KAMK UAS leads and takes part in multiple projects circulating around managing the runoff waters. Due to the climate change, we are facing heavier precipitation all around the world, and to tackle this problem we must start thinking of solutions from ground up, quite literally too. Heavier precipication affects everything from the soil to how we should build our environment - even when it's not raining.
Below are listed all KAMK UAS' runoff water centric projects:
PeatStop
The project PeatStop brings possibilities for renewing runoff water management solutions in Karelia CBC programme area. During the project, the environmental loads caused by runoff water are monitored and physical filtering installations will be implemented respectively in the city of Kajaani. More specifically, PeatStop aims at the development of transboundary solutions to improve the condition of urban water bodies through the introduction of effective monitoring and the use of new environmentally safe runoff water filtering solutions. Project participants have strong background expertise for water purification solutions.

Image: Watec's JP Saarelainen (left) installing FILTRO stormwater filters to the stormwater drains around Kajaani's keskuskenttä in September 2022. Photo: Ella Lukkari, KAMK.
PeatStop is funded by Karelia CBC, and nowadays it's a joint project between KAMK UAS, and City of Kajaani. Previous to March 2022, PeatStop was a cross-border project between Russian Karelia and Kainuu region, but the Russian war in Ukraine ended all organizational cooperation.
Read more on PeatStop at the Karelia CBC website
REMMI
The REMMI project of the University of Oulu's Kajaani Measurement Technology Unit (MITY) and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK UAS) is developing a new, faster method and field-ready equipment for measuring microplastics in water. With the equipment, it is possible to monitor the microplastic content of the waters in real time.
In the project, Kajaani MITY develops measurement technology based on optics and performs field testing. Kajaani University of Applied Sciences' part in the project is to find out the most common microplastic sources and transport routes in the water systems of the Kainuu area, and to test new filter materials for removing microplastics. The project's field tests are carried out at water treatment plants.
In connection with the project, the commercialization of the equipment is also being prepared, as there is a demand for the new technology in companies and industry.
REMMI is a joint project between KAMK UAS and University of Oulu, and it is funded by Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Center, ERDF, Valmet Automation, Kaiku Environment and Kainuu Waste Management Joint Authority Ekokymppi.
AWE - Arctic Water Excellence
Water expertise has been identified as one of the common strengths of Eastern and Northern Finland. The AWE - Arctic Water Excellence project aims to contribute to strengthening the coordinated regional specialization implemented in the water sector and profiled cooperation in the IP area. The project implements the choices of the common smart specialization strategy of Eastern and Northern Finland (clean technologies and low-carbon solutions, ICT and digitization, innovative technologies and production processes), where it has been identified to have versatile competence in the IP area. The choices of the joint strategy create the basis for a new cross-regional cooperation, which the AWE project concretice.
The goal of the AWE project is to contribute to the development of new technologies and their piloting and implementation, especially in water-intensive industry and the water works in cooperation with research institutes, SMEs and industry.
The project focuses on solving generic, water-related challenges identified from the business world by means of co-development, applying new and/or alternative technologies in practice. The targets of the project's development are e.g. the utilization of digitalization for the development of environmental monitoring and water balance management of large industrial areas, such as mining areas, and the development of advanced recovery processes and separation technologies as part of water purification, e.g. in order to utilize the metals and nutrients contained in wastewater as raw materials. These development measures also contribute to the development of the circular economy in the form of applications based on water expertise.
AWE is funded by Pohjois-Savon liitto, and is definitely a joint effort; the stakeholders consist of Savonia UAS, Geological Survey of Finland GTK, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk), LUT University (Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology LUT), Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK UAS), University of Oulu, and VTT.
CEMIS - UURA - New and digital solutions for solving the challenges of Kainuu region bioeconomy, circular economy and measurement technology
The UURA project is part of the CEMIS development program 2022–2024. It focuses on solving the challenges identified in the regional business life. By means of joint development, it applies new and/or alternative technologies in practice.
In Kainuu, the project's development targets are e.g. forest bioeconomy, circular economy and industry. The key focus areas of the project are the green transition and digitalization, and thus the project responds to the global, national, and regional need for measures to curb climate change. Kainuu's export sector relies on the forest industry, mining industry, and measurement technology know-how. Kainuu's smart specialization strategy takes these priorities into account. The main needs and continuous challenges of the regional business life are maintaining and improving cost efficiency, developing energy efficiency, reducing the amount of harmful process chemicals, and improving the quality and added value of end products. In this activity, knowledge of the processes and timely adjustment are essential. Therefore, the more up-to-date and accurate process information and measurement data is available, the better the optimization of energy-intensive processes will succeed. The subject and tools of development are principles, methods, processes, equipment, and digitalization.
During the project, suitable ecosystems are assembled around new technologies, solutions, or methods identified as the most promising for their future development and commercialization. A strong part of the project entity is also promoting the internationalization of Kainuu's business life and research institute sector.
The UURA Project is a joint project between KAMK UAS, University of Oulu, and VTT. It's funded by the Regional Council of Kainuu with ERDF funds.
HUDA - Data-based management for runoff water and waste flows in Kainuu
The HUDA project develops technology solutions and method know-how for the sustainable management of waste logistics and runoff water flow. Both development sites contribute to the sustainable development of Kainuu's most important industries and the transition to a circular economy in accordance with Kainuu's smart specialization strategy. They also contribute to the sustainable development of built urban and municipal infrastructure.
The project develops a new type of data-based waste flow management as follows:
According to research, 90% of waste containers are emptied at a non-optimal time. This means that unnecessary fuel consumption and CO2 emissions caused by logistics are significant. The project identifies and evaluates the possibilities of improving the efficiency of waste management and the transportation of waste materials, as well as the possibility of reforming the operating methods of the industry. The project implements pilot installations for remote monitoring of waste infrastructure and to support intelligent logistics planning. The indirect goal of the project is to digitize the main waste infrastructure of the entire Kainuu area.
The project develops the management of runoff water flow and the minimization of related risks as follows:
Heavy rains and floods increase the risks of both damage to built infrastructure and environmental loads in water bodies. On the other hand, possible dry spells becoming more common increase erosion susceptibility, leading to more significant damage in subsequent rain and flood events after the dry period.
In terms of qualitative load, for example, microplastics and the chemical components they carry are load factors that cannot be controlled in the current situation. Runoff water is the most significant transport route for microplastics. It is assumed that the management of microplastics will be included in EU-level environmental regulations in near future. For example, tire wear from vehicle traffic is a significant source of microplastics. It is therefore essential to understand the migration of microplastics on a systemic level and find solutions for their management.
The project produces estimates of risk targets based on different data sources, risk management methods, and better forecasting and planning material to minimize risks.
The basis of the project is the know-how of intelligent measurement solutions and data management, which is applied to the new target area in a new way. The project aims to reduce the ecological footprint of industrial processes (intelligent waste logistics), minimize energy consumption (smart waste logistics), improve the quality and traceability of measurement data (runoff water management), and reduce water and air emissions (runoff water management).
The HUDA project is a joint project of KAMK UAS and University of Oulu, and it's funded by Kainuun Liitto with ERDF funds.
The Clean Gold Mining Water - Development of mechanized gold mining water use
The project focused on reducing emissions from gold mining.
The goal of the project was to reduce the gold mining water's emissions by 75 % from the current level. In mechanized gold mining, water emissions have already been reduced by about 90 % from the starting level of the 1990s. It has been possible to reduce the emissions of the spade excavator somewhat with advice, but there are no monitoring figures for this. The main point of the project was to develop and test methods that can reduce the amount of water cloudiness in exceptional situations, such as at the start of a construction site, during times of flooding, and during riverbed shifting.
The project was funded by the Regional Council of Lapland with ERDF funds.
KIRKU
Iso-Ruuhijärvi is a high-service outdoor recreational fishing area. With the funding of the KIRKU project, measures are taken to improve the ecological condition of the lake. The lake is eutrophic and acidified, e.g. due to the nutrient loads caused by the drained marshes. During the 2022 and 2023 summer seasons, vegetation will be cleaned, and exploratory fishery and management fishing will be carried out. The nutrient load caused by streams and ditches flowing into the lake is monitored and renovation works are carried out to reduce runoff.
In the project, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences carries out field experiments related to the transport of nutrients and solid matter. Along with this, the people moving in the area are offered the opportunity for interactive environmental monitoring. During the project, those who are interested in the matter will be able to test use a mobile application that can be used to assess the state of the water body. The purpose is to develop tools for collecting background information that gives direction in relation to various phenomena affecting water bodies and the environment. In the future, environmental information like this can help to gain a better understanding of possible problems and help target future measures.
KIRKU is a joint project between KAMK UAS and the City of Kajaani, and it is funded by the Ministry of Environment through Kainuu ELY Center, the City of Kajaani and KAMK UAS.