Dr. Sergio Martínez-Aranda

Dr. Sergio Martínez-Aranda
Assistant Professor & Researcher
Fluid Dynamic Technologies I3A

University of Zaragoza

About me

My research career combines experimental and numerical modelling in Fluid Mechanics, with a progressively consolidated focus on computational modelling of environmental and geophysical flows. I obtained a BSc+MSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Granada (2012), a MSc in Environmental Hydraulics from the University of Málaga (2013), a MSc in Water Resources Engineering (2019) and a PhD in Fluid Mechanics from the University of Zaragoza (2021, Cum Laude and International Mention). Since 2022, I have been Assistant Professor at the University of Zaragoza, working within the Fluid Dynamic Technologies (TFD) group at the Aragón Institute for Engineering Research (I3A).

My main research line is the development of high-performance computing (HPC) tools for hydro-morphodynamic and hydro-erosive processes, integrating shallow-water hydrodynamics, sediment transport, soil erosion and multiphase environmental flows. During my PhD, I developed the Efficient Simulation Tools (EST) framework for sediment-laden shallow flows, establishing the foundations of my current work on scalable GPU-based environmental modelling. This research has expanded towards catchment-scale soil erosion, long-term sediment cascades and realistic flood events, including the development and application in climate change scenarios. My work includes the design and execution of laboratory experiments on free-surface flows, dam-break waves, sediment transport and bed evolution, generating benchmark datasets for model development and validation.

In the medium and long term, my objective is to consolidate an interdisciplinary research line combining physics-based modelling, HPC, Earth System monitoring and AI for the predictive assessment of hydro-morphodynamic and environmental risks under climate change. My future research will place particular emphasis on soil erosion and sediment dynamics, post-wildfire recovery and extreme scenarios, while strengthening the transfer of advanced computational tools to public administrations and industry.

Geophysical shallow flows

My research focuses on the physics-based numerical modelling of geophysical shallow flows, including debris flows, mudflows, hyperconcentrated flows, landslides, mining tailings and lava flows. I investigate their complex behaviour, including flow propagation, non-Newtonian rheology, solid phase transport, to improve the prediction of hazardous processes. The research combines advanced numerical methods, high-performance computing and laboratory experiments to predict these phenomena across different spatial and temporal scales.

Soil erosion and sediment transport

My research focuses on the understanding and modelling of soil erosion and sediment transport across spatial scales, from catchment-scale soil loss to river morphodynamics. I investigate the interactions between rainfall, runoff, soil properties, vegetation, sediment entrainment, transport, and deposition, with particular attention to post-fire soil erosion and changes in response following wildfires. This research integrates numerical modelling, field observations, Earth monitoring, and high-performance computing to assess erosion processes under extreme events and climate change.

Experimental laboratory datasets

My research includes the design and development of experimental laboratory datasets for the characterization and validation of geophysical and hydro-morphodynamic processes. I conduct controlled laboratory experiments to investigate flow dynamics, soil erosion, sediment transport, and the effects of rheological features on dynamic response. These datasets provide high-quality experimental evidence for model calibration and validation, supporting more robust physics-based modelling approaches.

High Performance Computing

My research focuses on the development and application of high-performance computing (HPC) techniques for large-scale environmental and geophysical simulations. I develop parallel numerical models based on GPU acceleration, MPI, and modern heterogeneous computing architectures to enable high-resolution simulations that would be computationally prohibitive with conventional approaches. Particular emphasis is placed on improving computational performance and scalability, while preserving the accuracy and physical consistency of complex models.

Scientific production quality

My scientific production comprises 28 peer-reviewed articles in JCR-indexed journals, including 22 in Q1-Q2 journals, together with 18 additional peer-reviewed scientific publications (3 journal articles and 15 international conference proceedings), and I have also contributed to 2 book chapters. These publications have received 575 citations and h-index 14 in Google Scholar, evidencing growing international recognition. My scientific visibility is further demonstrated by 65 oral and poster communications at national and international conferences, 41 of them as first or second author. Current I serve as Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports and as peer reviewer for journals such as Advances in Water Resources, Environmental Modelling & Software, International Journal of Engineering Science and International Journal for Numerical Methods in Fluids.

My research activity has been supported by 19 competitive R&D projects, including national, regional and European programmes, acting as Principal Investigator (PI) in 4 of them. Recent projects address HPC-based modelling of hydro-morphodynamic and hydro-erosive processes, post-wildfire environmental risks and climate-change scenarios, incorporating artificial intelligence and Earth Observation. In parallel, knowledge transfer has been an important component of my career. I have participated in 19 contracts with institutions and industrial partners, 10 of them as PI, with a total budget exceeding 523.000€. I have contributed to 9 registered software solutions, several licensed to Hydronia LLC. These include the PeKa2D and OIL2D simulation software and the SERGHEI HPC environment. I also maintain open-source software and datasets, including the software PeKa2D-v5, SERGHEI platform and experimental benchmark datasets, supporting technology transfer, reproducibility and practical application.

My international experience includes research stays at the Transport Phenomena Research Center (CEFT, University of Porto, Portugal), the Université catholique de Louvain (Belgium), the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany) and the University of Pavia (Italy). These experiences have enabled me to establish international collaborations in computational fluid dynamics, hydraulic and environmental engineering and high-performance scientific computing.

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