1. Theory and Technology of Waterway Regulation

This research direction focuses on the new theory and technology of inland waterway regulation, the simulation technology of waterway research, damaging mechanism and protecting technology of the waterway regulation constructions, navigation condition and shoal regulation of the downstream of the daily regulation Hydraulic Power Station, regulation of varying backwater zone in backwater area, beach group improvement, and bridge approach governance.

2. Sediment Dynamics

In this part, based on characteristics of river in mountain and reservoir area, it develops research on gravel transport characteristics, unsteady flow propagation law, reservoir variation and sediment scouring changing of permanent backwater region, bend slope bank sediment movement patterns, formation mechanism of ponding and vortex flow in mountain river, flow and sediment motion theory.

3. Design theory and damage diagnosing of hydraulic construction

In this part, based on special hydrogeological environment conditions of river in western mountainous area, the research focuses on design theory and construction style of the framework wharf in inland river, structural reliability of wharf structure in inland river, interaction between island high steep bank slope and wharf structure、hydraulic structure new materials and  structure design theory, high and steep slope stability and new technology of geotechnical testing, health monitoring basic theory and diagnosis technology of hydraulic structure.

4. Optimized layout of hydro-junction and Navigation Technology.

In this part, the studies focus on whole optimized layout, dam discharge capacity and energy dissipation technology, conjunction of the navigation water levels and energy dissipation in the downstream of the hydro-junctions, erosion and protection of hydraulic structure, navigable flow condition at the entrance area and connecting section of upper and lower approach channel, lock’s filling and emptying system and gate and valve hydraulic, river diversion and navigation in hub construction period, daily-regulation unsteady flow of power plants, effect of outflow from dam on navigation and its analytical techniques.

5. Geological Disasters and Prevention.

In this part, it mainly includes researches on debris flow, crag collapse, bank slope collapse and high slope cutting in water conservancy and water transportation project, multi-scale fluid-solid coupling theory and energy deductive theory. The studies focus on the interaction between structure and foundation under the extremely complicated geological characteristics of inland river ports and the basic characteristics of groundwater. Based on the operation of reservoir area, catastrophic instability of reservoir bank slope and the mechanism of inducing surge disaster are well studied.

6. Water Resources and Water Environment

In this part, it mainly carried out researches on water pollution prevention and control theory, heavy metal pollution characteristics and bioaccumulation in river, environmental effects of heavy metal pollution in river ecosystem, pollution source tracing in reservoir area based on environmental isotope technology, pollution ecology and ecology engineering, and conservation of water and soil.