The researchers studied how changing the shape of a spillway weir can affect the amount of water that can flow out of a dam during a flood. They used computer simulations and physical experiments to compare different types of weirs. They found that a labyrinth weir can increase the water discharge by 71% compared to a traditional weir at low water levels. However, as the water level rises, the increase in discharge becomes less significant due to water submergence and interference. This means that using a labyrinth weir can help manage floods better in certain situations.