International Conference on the Application of Physical Modelling in Coastal and Port Engineering and Science Coastlab 16
The combination of various hydraulic models (both physical and numerical) and available field data is a unique research platform to setup an intercomparison between different results of these models. This kind of research is rather scarce due to lack of data or only one single model in most research projects. In a large integrated research project for the port of Zeebrugge, Flanders Hydraulics Research had the opportunity to combine the results of two models in order to perform a detailed analysis of the tidal current in front of a coastal port and to find the best alternative layout for this port. It was also a good occasion to evaluate and to improve the various modeling techniques. The model intercomparison showed corresponding results and also differences in the current velocity. Based on the analysis it can be recommended to consider not only the output values of a model but to calculate the relative outcome of different runs to interpret the impact of modified layouts of the port.