The DHI-NTU Research Centre – a successful Phase I

DHI Singapore had joined hands with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2007, forming the DHI-NTU Water & Environment Research Centre and Education Hub. Year 2012 marked the end of Phase I – the first five years of the collaboration. With the venture renewed for another three and a half years (2012-2016), we look forward to many more successes in the near future. Our exemplary work in Phase I resulted in concrete results as well as the development of knowledge and new technologies. Some of our key achievements include:

• For every scientist we hired, we generated three full time positions in consulting and producing organisations
• Every dollar invested by the government in our core grant was followed by four dollars of competitive grants and industry funding
• More than 130 publications (many of them in high profile journals) came about as a result of these investments
• We trained more than 1,300 water and environmental professionals in 70 programmes
• More than 200 visiting scientists, industrial experts and foreign students supported our work during this period

Our research and development focuses on key areas reflecting market demands and priority issues on the global agenda. Some of our major projects are:

• Urban flood management system – better accuracy at low costs : We strive to improve predictions of runoff and urban flooding through the application of a short range weather radar system (X-band). Our system is based on the Local Area Weather Radar (LAWR), which has been developed by DHI.
• Propeller Wash – protecting ports and channels against erosion : Shipping trade has been growing steadily and ship sizes are increasing accordingly. With our research, we aim to provide an efficient quantitative tool for assessing the hydrodynamic effects of propeller wash. This can help optimise the design of ports and navigational channels, thereby reducing maintenance and repair time/costs. Moreover, we look into the environmental effects of propeller wash on corals and mangroves.
• Inundation modelling for tsunami flood protection : We work towards alternative ways of considering urban structures for flood risk assessments. With the help of 3D numerical simulations and laboratory studies, our novel approach leads to improved disaster preparedness, thereby allowing to reduce losses from disastrous inundation events.
• Learning from nature – desalination with biomimetic membranes : In conjunction with the Singapore Membrane Technology Centre (SMTC) and the Danish cleantech company Aquaporin A/S, we are contributing to the development of aquaporin biomimetic membranes. These membranes will bring a novel technique to water reuse and desalination, helping to cut its cost and energy demand. Our Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) expertise is fundamental in this project.
• How high and why – enhancing water level detection : We developed an easy-to-use water level camera providing high quality visual output (for surveillance and evidence pictures) and an accurate water level measurement. This will help reduce maintenance efforts and costs in water level monitoring in urban water systems. Our system is today successfully installed at an open storm-water drainage canal in Singapore.

The DHI-NTU Centre has come a long way in facing scientific and technological challenges in the last five years. Building on our abovementioned and many other accomplishments, we are confident of achieving many more successes in Phase II of the centre.

Left: Assoc. Prof. Adrian Wing-Keung Law, Centre Director

Right: Dr. Ole Larsen, Centre Director