Whilst not solely limited to the field of breakwaters, Numerical Modelling is often used in the evaluation of proposed breakwaters and to determine the operational limitations at proposed port sites.
An essential element in the planning and design of any maritime development is the derivation of the wave, current and sedimentation conditions. These are required to determine the design conditions for the development itself as well as to determine the extent of any impacts the development may have on the existing coastal and water circulation regime.
Numerical modelling is often utilised for the examination of wave climates, wave transformation, hydraulic modelling of tides and currents, sediment transport and sedimentation within, for instance, approach channels as well as water quality and thermal plume dispersion.
Our suite of numerical models is ideally suited to answering, very cost effectively, the critical design and operational issues inevitably posed by development within a potentially hostile marine environment.
Royal Haskoning have extensive in-house modelling capabilities that cover all aspects of port development. The team are very familiar with the capabilities of numerical modelling and the significance and accuracy of any results.
Numerical models do not provide the answers themselves but are tools that aid interpretation. The application of experience to the interpretation of the results significantly increases the life span of the proposed solution.