INSTITUTE OF WATER MODELLING

River Engineering (RiEngg)      

Natural water systems are adapted by man to make a more profitable use of the water or to limit hindrance related to excessive natural fluctuations. Storing, guiding or sluicing water, diverting water and retaining water levels are measures which can enhance irrigation, drainage, navigation, energy production, drinking water supply, fishery, flood control, recreation, ecology and environmental control. To achieve these goals tailored river engineering works are designed and constructed. A wide range of measures to control water have been developed, while new measures are conceived to reconcile the often conflicting demands on water systems. The bridges and culverts constructed in the road and rail networks also impose control on the river and flood plain hydraulics. Dredging and Navigation in relation to estuary and inland waterways and river resuscitation and flow management are strongly related and IWM has gained a comprehensive experience from related study works.

IWM approach is to apply in-depth knowledge of hydraulic and morphologic processes to assist the client in carefully tuning the type, location and sizes of the river engineering works to the demands put on it. Both the proper functioning of a measure itself and as part of the overall system are important points of attention. Hydraulics, hydrodynamics, river morphology, and hydraulic engineering are the core knowledge areas, augmented by experience with related phenomena, knowledge of navigation, operational aspects, etc.

IWM services would typically encompass the following fields of applications: 

• Inland water transport (ship manoeuvring, ship induced currents and waves, aids to navigation, river engineering measures, harbour design, guide and berthing works)
• Water (flow and level) control structures
• River training works, closure works, bank protection works, hydraulic structures (e.g. sluices, barrages, dams, shipping locks and gates) and immersion of tunnel elements
• Local energy losses through structures
• Controlled flushing of sediments from reservoirs
• Local scour and sedimentation
• Dambreak analysis
• Operational control of structures 
• Spills from dredging 
• Quality control of dredging