Rapids Group

The mission of the Rapids group is to create information in order to improve efficiency and sustainability in the use and management of the natural resources - water and land.

In the past, the main focus of research was the determination and control of the social and economic impacts of floods and water restrictions. The expertise of the group is also widely acknowledged in this field.

More recently, the research agenda was broadened to include the economic impacts and management of saline irrigation water, capacity sharing in water use, and rainwater harvesting.

The nature of the research conducted by the group is such that multi-disciplinary expertise is often needed to ensure success. Research teams therefore often consist of members from different disciplines, universities, institutions, and/or countries.

A major aim of the research is to train researchers and to build capacity within people and institutions.

The main focus of the Rapids group, led by Prof Giel Viljoen, is aspects of water economics.