Lanka Hydraulic Institute designs harbour in Algeria

Thursday, 8 May 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Lanka Hydraulic Institute Ltd (LHI) a leading Sri Lankan engineering consultancy firm in the Asian region in the fields of coastal, water resources and urban water engineering, successfully finalised the design of a commercial fisheries harbour at Messida, in Algeria. This project comes immediately after completion of a similar design of a commercial port facility with berths for dry and liquid cargo up to a capacity of 40,000DWT in Mboro, Senegal – Africa. This is in addition to the LHI’s strong records in EIA and design projects in Massawa (Erithria) and El Kala (Algeria) in 2007.

The LHI owns a large 25m x 35 m free spanning basin in the banks of Bolgoda. One of the largest test basins in South Asia, it is equipped with computer controlled wave makers to replicate in-situ ocean waves and tides or recreate river currents of standard and extreme flood events. This enables the design of structures such as breakwaters, jetties, coast protection structures, weirs and dams to be accurately and practically checked. The Institute with its state of the art laboratory located in the banks of Bolgoda Lake at Katubedda, undertakes high-end studies on design of Hydraulic/coastal structures, and the collection of field data in the coastal/water sector, and is one of a kind in the region competing with the similar laboratories in the west. The designs are carried out using sophisticated globally accepted Mathematical Models, and stand-alone or supportive scaled physical model studies conducted in the basin. The basin utilises computer controlled waves. A significant feature of LHI is the fact that all projects are handled in-house using Sri Lankan expertise. Key project staff consist of 5 PhD and 3 MSc qualified, senior engineers having experience both here and abroad, backed with a technically proficient supportive staff. LHI last year handled 25 major projects including the coast protection of Cannes in France, design of harbours in Oman, Flood protection schemes in Maldives, and Fishery Harbours in India. In Sri Lanka, they have been involved in technical studies for coastal terminals in the energy sector. The 2D and 3D testing have been carried out for all harbours in Sri Lanka where artificial armour (Concrete Blocks in place of rock) has been used. In addition, LHI has undertaken detailed field investigations and measurements in coastal and riverine systems. Enhancing its footprint in African continent, LHI at present, is actively involved in a major collaboration on field investigations and mathematical model studies in Rwanda – Africa.