Climate Adaptation Planning through Physical Modelling

Physical modelling is primarily applied in hydraulic engineering and can be scaled up and down. It allows for analysing and simulating various processes in controlled environments that are as close to reality as possible.

As climate change is projected to bring about more extreme natural events, physical modelling will be an essential tool for testing climate adaptation designs and scenarios.

A UK-based civil engineering and environmental hydraulics organisation has been providing scale models for various projects, including breakwaters, beaches, turbines, tsunamis, and pumping stations, as well as fish passes, according to the news article.

Physical modelling can be scaled up or down depending on structural design requirements for small geographical areas, such as breakwater stability in port or harbour areas, erosion and accretion of beach areas, to large-scale applications like sediment transport along the coastline and wave climate approaching a port.

Advantages of modelling over computational techniques

Although developments in computer power are predicted to make physical modelling obsolete, this engineering company still widely uses it today. Over the last ten years, they have utilised it for an average of 28 modelling projects per year, primarily for coastal and offshore projects.

Here’s why physical modelling is popular:

• Physical modelling requires a few simplifying assumptions as nature takes its course.
• It remains more cost-effective and efficient to use it than to rely on numerical computer models.
• Immediate visual feedback is provided, and uncertainties are reduced as models are less reliant on empirical formulas or calculations.
• Users have a high degree of control over the experiments, allowing them to make quick changes between or during tests to maximise benefits.
• It provides certainty with the results obtained from the test.

With climate change bringing more extreme weather and climate events, physical and computer modelling can enhance and improve climate adaptation planning.

Through modelling, the risks and impacts of extreme climate conditions can be simulated to assess their effects on infrastructure and thereby improve the resilience of infrastructure and systems.

Their company also support climate adaptation projects and green engineering projects in the UK and around the world.