Sediment transport research lies at the intersection of geomorphology, hydraulics, and environmental engineering, forming the basis for understa...

Sediment transport research lies at the intersection of geomorphology, hydraulics, and environmental engineering, forming the basis for understanding how landscapes evolve and aquatic systems function. This dynamic process determines the morphology of rivers and coasts, contributes to the formation and transformation of deltas, and influences the longevity and efficiency of reservoirs and water conveyances. In addition to shaping natural habitats, sediment transport is a recurring concern in engineered infrastructure—such as drainage, irrigation, and stormwater systems—where sedimentation or resuspension can hinder hydraulic operation, lead to maintenance challenges, and carry significant environmental implications. Although decades of laboratory studies, fieldwork, and computational advances have expanded understanding of sediment behavior, key questions remain. How do entrainment, transport, and deposition mechanisms operate under varying hydrodynamic conditions and across different system boundaries? What are the integrated processes that link natural sediment pathways with engineered environments? These open questions point to persistent gaps in knowledge and a need for cross-disciplinary research that unifies theory, observation, modeling, and management.



This Research Topic aims to drive forward the understanding of sediment transport by integrating insights from both natural and human-made systems. The objective is to address unresolved challenges in the underlying physical mechanisms governing sediment dynamics, encompassing a spectrum from open-channel flows and classical bed-load transport to more complex phenomena such as density currents and turbidity flow events. A core goal is to foster collaborations that draw on diverse methods—from laboratory experimentation and in-situ monitoring to advanced numerical modeling and data-driven analytics—to enhance predictive capacity and management frameworks. By synthesizing perspectives across geomorphology, hydraulics, hydrology, and environmental sciences, the Research Topic seeks to inform sustainable sediment management, resilient infrastructure design, and ecological protection in an era of climatic and anthropogenic change.



This Research Topic welcomes submissions that explore sediment transport processes in both natural and engineered contexts, including but not limited to rivers, lakes, reservoirs, coastal and submarine channels, as well as constructed water conveyance systems like canals and sewers. Contributions may address new experimental or field observations, innovations in theoretical analysis, modeling techniques, or management strategies. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary research that addresses the following themes:

• Physical mechanisms of sediment entrainment, transport, and deposition
• Sediment dynamics in open-channel and alluvial environments
• Density-driven flows such as turbidity currents
• Sediment processes in engineered water conveyance, including drainage and sewer systems
• Methods for field monitoring and laboratory experimentation
• Predictive modeling approaches, including numerical and data-driven models
• Morphodynamics, landscape evolution, and system response
• Effects of climate variability and land-use change on sediment regimes
• Environmental and water quality impacts stemming from sediment movement.

We accept Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Methods papers, Data Reports, and Brief Research Reports that provide substantive advances in the science and management of sediment transport.

https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79045/sediment-transport-in-natural-and-engineered-systems-processes-modeling-and-environmental-implications?utm_source=F-RTM&utm_medium=TED1&utm_campaign=PRD_TED1_T1_RT-TITLE