Segundo Leon, Arturo
- Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering , College of Engineering and Computing

Overview
overview
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Dr. Leon’s areas of research include optimal control of reservoir systems, numerical modeling and experimentation of multi-phase flows, resilient flood control, computational fluid dynamics, and physical modeling of hydraulic structures.
Within the area of optimal control of reservoir systems, Arturo’s group developed a novel and computationally efficient model for the near real‐time and optimal control of multi‐objective and multi‐reservoir systems under uncertainty. This model is currently enabling to make near real-time (one-hour intervals) optimal decisions of water use in the Columbia River system that involves four States (OR, ID, WA, MT) in the Pacific Northwest.
In the area of multi-phase flows (air-water interaction), Arturo’s group is improving the current understanding of explosive geysers (eruption of gas-liquid mixtures at manhole covers in stormwater and combined sewer systems) through experimental measurements and three-dimensional numerical modeling. For instance, Arturo’s group was the first team to produce violent geysers in a laboratory setting with characteristics resembling those geysers that occurred in actual stormwater and combined sewer systems. The geysers produced consist of a few consecutive violent eruptions within a time frame of a few seconds with heights that may exceed 30 m. One of our lab tests can be seen at Geyser Experiment
Within the area of resilient flood control, Arturo’s group is developing a novel approach for flood control based on the integrated dynamic management of water storage in wetlands, detention ponds and reservoirs at the watershed scale. This approach will enable adaptive release of water from wetlands hours or days ahead of rainfall events, thereby maximizing storage capacity. For this approach to be implemented, conventional storage systems such as detention ponds would be retrofitted (e.g., adding large gates) and the gates and siphons of these systems would be remotely controlled in an integrated manner using our decision support system. Arturo’s group also developed a modular and integrated hardware/software platform for interfacing automated siphons/gates, sensors and sensor control/communication to enable remote operation of thousands of gates in wetlands, detention ponds and reservoirs. One of our laboratory tests on remote operation of siphons can be found at: Automated and Remotely Controlled 6″ Siphon
Arturo has been recipient of several honors and awards including an EPA Early CAREER award, being inducted as Diplomate by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, etc. Arturo has developed over ten numerical models for various applications. For instance, his open-source Illinois Transient Model has been used for identifying problems during rain-storm fillings of combined sewer systems in U.S. cities such as Chicago, Cleveland and Dallas, and worldwide in countries such as Switzerland, France, Germany and New Zealand.
research interests
- Numerical modeling and experimentation of multi-phase flows, resilient flood control, computational fluid dynamics, and physical modeling of hydraulic structures, optimal control of reservoir systems.
Scholarly & Creative Works
selected publications
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Article
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2022Siphon Break Phenomena Associated With Pipe Leakage LocationFull Text via DOI: 10.1115/1.4054654
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2021A Deterministic Topographic Wetland Index Based on LiDAR-Derived DEM for Delineating Open-Water WetlandsFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/w13182487 Web of Science: 000699831700001
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2021Comparative Study of Energy Savings for Various Control Strategies in the Tunnel Lighting SystemFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/app11146372 Web of Science: 000675998400001
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2021Use of Pupil Area and Fixation Maps to Evaluate Visual Behavior of Drivers inside Tunnels at Different Luminance Levels-A Pilot StudyFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/app11115014 Web of Science: 000659566400001
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2021Valuation of operational flexibility: A case study of Bonneville power administrationFull Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105251 Web of Science: 000659334500008
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2021Flexible decision variables in multi-objective reservoir operationFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/00207160.2021.1894418 Web of Science: 000628138500001
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2020Cooling Enhancement and Stress Reduction Optimization of Disk-Shaped Electronic Components Using NanofluidsFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/sym12060931 Web of Science: 000553953800001
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2020Dynamic luminance tuning method for tunnel lighting based on data mining of real-time traffic flowFull Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106844 Web of Science: 000536427800002
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2020Impact of Size and Location of Wetlands on Watershed-Scale Flood ControlFull Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11269-020-02518-3 Web of Science: 000523386300001
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2020A MATLAB framework for forecasting optimal flow releases in a multi-storage system for flood controlFull Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2019.104618 Web of Science: 000513927700002
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2020Impact of Dynamic Storage Management of Wetlands and Shallow Ponds on Watershed-scale Flood ControlFull Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11269-020-02502-x Web of Science: 000525044500002
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2020Luminance calculation method accounting for mesopic vision and fog penetration abilityFull Text via DOI: 10.1364/AO.59.000683 Web of Science: 000517833200015
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2019Assessment of Iron Oxide (III)-Therminol 66 Nanofluid as a Novel Working Fluid in a Convective Radiator Heating System for BuildingsFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/en12224327 Web of Science: 000504898500105
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2019Energetic Analysis of Different Configurations of Power Plants Connected to Liquid Chemical Looping GasificationFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/pr7100763 Web of Science: 000495436200125
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2019Numerical investigation of field-scale geysers in a vertical shaftFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/00221686.2019.1625817 Web of Science: 000480533400001
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2019Experimental Investigation on Thermal Performance of a PV/T-PCM (Photovoltaic/Thermal) System Cooling with a PCM and NanofluidFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/en12132572 Web of Science: 000477034700112
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2019An experimental study on violent geysers in vertical pipesFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/00221686.2018.1494052 Web of Science: 000465125300001
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2019Mechanisms that lead to violent geysers in vertical shaftsFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/00221686.2018.1459895 Web of Science: 000465125300002
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2019A Remotely-Operated Siphon System for Water Release From Wetlands and Shallow PondsFull Text via DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2950270 Web of Science: 000498727400002
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2018A Derivative-Free Hybrid Optimization Model for Short-Term Operation of a Multi-Objective Reservoir System Under UncertaintyFull Text via DOI: 10.1007/s11269-018-2014-5 Web of Science: 000440115100010
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2018Evaluation of the PG method for modeling unsteady flows in complex bathymetriesFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/23249676.2017.1287017 Web of Science: 000432823400005
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2017An intelligent luminance control method for tunnel lighting based on traffic volumeFull Text via DOI: 10.3390/su9122208
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2016Controlling HEC-RAS using MATLABFull Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.envsoft.2016.06.026 Web of Science: 000385595200026
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2015The intertidal hydraulics of tide-dominated reef platformsFull Text via DOI: 10.1002/2015JC010701
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2014A dimensional analysis for determining optimal discharge and penstock diameter in impulse and reaction water turbinesFull Text via DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.06.024 Web of Science: 000340976600068
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2010A robust two-equation model for transient-mixed flowsFull Text via DOI: 10.1080/00221680903565911
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2009Application of Godunov-type schemes to transient mixed flowsFull Text via DOI: 10.3826/jhr.2009.3157
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2007An Efficient Finite-Volume Scheme for Modeling Water Hammer FlowsFull Text via DOI: 10.14796/jwmm.r227-21
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2006Godunov-type solutions for transient flows in sewersFull Text via DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(2006)132:8(800)
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Book Chapter
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Conference
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2022A Machine Learning Framework for Overflow Prediction in Combined Sewer Systems. 194-205.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784484258.019
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2022An Affordable PIV Technique for Water Using Potato Starch with Diode Laser and Smartphones. 390-399.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784484258.036
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2022CFD Modeling of Storm Sewer Geysers in Partially Filled Dropshafts. 1187-1195.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784484258.110
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2022Estimating the Potential Wetland Storage Capacity for Flood Mitigation by Using Deterministic Topographic Wetland Index. 1252-1263.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784484258.116
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2022Impact of Pipe Leakage Location on Siphon Flow Breakage. 1211-1220.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784484258.112
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2022UNDERSTANDING THE INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE DISTURBANCE ON THE TRANSITION OF STRATIFIED TO SLUG FLOW. 947-957.Full Text via DOI: 10.1615/tfec2022.fnd.040491
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2021Internet-enabled remotely controlled architecture to release water from storage units. 586-592.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784483466.053
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2021Operational reliability assessment of a remotely controlled siphon system for draining shallow storage ponds. 607-620.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784483466.055
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2019EXPERIMENTS AND NUMERICAL MODELING OF FIELD-SCALE GEYSERS IN STORMSEWER SYSTEMS. 3370-3379.Full Text via DOI: 10.3850/38wc092019-1900
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2019Upper Limit Velocity of Geyser Eruptions in Stormwater and Combined Sewer Systems. 122-128.Web of Science: 000477924400011
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2019THERMAL AND HYDRAULIC PERFORMANCE OF LONGITUDINAL PERFORATED RECTANGULAR FINS WITH PERFORATION SHAPE AND SIZE VARIATIONS. 1299-1306.Full Text via DOI: 10.1615/tfec2019.epa.027962
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2019Thermal and hydraulic performance of longitudinal perforated rectangular fins with perforation shape and size variations. 1299-1306.Full Text via DOI: 10.1615/TFEC2019.mph027962
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2018Comparison of Various Turbulence Models for Violent Geysers in Vertical Pipes. 99-108.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784481424.011
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2016A remotely controlled siphon system for dynamic water storage management. 1-11.Full Text via DOI: 10.15142/T3690628160853
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2016Determining optimal discharge and optimal penstock diameter in water turbines. 315-325.Full Text via DOI: 10.15142/T390628160853
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2014A Real Options-Based Framework to Evaluate Investments in River Flood Control under Uncertainty. 1465-1474.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784413609.147
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2014Optimizing Short-Term Operation of a Multireservoir System during Transition of Objectives and Constraints. 1093-1105.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784413548.109
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2014Three-Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Air-Water Geyser Flows. 1535-1548.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784413548.153
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2012A robust, numerically efficient model for unsteady flow routing in topologically complex river networks. 1119-1128.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784412312.114
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2012Towards the intelligent control of river flooding. 1687-1696.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/9780784412312.167
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2011Dam breach analysis in tailings storage facilities (TSF). 2216-2224.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/41173(414)231
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2010A new coupled optimization-hydraulic routing model for real-time operation of regulated river systems. 213-224.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/41148(389)20
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2010A New Coupled Optimization-Hydraulic Routing Model for Real-Time Operation of Regulated River Systems. 213-224.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/41143(394)20
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2010Flow dynamics in combined storm-sewer systems. 3703-3717.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/41114(371)376
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2009A robust and fast model for simulating street flooding. 5364-5373.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/41036(342)543
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2009Boundary conditions for simulating complex storm-sewer systems in free surface, pressurized and mixed flow conditions. 5557-5567.Full Text via DOI: 10.1061/41036(342)565
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2008A finite volume model for mixed surface-pressurized flows in drainage systemsFull Text via DOI: 10.1061/40976(316)671
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2008Experimental and CFD modeling of a vortex flow restrictorFull Text via DOI: 10.1061/40976(316)646
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2005Review of sewer surcharging phenomena and models. 1094-1105.
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Note
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2010Experimental and numerical modelling of symmetrical four-branch supercritical cross junction flow. 826-827.Full Text via DOI: 10.1080/00221686.2010.512813
Research
principal investigator on
- Dynamics of Violent Geysers in Stormsewer Systems and Novel Retrofitting Methods awarded by National Science Foundation 2020 - 2022
- Practical Experience of Environmental Engineering Students of the Florida International University at the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department awarded by Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer 2019 - 2022
- Wetland facility for the University of Houston Coastal Center awarded by National Science Foundation 2018 - 2022
- Dynamic Management of Water Storage in Watersheds for Reducing the Magnitude of Floods awarded by National Science Foundation 2018 - 2022
- Demonstration of modeling and intelligent operation of stormwater systems for flood control awarded by Natl Institute of Environmental Research 2018
Contact
full name
- Arturo Leon
Identifiers
ORCID iD
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7117-7351 (confirmed)