Demand of IWM services and products has grown towards more integration of the numerical modelling tools and state-of-the-art data campaigns in holistic approach for providing solutions more towards decision support system (DSS) for the planners, designers and water ecosystem scientists. With increased demand from the users for integrated solutions, the water modelling software developers are also fast upgrading their software products with integration of modelling software of related processes and with addition of Hydroinformatics modules of DSS as shown in the following figure:
The services of IWM include:
Decision support services in a holistic approach with the application of water modelling, computational hydraulics and allied sciences in enhancing the quality of planning and implementation activities in the following fields:
- a) Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
- b) Wetland and lakes management (WeLkM)
- c) Irrigation Management (IrriM)
- d) Ground Water Management (GWM)
- e) Urban Water Management (UWM)
- f) Water Quality & Ecology (WQ&Ec)
- g) Fluvial Hydraulics and River Morphology (FHRM)
- h) River Engineering (RiEngg)
- i) Flood Management (FldM)
- j) Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
- k) Coastal Hydraulics and Morphology (CHMor)
- l) Port and Coastal Structure Management (PCSM)
- m) Estuary and Marine System Management (EMSM)
- n) Offshore Structure and Pipelines (OfS&Pl)
- o) Water Quality Investigation (WQI)
- p) Software Management and IT Solutions (SMIT)
- q) Topographic, hydrographic, sediment transport, water quality and hydrological, meteorological field measurements, necessary laboratory analysis and data management and mapping;
- r) Any other field or area which may be conveniently and beneficially done through the facilities of IWM.
The services are rendered on a cost recovery basis by charging fees to national and foreign private and public agencies, organisations and individuals. In many cases, the services are produced in collaboration with other service institutions, universities, institutes, external consultants, or private consulting companies from Bangladesh or abroad.
Integrated WaterResources Management(IWRM)
IWM has achieved a leading position within the field of integrated management of land and water resources, and provides comprehensive expertise together with a range of decision support tools to understand and simulate a variety of hydrological aspects ranging from broad-scale river basin issues to detailed hydrological and hydrodynamic investigations. Projects often require integration of various aspects, such as conjunctive use of ground water and surface water, water quantity and quality, water uses, industrial water management and integration of the natural systems into human (political and institutional) systems. In the recent years IWM has contributed to development of scenarios, visions and actions within the so-called Vision and Framework for Action process through participation in Global Water Partnership and regional collaborations. This approach consists of a comprehensive set of analysis steps, supported by mathematical tools for the analysis of natural resource systems in a socio-economic context. Using this approach IWM supports water, river and floodplain managers worldwide in structuring complex decision-making processes and provide technical know-how for effective evaluation of planning alternatives. Information management systems, decision support systems and simulation models are important tools in this respect. Services would include:
- Water resources assessment and management
- Master planning and policy development
- Water supply and demand assessment
- River Basin management
- Environmental impact analysis
Flood Management (FldM)
IWM since inception is active in water resources assessment, watershed management and climate change studies. Optimal design of flood protection works is supported by flood risk analyses using advanced tools like the state-of-the-art inundation modelling system. IWM has aquired worldwide experience in the implementation of advanced flood early warning systems for major river systems. Water management organisations are supported by IWM while developing and enhancing their monitoring and information systems. The services would include:
- Hydrological assessments
- Monitoring networks and information systems
- Flood risk and damage assessment
- Flood Mapping
- Real-time flood forecasting and operational water management systems
- Land use and climate change studies
- Flood mitigation planning and designs and operations
Wetland and lakes management (WeLkM)
Detailed studies of wetland and lakes require a unique integrated hydrological approach. Feasibility studies of alternative protection measures require analysis based on multiple criteria. IWM would offer broad and integrated service as well as models to be used for optimisation of wetland management taking into account water balance, retention of pollutant and biodiversity/nature conservation by applying fully distributed analytical tools; outputs would include:
Optimised operation rules
Interaction between groundwater and the surface water bodies (i.e. drawdowns caused by groundwater withdrawals),
Land erosion due to water logging and waves mitigated,
Effects of land use changes on runoff patterns (e.g. deforestation)
Soil – water processes analysed.
By mapping flood extent and performing a statistical evaluation of flood duration, flood frequency, flood depth, groundwater table, and root zone water content the environmental and ecological impacts are assessed.
Irrigation Management (IrriM)
Irrigation management requires advanced approaches in estimation of demand of irrigation water and analysis of water allocation strategies at field scale, for entire irrigation schemes or in a basin wide perspective. IWM would develop information and decision support system for improved operation of irrigation system and command area development. In addition to the water questions, problems related to water quality or salinity may also need to be investigated. Services would include:
- An analysis of the overall effect of irrigation schemes on the water balance
- Optimization of irrigation schemes, reduction of conveyance and seepage losses
- Canal and structure analysis
- Analysis and optimization of structure operations
- Water shortage and irrigation management
- Irrigation, drainage and water logging
- Salinity
- Pesticides and nutrients in drainwater and groundwater recharge
- Effects of irrigation management on crop yields
Ground Water Management (GWM)
Use of groundwater resources requires to strike a balance between water supply demands and the needs of the environment. The problems faced in the groundwater management are often linked to the surface water regime. In such cases IWM has to adopt a holistic approach of examining also the groundwater interaction with the surroundings. Hereby change of landuse, climate and environmental constraints would be evaluated; effects on minimum discharges in rivers and tributaries due to groundwater withdrawal would be examined. DSS that should be developed encompassing the following areas:
- Groundwater exploitation/resources
- Groundwater vulnerability mapping and protection
- Ground water management
- Groundwater quality
- Salt Intrusion
Fluvial Hydraulics and River Morphology (FHRM)
The transport, erosion and deposition of sediment are key elements for describing and understanding the behaviour of rivers and its planform changes. The expertise at IWM in sediment transport processes in rivers includes the full range of cohesive (muddy) as well as non-cohesive sediment from clay to silt, sand, gravel and boulders. While short term morphological changes now a days can be quite well studied by mathematical morphological models, the longterm changes to study requires combination of deterministic and stochastic approach due to the difficulty in long term hydrological and morphological boundary estimation.
The services in this discipline encompasses the following:
- Fluvial hydraulics (water levels, flow patterns, discharge distributions, sediment transport)
- Morphological development of river network, River system, river beds and banks (lowland and mountainous areas)
- Impact of mine tailing, gravel and sand excavation, dredging spoil
- Siltation and maintenance of navigation channels and river ports
- Stabilisation of channels, river banks, off-takes, water intakes etc.
- Morphological consequences of engineering interventions.
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
Water Quality & Ecology (WQ&Ec)
IWM provides state-of-the-art knowledge to solve problems related to water pollution and ecological degradation in fresh water systems. The approach is to apply in-depth knowledge of chemical and ecological processes in combination with the knowledge of hydraulic and morphologic processes to support water managers world-wide to analyse problems, to find solutions and to assess the effectiveness of proposed solutions. Management information systems (MIS), decision support systems (DSS), geographic information systems (GIS), combined with water quality and ecological models are important tools in the study activities. Extensive research and technology programmes are to be continuously conducted to maintain a high level of expertise and to provide decisive advice and up-to-date modelling tools for clients.
The Services would include:
- Strategies for water pollution control of rivers, lakes, wetlands and urban water systems
- Strategies for ecological rehabilitation of rivers, lakes and wetlands based on changes in water quality, hydrodynamics and morphological processes
- Point and non-point sources of nutrients and contaminants
- Modelling of physical, chemical and biological processes in surface water and sediment
- Mobilisation, distribution and bio-availability of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems
- Nutrient loading of rivers and lakes
- Ecological impact of nutrient availability in aquatic ecosystems
- Nutrient control by artificial and natural wetlands
- Water quality in the urban environment (water systems and sewers)
- Ecological impact of hydrodynamics and morphological processes
- Habitat modelling and evaluation of rivers, tidal (fresh) waters, lakes, reservoirs and wetlands
- Water quality monitoring and laboratory analysis issues (data management, optimisation, QA/QC)
- Environmental and ecological indicators systems.
Urban Water Management (UWM)
The challenge of providing quality water to our communities and also serve the cities with efficient drainage and waste water systems is increasingly getting larger as our cities grow and the water with sufficient quality is getting more scarce. Urban flooding, combined or separate sewer overflows, treatment processes and receiving water impact are high priority issues in most countries. IWM offers advanced solutions within a number of topics related to urban drainage including flood risk assessment and radar based rainfall forecasts. Many of the services are based on the use of MOUSE - DHI’s system for analysis of urban drainage networks.
IWM do also provide services related to water supply networks, including analysis of pressure zoning, and water quality aspects. These services often make use of MIKE NET, the DHI Software product for water supply networks.
Services would encompass the following:
- Water supply
- Urban drainage and flooding
- Waste water collection systems
- Integrated catchment planning
- Municipal and industrial waste water treatment
- Real time control, operation and management
- Radar rainfall monitoring and forecast
- Flow monitoring and water quality sampling and analysis.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) is the integrated planning and management of coastal resources and environments. The objective of ICZM is to obtain co-ordinated management of the coastal zone as a whole in relation to local, regional, national and international goals. ICZM is based on the physical, environmental, socio-economic and political interconnections. It is a continuous and dynamic process, which can unite government and community, science and management, and sector and public interests in developing and implementing an integrated approach. ICZM implies the integration of environmental protection goals into economic and technical decision making processes with the objective of achieving sustainable development.
IWM services would cover the following main themes:
- Resource assessment
- Coastal Flood Forecasting and management
- Cyclonic Surge Forecasting
- Impact assessment of development activities
- Cyclone risk and damage assessment
Coastal Hydraulics and Morphology (CHMor)
The IWM expertise in this discipline comprises development and application of advanced methods in response to challenges from a large number of coastal projects including advanced sand transport model capable of modelling the transport in any combination of waves and current, including conditions in the surf zone.
Following outputs are generally envisaged from services in this discipline:
- Long shore sediment transport
- Shoreline management,
- Coastal impact,
- Sedimentation in harbours and navigation channels,
- Tidal inlet stabilisation
- Environmental Impact Assessment of Dredging and Reclamation
Port and Coastal Structure Management (PCSM)
The expertise in this discipline includes: definition of hydraulic design conditions, conceptual design of structures, optimisation of structures, interaction between structures and the ambient hydraulic regime, and environmental impact assessments.
IWM would offer a complete range of services and tools required for the planning and design optimisation of
- Ports and marine terminals,
- Breakwaters,
- Marine and hydraulic structures,
- Bridges and causeways, and
- Water intake and outfall structures.
- Impact analyses of wake wash from high-speed craft (HSC) and route optimisation
Estuary and Marine System Management (EMSM)
The Marine and Estuarine Systems expertise comprises of expert knowledge on natural aquatic systems, including water-sediment interactions that occur in mixed salt water and fresh water systems.
The discipline of expertise deals with the following:
- 2D and 3D large-scale Hydrodynamics of (non) stratified systems, including tidal, density and wind driven currents
- Water quality processes
- Marine ecology
- Marine and estuarine management issues
- Water quality impacts studies
- Algae modelling
- Environmental management of lagoons and estuarine systems
- Risk assessment & Contingency planning
- Optimising monitoring strategy
- Oil-related pollution studies
- Assessment of tidal dynamics of Tidal Basin
- Drainage management of beels
- Optimisation of location of Tidal Basin
- Impact assessment on surface water salinity, groundwater and groundwater salinity
- Assessment of tidal prism in the river
- Relation between tidal prism and flow area and prediction of sustainability of river and tidal basin
- Assessment of sedimentation in the Tidal Basin
- Assessment of river sedimentation and scour
Offshore Structure and Pipelines (OfS&Pl)
This discipline encompasses the following areas of expertise:
- Wave climate statistics and predictions
- Risk assessments
- Layout of offshore terminals and moorings
- Deck elevation studies for platforms
- Provision of met-ocean data for design
- Scour and bottom protection modelling and design
- Pipeline behaviour and pipeline route advice
- Pipeline trenching requirements at landfall
Hydro-meteorological Measurements (HMM)
Hydro-meteorological data is essential for planning, design and implementation of all water related projects including irrigation, drainage and flood control. IWM collects the above data by maintaining the quality through frequent supervision of the collection system in the field as well as systematic processing and consistency check of the data in the office.
- Water Level
- Liquid flow
- Sediment volume and fall velocity
- Rainfall
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Groundwater
Water Quality Investigation (WQI)
Understanding of the level of water quality parameters is essential for the conservation of environment including drinking, irrigation, fisheries and recreation. During recent days IWM has acquired sufficient skill in monitoring the following water quality parameter for different studies.
- Salinity
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
- Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
- Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
- Ammonia (NH3), Nitrate (NO3)
- Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr)
- Mercury (Hg)
- Phosphate (PO4)
- Coliforms
- Turbidity
Hydrographic Survey (HgS)
IWM has proven experience in collecting the following types of data to support morphological assessment of the rivers for bank protection and drainage improvement.
- Bathymetry / Cross sections of the rivers
- Bank line movement
- In-situ measurement of flood plain sedimentation
Laboratory Analysis of Sediment Samples(SedLab)
IWM maintains a well-equipped sediment laboratory to analyze the sediment samples to support morphological assessment of the rivers.
The services provided from the sediment laboratory include:
- Grain size distribution of the bed materials
- Concentration test of suspended sediment
- Separation of fine and coarse sediment in suspension
- Grain size distribution of suspended sediment.
Topographic Survey and Mapping (TSM)
IWM conducts topographic survey to update land level and land use pattern, infrastructure development including drainage and irrigation facilities and communication networks. The data is collected through state-of-the-art equipment like RTK-GPS, Total Station and DGPS. The data is processed through professional software. The result is archived and presented in the form of topographic maps for any future use.
Survey Instrumentation (SI)
For carrying out the survey campaign IWM maintains a stock of state-of the art instruments for which a particularly dedicated expertise is necessary.
The instruments are as under:
- Real-Time Kinematic GPS (RTK – GPS)
- Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS)
- Electronic Total Station
- Level Machine
- Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
- Current meter (directional and non-directional)
- Echosounder
- Salinometer
- Oximeter
- Sediment sampler
Software Management and IT Solutions (SMIT)
With growing demand of having integration of 3S technology and integration of softwares of different platform into on DSS, IT solutions using state-of-the-art technology for collection, processing, storage, management, display and communication of environmental and hydrological data becomes an important discipline of expertise. The IT solutions may be part of a complete system involving other services from IWM such as models, or it may extend the clients’ existing technology. For example, making the data of a database accessible on WWW.
Services would include the following:
- Developing and interfacing databases with environmental and hydrological data.
- Using Internet technology for data acquisition and access.
- Interfacing geographic information systems (GIS) with advanced simulation models.
- Using data mining for decision support.
- Procurement and management of all the modelling and GIS and other commercial software available around the world and its beta testing.
- Integration of different software if necessary by developing new object oriented modules as a single package solution in a holistic approach.
Computer System Management (CSM)
IWM maintains a mixed network of mainframe and desktop PC’s with different operating system; it also provides advice to its client on procurement of suitable computers and accessories and software and network environment. The professional in this discipline also is responsible for backing up and archiving of disk information and virus free operation of its computer system.
