrometric measurements and modern flow monitoring techniques
• Analysis of bed erosion and river morphodynamics
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in hydraulic works
• Flood risk management under climate change

 

Hydrology

• Telemetric meteorological and hydrological networks
• Rainfall–runoff models and watershed water balances
• Surface water resources management
• Intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) analysis of rainfall
• Hydrological design and operation of reservoirs
• Water resources development projects (dams, multipurpose reservoirs)
• Hydrogeoinformatics
• Stochastic hydrology and risk analysis
• Impacts of climate change on the hydrological cycle

 

Fluid Mechanics – Environmental Hydraulics

• Simulation of complex flows (separation, turbulent flows)
• Environmental hydraulics and contaminant transport
• Nutrient dynamics (nitrogen) in agricultural soils
• Assessment of groundwater pollution risk (nitrates, pesticides)
• Interaction between hydraulic works and ecosystems

 

Limnology

• Thermal stratification and distribution of water quality parameters
• Eutrophication and nutrient dynamics
• Water balance and management of lakes
• Water quality modeling of lake systems

 

Wetlands

• Management and restoration of wetland ecosystems
• Impacts of anthropogenic interventions and irrigation projects
• Ecological assessment and protection of wetlands
• Constructed wetlands as natural treatment systems

 

 

Water Resources Management

• Integrated management of surface and groundwater
• Development of decision support systems (DSS)
• GIS and spatial analysis in water management
• Management scenarios under climate variability
• Water policies and sustainable development – SDGs
• Water footprint
• Optimization of water systems
• Water–energy–food Nexus approaches

 

Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems

• Reuse of treated wastewater in agriculture
• Constructed wetlands and natural treatment systems
• Nature-based solutions – Circular economy

 

Modern Technologies – Hydroinformatics

• Big data and hydrological data analysis
• Artificial intelligence for optimal water management
• Digital twins of hydrological systems
• Telemetry systems and smart water networks

 

Climate Change & Resilience of Water Systems

• Assessment of climate change impacts on water resources
• Adaptation of agricultural systems
• Risk management (droughts, floods)

 

Facilities and Equipment

The Laboratory of General and Agricultural Hydraulics and Land Reclamation is equipped with modern and comprehensive facilities that support both cutting-edge research and high-level student education.

At the core of these modern infrastructures is an automatic meteorological station, capable of continuously recording critical parameters such as rainfall, air and soil temperature, relative humidity, wind, evaporation, and solar radiation, providing valuable data for agrometeorology and water management. In parallel, the Laboratory has a portable precision irrigation system, which integrates meteorological measurements, lysimeter observations, and soil moisture sensors, supporting smart agriculture applications and irrigation optimization.

In the field of hydraulics and hydrology, the equipment includes hydraulic flumes, open channels with adjustable beds, and experimental pipes, as well as specialized models (e.g., sand models and Hele-Shaw devices) for studying flow, mass transport, and surface–groundwater interactions. Complementary instruments include hydrometric devices (flumes, flowmeters, water level gauges) and equipment for studying flood phenomena and hydraulic processes. Additionally, modern instruments are used to monitor groundwater levels and quality parameters, supporting aquifer management and protection applications.

Special emphasis is placed on soil studies and water movement within soils, with equipment such as soil moisture sensors, tensiometers, infiltrometers, hydraulic conductivity measurement instruments (e.g., Guelph permeameter), pressure systems (plate extractors), and a complete set of laboratory instruments for physical and mechanical soil analysis.

The Laboratory also possesses field and geospatial equipment, including UAVs (drones), GPS devices, total stations, and telemetry systems, enhancing the collection and analysis of large datasets. Furthermore, it is equipped with an irrigation unit (filters, hydrocyclone, fertigation system) and modern micro-irrigation systems.

Students have access to state-of-the-art software for groundwater and surface water hydrology and irrigation, used for both teaching and research purposes.

Finally, the Laboratory maintains a significant collection of classical and historical instruments, such as rain gauges, thermographs, anemometers, and mercury manometers, which were used for decades in education and research and now constitute a valuable scientific heritage.

 

 

Recent Research Projects

• Smart System for Reduced Inputs in Agriculture and Irrigation Water Management (IRRISMA)
• REDEEM – Resilience to Desertification and Drought for the Mediterranean (INTERREG EURO-MED)
• LIFE GAIA Sense: Innovative Smart Farming Services Supporting the Circular Economy in Agriculture
• BIOGRASS: Bioenergy production in the Thessalian Plain – a pilot example of energy security in Greece based on the perennial crop switchgrass (H.F.R.I.)
• SUSTAIN-R: Sustainable management of nitrogen and phosphorus wastewater for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems (Water4All Partnership – Water Security for the Planet / EU Horizon Europe Programme)
• LIFE+: Development of a Prototype Water Discharge Measurement System at the Strymon River Estuary
• LIFE+: Climate Change Projections within the project “Adaptation of Forest Management to Climate Change in Greece”
• INTERREG: Joint cross-border cooperation for protecting communities against natural and man-made disasters
• Erasmus+: Internationalization of postgraduate programs in agriculture using English as the medium of instruction (IMPROvE_AGRO)
• Erasmus+ MAYA Project: Master in Agricultural and Hydrological Approaches to a Better Sustainable Development
• Erasmus+: Training Program for Academic Staff in Sustainable Land Management in Egypt
• Environmental Optimization of Viticulture Using Precision Agriculture Technologies
• Improving Knowledge on Determining the Minimum Required Water Level/Discharge of Water Bodies
• Optimization of tobacco cultivation techniques for pest and disease prevention and adaptation to climate change (TOBACCO-OPTI)
• Multifunctional constructed wetland systems for pollution control from agro-livestock industries (WETinAGRI)
• Targeted cultivation practices to optimize fruit set and reduce fruit drop for the adaptation of olive cultivation to climate change (OLIVEUP)
• Integrated water resources management and development of common and transnational methodologies for drought mitigation in the MEDOCC region (INTERREG IIIB Programme)
• Experimental evaluation of preferential flow in different soil types using a Hele-Shaw apparatus (support of basic research activity, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

Recent Theses

PhD Theses:

• GIANNOULI DOROTHEA, “Assessment of the Risk of Groundwater Pollution from Agrochemicals Using Mass Transport Models in the Unsaturated Soil Zone and Leaching Indices,” 2015. Three-member Advisory Committee: V. Antonopoulos (Supervisor), D. Papamichail, P. Georgiou
• KANAKIS PANAGIOTIS, “Optimization of Pressurized Radial Irrigation Networks Using the Ant Colony Algorithm,” 2015. Three-member Advisory Committee: D. Papamichail (Supervisor), P. Georgiou, D. Karpouzos
• PARASKEVAS CHARALAMPOS, “Mathematical Simulation of Preferential Water Flow in the Unsaturated Soil Zone and Development of an Image Analysis Algorithm for Determining Its Hydraulic Properties,” 2018. Three-member Advisory Committee: C. Babatzimopoulos (Supervisor), D. Papamichail, D. Karpouzos
• DEMERTZI KLEONIKI, “Spatial Analysis of Reference Evapotranspiration and Intrinsic Vulnerability to Runoff–Infiltration Processes Using Mathematical Models and GIS,” 2019. Three-member Advisory Committee: D. Papamichail (Supervisor), P. Georgiou, T. Alexandridis
• PAPADIMOS DIMITRIS, “Investigation of Distributed Hydrological Models for Predicting Runoff in a Watershed with a Lake as the Outlet,” 2023. Three-member Advisory Committee: D. Papamichail (Supervisor), P. Georgiou, D. Karpouzos

 

MSc Theses:

• VASILEIADI TATIANA, “Investigation of Heavy Metal and Phosphorus Adsorption during Mass Transport in Soil,” 2017. Supervisor: V. Antonopoulos
• LIAPIS ALEXANDROS, “Assessment of the Water Footprint of Crops in the Nestos Plain Using Life Cycle Assessment Methodology,” 2017. Supervisor: P. Georgiou
• PAPATHEODOROU ALEXANDRA, “Flood Risk Simulation in the Petrenia Torrent (Chalkidiki) Using HEC-RAS Software,” 2017. Supervisor: P. Georgiou
• KASAMPALIS FOTIOS, “Simulation and Management of a Groundwater Aquifer in the Regional Unit of Pieria Using MODFLOW,” 2017. Supervisor: D. Karpouzos
• BAMPAKOS KONSTANTINOS, “Investigation of the Water Balance of the Lake ‘Mikri Prespa’ Watershed Using the ArcSWAT Model,” 2018. Supervisor: D. Papamichail
• AXIOS STERGIOS, “Soil Moisture Simulation Using Artificial Neural Networks,” 2018. Supervisors: C. Babatzimopoulos, D. Karpouzos
• KASTRITIS DIMITRIOS, “Numerical Simulation of Flow and Infiltration at the Soil Surface,” 2018. Supervisor: T. Zisis
• MASTRODIMOU GEORGIA, “Investigation of Water Quality Parameters of Lake Volvi,” 2018. Supervisors: V. Antonopoulos, D. Papamichail
• CHATZIGEORGIOU DIMITRIOS, “Irrigation Water Management in Networks of the Serres Plain,” 2019. Supervisor: P. Georgiou
• TSAKSTARAS DIMITRIOS, “Hydrological Investigation of the Venetikos River Basin,” 2019. Supervisor: D. Papamichail
• TAOUKIDOU NIKOLETTA, “Flood Hazard Analysis in the Regional Unit of Chalkidiki Using GIS and Multicriteria Analysis,” 2021. Supervisors: P. Georgiou, D. Karpouzos
• PAPASPYROU MARIA-ANNA, “Investigation of Groundwater Level Trends in an Aquifer of Eastern Thessaly,” 2021. Supervisors: D. Karpouzos, P. Georgiou
• ZACHAROUDI STAVROULA, “Assessment of Drought Indices under Climate Change Conditions: Application to the Regional Unit of Halkidiki”, 2022, Supervisor: D. Karpouzos
• KLIAPI MARIA, “Calculation of Irrigation Water Requirements for Collective Irrigation Networks in the Thessaly Water District”, 2025, Supervisor: P. Georgiou

 

Diploma Theses:

• BOLIS, IOANNIS, “Study of the Water Balance of the Voulgaris River Watershed in the Kefalovryso Area, Elassona,” 2017, Supervisor: P. GEORGIOU
• MADEMPLI, VASILIKI, “Development of Software for Precision Irrigation Planning,” 2018, Supervisors: D. KARPOUZOS, P. GEORGIOU
• SKORDOS, DIMOSTHENIS, “Estimation of Hydrogeological Parameters of Aquifers Using Pumping Test Analysis Software,” 2018, Supervisors: D. KARPOUZOS, P. GEORGIOU
• TSIAKIRIS, VASILEIOS, “Flood Estimation in the Aisonas River Watershed, Pieria,” 2019, Supervisor: P. GEORGIOU
• BROZOU, ZOI, “Assessment and Comparison of Drought Indices at Meteorological Stations in Halkidiki,” 2020, Supervisor: P. GEORGIOU
• PAVLOU, IOANNIS, “Analysis of Rainfall Trends in the Regional Unit of Halkidiki,” 2021, Supervisor: D. KARPOUZOS
• SAVVIDOU, KONSTANTINA, “Investigation of the Relationship between Agrometeorological Indices and Crop Yield,” 2022, Supervisor: P. GEORGIOU
• KOKKINAKI, LAMBRINI, “Calibration and Evaluation of the AquaCrop Model for Maize Cultivation in the Thessaloniki Region,” 2023, Supervisor: P. GEORGIOU
• SAPOUNTZI, VASILIKI, “Irrigation Water Management in Greece Based on River Basin Management Plans,” 2024, Supervisor: P. GEORGIOU
• KOSTA, MYRTO, “Design of an Irrigation Network with Drip Irrigation and Its Simulation Using IrriPro Software,” 2024, Supervisor: D. KARPOUZOS
• LIANOSTATHI, GEORGIA, “Estimation of Crop Water Footprint in the Serres Plain Using CROPWAT Software,” 2025, Supervisor: P. GEORGIOU
• LYTRIDIS, FILIPPOS, “Analysis of Variable-Rate Pumping Tests Using Software for Estimating Hydrogeological Parameters of the Peristeronas Aquifer, Cyprus,” 2025, Supervisor: D. KARPOUZOS