Coastal Engineering - Numerical Modelling Solutions
The Water Research Laboratory (WRL) is located at Manly Vale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, and is part of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). WRL undertakes coastal engineering activities through a dedicated projects team, where full time project staff undertake studies and offer expert advice to industry and government. WRL employs a vast range of numerical (computer) models in its projects and research efforts. These software programs include hydrodynamic models, water quality models, sediment transport models, wave transformation models, rainfall and runoff models, and groundwater models. These programs are run on a local network of computers consisting of PC’s and UNIX work stations.
Numerical Modelling Expertise
ANSYS CFX: A general purpose computational fluid dynamics software suite with advanced solver and pre- and post-processing capabilities
HEC-RAS: 1D steady hydrodynamic model
RMA-2: Depth averaged, finite element, unsteady hydrodynamic model
RMA-10: 3D finite element hydrodynamic and water quality model
MIKE-11: 1D finite difference unsteady hydrodynamic model used for modelling rivers and channels
MIKE-21: 2D finite difference unsteady hydrodynamic model used for modelling rivers, estuaries, bays and flood plains
MIKE Flood: Dynamically links 1D and 2D MIKE models, used for flooding and where rivers meet estuaries
Sediment Transport Models
GENESIS: Shoreline change model, based on temporal & spatial differences in longshore transport caused by breaking waves
HEC-6: Sediment transport and sedimentation
RMA-11: 2D/3D, finite element sediment transport model
SBEACH: Cross-shore sediment transport model
UNIBEST: Simulates longshore and cross-shore sediment transport
ACES: General coastal engineering package (part of CEDAS)
BERKHOFF: In-house finite difference shoaling and diffraction model
CMS: A free surface wave modelling suite
HINDCAST: In-house wave prediction program based on the SPM (1984) method
RCPWAVE: A short wave open coast model (part of CEDAS)
REF/DIF: Combined shoaling, refraction and diffraction finite difference model
REFRACT: Shoaling and refraction finite difference model for linear and non-linear waves
SHALWV: A full spectral wave model for examining inshore wave climates that result from offshore wave climate (part of CMS)
SWAN: A full spectral wave model suitable for wind generated waves and refraction
STWAVE: Simulates time independent spectral wave energy propagation (part of CEDAS)
WAVEREF: In-house finite difference wave shoaling and refraction model
Water Quality Models
3D-RWALK: Random walk 2D and 3D water quality model (works in RMA-2 & 10)
HSPF: Rural catchment runoff and water quality model
QUAL-2E: 2D estuarine water quality model
RMA-11: 2D/3D, finite element water quality model
SWMM: Urban drainage catchment runoff and water quality/quantity model
Projects Recently Undertaken
WRL has extensive experience the modelling of many rivers and estuaries both in Australia and internationally. Such tasks have included environmental flow studies, ocean and estuarine entrance conditions, discharge of pollutants, sedimentation and navigation. Specific studies include:
- Sydney Harbour and Coastal Waters, NSW
- Jerudong Park Marina, Brunei
- Karuah River, NSW
- Tweed River, NSW
- Hong Kong Western Waters, Hong Kong
- Moreton Bay, QLD
- Sydney-Illawarra Sewer Overflow Impacts, NSW
- Green Island Reclamation, Hong Kong
- Darwin Harbour/East Arm Port, NT
- Auckland Sewer Overflows, New Zealand
- Manila Bay, Philippines
- Tuas Reclamation, Singapore
- Pulau Tekong Reclamation, Singapore
- Manly Lagoon, NSW
- Wilsons River, NSW
- Port of Sonklah, Thailand
- Santubong Peninsula, Malaysia
- Benoa Bay, Indonesia
- Khiran Pearl Canal Estate, Dubai
- Christchurch Outfall, New Zealand
- Waimakariri Outfall, New Zealand
- Port Botany Expansion, NSW
Key WRL Personnel
Brett Miller: Brett is the Manager of WRL and also an experienced and skilled numerical modeller. He has been undertaking RMA modelling projects since 1992 when he commenced work on the 3D simulation of the Sydney Deepwater Outfalls. In 1995 he was appointed the Section Leader for Environmental Modelling at WRL and was responsible for the technical direction and marketing of modelling activities. Brett has undertaken hydrodynamic and water quality modelling on over 20 major studies in locations including Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines and New Zealand. Studies have varied in size from small pilot modelling exercises to large studies, such as the Western Waters of Hong Kong that involved 3D modelling of hydrodynamics and water quality in highly stratified conditions, with 5 engineers full time for 18 months. Brett has also been strongly involved with the hydraulic design and near field prediction of outfall performance with recent projects including: Waimakariri Outfall (NZ), Christchurch Outfall (NZ), Shellharbour Outfall and the proposed Perth Desalination Outfall. Brett holds a BE in Civil Engineering, a BSc in Computer Science and a MEngSc in Water Engineering.
James Carley: James is a Senior Project Engineer at WRL. He has over 17 years experience in coastal engineering, specialising in coastal processes, coastal hazards and physical modelling. James holds a MEngSc majoring in Coastal Engineering and Physical Oceanography, and was the 2007-08 Chair of the NSW Maritime Panel of the Institution of Engineers Australia. James is one of Australia’s foremost experts in the practical application of coastal process models and has extensive experience with the best currently available numerical and analytical models from around the world. James has undertaken detailed studies of beaches throughout Australia, the South Pacific, South-East Asia and the Middle East. These studies have involved a review of historical events, prediction of future response to major storms, climate change and sea level rise, and beach response to structures. The techniques used include detailed historical analysis of beach profile survey data, computer/numerical modelling, and physical laboratory modelling of beach shape and the response of structures to waves. James has authored more than 100 WRL Technical Reports and more than 20 papers for state, national and international conferences. He has been a surfer, surf life saver and ocean swimmer for more than 30 years, which allows him to closely understand coastal processes and community issues.
Dr William Glamore: William is a Senior Research Fellow at WRL. William has a BSc in Environmental Science and a PhD in Civil/Environmental Engineering. William has been with WRL since 2003 and has managed and undertaken several large studies during this time. His primary fields of interest are related to estuarine hydrodynamics and water quality including restoration of estuarine environments, acid sulphate soils, coastal wetlands, boat wake waves, outfall hydraulics and field testing, and related physical and numerical models. While William’s work is particularly focused on estuarine environments, his practical experience crosses all water related environments including reservoirs, wetlands, groundwater and coastal settings.
Grantley Smith: Grantley is a Senior Project Engineer at WRL. He has a BE in Civil Engineering and a MEngSc majoring in Water Engineering. He has a broad range of experience providing assessment and solutions in water engineering and water resources, developed during his more than 19 years as a professional engineer. Grantley has a keen interest in numerical modelling with his expertise gained through a hands-on approach to developing and employing numerical models to address wide range of applications covering catchment, riverine, estuarine and coastal environments. His broad experience in both conceptual models and physically based 1D, 2D and 3D models covering water movement, water quality and sediment transport processes and associated environmental responses leaves him well placed to provide tailored modelling solutions and practical advice to support water planning and management. Grantley has also contributed to the assessment of numerous outfalls in both estuarine and coastal environments. These assessments have ranged in size from small studies of the potential impacts river bank overflows on receiving water environments to project management of a multi-disciplinary team for the hydraulic and structural stability design and commissioning testing of the ocean outfall for the Illawarra Wastewater Strategy at the Wollongong STP.
Prof. Ian King: Ian is an internationally recognised expert in the application of state-of-the-art computer simulation techniques to practical engineering problems and has pioneered the application of Finite Element Methods to water resources problems. He is the primary developer of the RMA-2, RMA-10 and RMA-11 hydrodynamic and water quality models, and has been involved with their development and application over a period of 25 years. For the past 9 years, he has had a continuing association with WRL, where he is currently a Visiting Professor. Ian has an extensive background in lake, estuarine and oceanographic hydrodynamics and water quality, and has been actively involved in many leading edge commercial projects while also supervising many PhD students applying the RMA models to lakes and estuaries.
Matt Blacka: Matt has completed a Master of Engineering Science degree, with specialisation in Coastal Engineering and Management, and Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree, with first class honours in Coastal Engineering. He has over five years experience working as a Project Engineer at the Water Research Laboratory on both physical model and desktop investigations in the fields of coastal engineering and hydraulics. Matt is also a member of the Engineers Australia Sydney Division Maritime Panel. While working at WRL Matt has completed physical model investigations of a range of coastal structures including breakwaters, seawalls, and jetties, as well as hydraulic structures such as dam spillways, weirs, and culverts. Recent physical modelling investigations include Bounty Bay Breakwater Pitcairn Island, Greater Gorgon Development Barrow Island LNG Plant WA, Shell Cove Marina Entrance NSW, Springfield Lakes Spillway Cascade QLD, and William Slim Drive Retarding Basin Culvert ACT.
Alessio Mariani: Alessio has been a Project Engineer at WRL since 2006. Alessio attended two leading European schools of engineering graduating with a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering at the Politecnico of Milan, Italy, and a Masters degree in Hydrodynamic and Ocean Engineering at the Ecole Centrale of Nantes, France. Alessio was the recipient of the EU sponsored TIME (Top Industrial Manager for Europe) scholarship, and participated to the related European double-degree program. Recently Alessio has managed the physical modelling studies for the Gorgon Project on Barrow Island in Western Australia. The investigation included 2D, quasi-3D and full 3D modelling of coastal structures. Alessio was also involved in several coastal studies both national and international; including Shell Cove harbour NSW, Cook Islands airport breakwater and Semaphore Park submerged breakwater in Adelaide.
Dr Tom Shand: Tom has completed a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree, with honours, and has worked on a range of consulting engineering projects mainly in the coastal discipline, but also in hydraulic, water resources and geotechnical fields. Areas of expertise include coastal process and hazard assessment; numerical modelling of coastal, offshore and estuarine processes, and the design of coastal structures and beach nourishment schemes. Tom also has experience with the practical aspects of engineering design including project costing, specifications and construction supervision. Tom’s PhD, undertaken at UNSW, investigated wave group effects on shoaling and breaking processes, and their influences on nearshore design and coastal hazard.
Areas of Expertise