Wojciech Majewski completed engineering studies at Gdańsk University of Technology and postgraduate studies at Glasgow University during a British Council scholarship. After graduation he was employed in the Institute of Hydro-Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Gdańsk. In 1967 he obtained his doctor’s degree and during 1967-68 he was in Canada on a post-doctorate fellowship. In 1988 he was awarded the degree of doctor habilitated and in 1990 he became professor of technical sciences in hydraulic engineering and water resources management.
During 1991-97 he was employed at Gdańsk University of Technology as head of the Department of Hydraulic Structures and Water Resources Management. In 1970 he became a member of the Committee of Water Resources Management of the Polish Academy of Science and held there various functions including that of the committee chairman. Since 1963 he is a member of IAHR and took part in many international congresses and symposia. From 1991 to 1995 he was the chairman of the Section of Ice Research and Engineering of IAHR and in 2000 he organized the 15th Ice Symposium in Gdańsk. He was head of many engineering and scientific projects in Poland and abroad and was consultant of the Design Office Hydroprojekt concerning various hydraulic projects.
In the Institute of Hydro Engineering he held various functions including chief director. He was supervisor and reviewer of many engineering and doctor thesis. From 1982 to 2005 he was the chairman of the National School of Hydraulics. He is the author of more than 400 publications in Polish and English including 20 books and monographs.
During his long scientific and engineering career he received many awards and national medals. At present he is a member of the scientific councils at the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management in Warsaw and the Institute of Hydro-Engineering in Gdańsk.
Engineering and research problems connected with ice phenomena in Gdansk Water Node
Wojciech Majewski
Institute of Hydro-Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdansk
ABSTRACT
The aim of this presentation are engineering, social, ecological and research problems connected with ice phenomena, which appeared in the Gdansk Water Node in the past years, and are still actual now. Gdansk Water Node includes the area of the city Gdansk, the Lower Vistula section and the region called Zulawy. The Vistula is the largest Polish river, 1047 km long and has the river basin, which covers 54 % of Polish territory. The Vistula flows from mountains in the south to the Baltic Sea in the north, which has important influence on the sequence of ice phenomena and the formation of ice jams. The Lower Vistula, downstream section of the Vistula is very important from engineering and economic point of view.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th century the main advantage of the Vistula was river transport of agricultural goods from Poland to the harbor of Gdansk. Important problem was ice cover on the Vistula, which stopped the river transport for about 3 mouths each year. In 19th century severe ice jams caused flooding of the city Gdansk and the region Zulawy, what resulted in the construction of a channel directing Vistula waters straight to the sea. In 1970 the first barrage Wloclawek on the Lower Vistula was commissioned. In 1982 a severe flood occurred on the upper part of the reservoir. Important economic losses of this flood lead to the formulation of many research programs with the main aim to better recognize various ice situations on rivers in Poland and to diminish ice flood losses in the future. One of the main objects is mathematical modeling of various ice situations. It generated many publications. In 2000 the 15th Ice Symposium was organized by the Ice Research Section of IAHR in Gdansk. The main organizer of this Symposium was the Institute of Hydro-Engineering. Now we have 27th Ice Symposium in Gdansk organized by Gdansk University of Technology.
