A combined framework of hydrodynamic models is presented that describes the
water dynamics in the channel network of the city of Venice. The applicati
on of these hydrodynamic models is part of a larger project carried out by
UNESCO that has the aim of describing the mater quality of the channels in
Venice. An existing 2-dimensional finite clement model simulates the hydrod
ynamic features in the Venice Lagoon. The simulated data is then used as th
e boundary condition for the 1-dimensional hydrodynamic model of the inner
channels of Venice. Inside the channel system the water elevation and the c
urrent velocities are computed. The simulated variables are calibrated and
compared with data from field measurements that UNESCO has carried out duri
ng the years 1990-92 and during 1998. It was possible to use a constant fri
ction parameter for all the channels in the network. Simulated water elevat
ion shows an excellent agreement with the measured data, and also current v
elocities are generally reproduced quite faithfully, Some low-energy channe
ls show major errors in the reproduction of the velocity speed. It is belie
ved that changing bathymetry (silting-up of the channels) could be a cause
of this phenomenon. The hydrodynamic data will eventually be used in the se
cond part of the project where the water quality of the channel network wil
l be investigated. For this purpose the hydrodynamic parameters simulated w
ill be used by the water quality model as a boundary and initial condition
in order to simulate the biological and chemical variables and to describe
the ecological dynamics.