Web-based Rapid-assessment Tools
for Designing Intake and Outfall
Systems
ICDEMOS 2014
Roland Vlijm, Deltares
Aim of this presentation
• Illustrate how web-based rapid assessment tools could
contribute to the optimisation of an intake and outfall
design.
• To provide an overview of the recent developments of
web-based rapid assessment tools
• To inspire you to use these tools and to imbed your
research and knowledge in readily accessible rapid
assessment tools.
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Introduction
Environmental impact and operational conditions of a
desalination plant depend on the decisions made in the
design process.
New technological developments and increasing
computational power provide new opportunities in terms of
the design process.
Early involvement of reliable, cost and time-efficient numerical
modelling assessments in the design process.
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Introduction
“The detailed model of today is the schematic
model of tomorrow”
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Outline
1. Characteristics and opportunities of rapid assessment tools in the
design process
2. Quick setup of a schematic far field model
• Delft Dashboard
3. Operational forecast and warning systems
• Delft-FEWS
4. Operational rapid assessment spill tools
• Interactive Dredge Planning Tool
5. Visualisation of detailed 3-dimensional modelling
• Interactive Model Results Viewer
6. Conclusions
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Characteristics and opportunities - design process
Characteristics of the design process:
• Preliminary / feasibility design stage:
• Important design considerations
• Involvement of different stakeholders
• Limited time for optimisation
• Advanced / final design stage:
• Detailed numerical modelling
• Compliance with environmental criteria and
regulations (EIA)
• Efficient/economic operation (e.g. low
recirculation potential)
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Characteristics and opportunities - design process
Opportunities of rapid assessment tools in the design process:
• Quick initial assessments of the expected effects and behaviour of
coastal outfalls
• Iteration with developer in early phase of the project
• Optimise communication with the developer and stakeholders
Limitations of rapid assessments:
• Rapid-assessment tools are a trade-off between model accuracy
and calculation time.
• Rapid assessment tools do not replace the need of detailed
numerical modelling assessments
• For successful independent use of these tools, some form of
training would be required.
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Quick setup of a schematic far field model
• Aim: provide a first indication on
effluent spreading and
recirculation
• Near field: Cormix
• Far field: Delft3D
With DelftDashboard it is a matter of
minutes instead of days
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Quick setup of a schematic far field model
Delft Dashboard
‘Application that allows for a quick setup of a numerical far field model’
GUI around the Delft3D software which combines:
• Grid generation
• Online available databases on tide, bathymetry, temperature, salinity
(HYCOM)
• Post-processing applications
• Offline nesting methods
• Coordinate conversion
• Etc…
Open source (OpenEarth tools - Matlab)
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Operational forecast and warning systems
Setup of operational (3 dimensional)
forecast and warning systems
Delft-FEWS
7 day forecast hydrodynamic
conditions
Examples:
North Sea
Arabian Gulf
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Operational rapid assessment spill tools
Interactive Dredge Planning Tool
Objective is to provide a first indication on the
environmental impact of dredging strategies
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Operational rapid assessment spill tools
Integral approach to explore different dredging strategies and
present the resulting environmental impact in a clear indicative
way
Impact based approach vs emission based approach
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Operational rapid assessment spill tools
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Operational rapid assessment spill tools
Many others possibilities of these applications, including
modelling the spreading of:
• Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB)
• Jelly fish blooms
• Oil spills
Future developments:
• Coupling of operational spill tools to real time
measurements
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Visualisation of detailed 3-dimensional modelling
Objective: share numerical modelling results from detailed
assessments with (design) engineers or other stakeholders and
allow for independent analysis and interaction with these results
Advantages:
• More information can be shared with stakeholders in an interactive
way.
• Powerful method to visualise complex numerical modelling results
• Visualisation of results from pre-computed, validated numerical
modelling results, no need for numerical modelling experience
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Visualisation of detailed 3-dimensional modelling
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Visualisation of detailed 3-dimensional modelling
Applications:
• Relocation of the intake structure
•
Compare different intake and outfall configurations
• Communication and discussion purposes between the different
stakeholders
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Conclusions
Readily available accurate information in early design stages can be very
beneficial for obtaining an efficient and high-quality design with low
environmental impacts.
Rapid-assessment techniques and tools allow for a quick exploration of
different design options. This enables engineers to efficiently scan for
different feasible design options.
Rapid-assessment tools can be a powerful method to visualise complex
numerical modelling results unambiguously to stakeholders.
As for rapid-assessment techniques and tools concessions are made to
provide quick results, these techniques and tools do not replace the need
for accurate and detailed modelling.
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Thank you for your attention
-
Questions?
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Contact information:
Roland Vlijm
Roland.Vlijm@Deltares.nl
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