Technology Groups > Coastal and Environmental Engineering > Activities

Hydrographic surveys HOLISTIC

The first step for port planning, navigational channel designing, siting of facilities comprise bathymetry, current and tide measurements.  NIOT has a proven record of its hydrographic survey capabilities and list of high-tech survey equipments is constantly updated with the latest technical developments. NIOT is also one of the seven authorities authorised by the Govt. of India for demarcation of CRZ [Coastal Regulation Zone]. The equipment list ranges from Ceeducers, single to multibeam echosounders, to Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler [ADCP] to directional wave gauges in addition to the latest generation current meters and tide gauges.

HYDROGRAPHICAL EQUIPMENT INVENTORY

PORTABLE HYDROGRAPHIC SYSTEM CEEDUCER LEICA MX 9500 GPS RECEIVER DGPS/BEACON RECEIVER LEICA MX 9250B

REMOTE OPERATED VEHICLE – BENTHOS MINIROVER MK II DIRECTIONAL WAVE GUAGE – SEATEX SMART 800   Wave & Tide gauge – WS Ocean Systems

ECHOSOUNDER - ODOM ECHTRAC – DF3200 - MKII Multibeam Echosounder – RESON 8101, GS+ System OCTANS SUB SEA MRU,Heave sensor – TSS HS50       ACOUSTIC DOPPLER CURRENT PROFILER [ADCP] – RDI 1501 – UG2 HORIZONTAL ADCP DIRECT READING ADCP

730 wAVE & tIDE rECORDER 730 dIRECTIONAL WAVE & TIDE DECORDER 740 TIDE GAUGE

GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS

Geophysical surveys with state-of-the art acoustics technology coupled with enhanced image processing are capable of providing quick, yet comprehensive images of the seabed topography and sub seabed characteristics.  Outputs of such surveys are processed and the sub seabed stratification, soil classification, presence of rock outcrops, sunken objects, and depositional characteristics such as sand waves, shoaling are mapped.  These are inputs, which significantly lower the risk in navigational channel designs, dredging proposals and planning of port expansion and infrastructure requirements.

KEY APPLICATIONS

DREDGEABILITY CHARACTERISITCS OF SUBSEABED FOR MAINTENANCE OF NAVIGABLE DEPTHS IN PORTS & HARBOURS SUPPORT PORT EXPANSION PROPOSALS  [TO HANDLE LARGER VESSELS] LOCATE ROCK PATCHES, WRECKS, OUTCROPS, SANDWAVES, SHOALS DETAILING OF DREDGING CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS FEASIBILITY STUDIES FOR SINGLE POINT MOORINGS [SPMs] LOCATIONS PRE & POST DREDGING SURVEYS FOR DETERMINATION OF DEPTH ACHIEVED & BILL OF QUANTITIES SUBMARINE PIPELINE ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE ROUTES  & OPTIONS TO SELECT TECHNICALLY & ECONOMICALLY VIABLE ROUTE

NIOT’s inventory includes an entire range of state-of-the-art equipments for such surveys. Side Scan Sonars provide information on the sea floor relief including wrecks, rock patches of the seabed while stratification and compactness of the sub seabed are obtained using Sub Bottom Profilers.  Information on sunken magnetic objects are obtained using magnetometer surveys, while subseabed geological formations in deeper depths are obtained using sparkers & boomers

GEOPHYSICAL EQUIPMENT REGISTRY

MAGNETOMETER GEOMETRICS SPEAKER $ BOOMER APPLIED ACOUSTICS WITH CODA     SUB BOTTOMPROFILERS   INTEGRATED SUB SCAN C-3 DIMENSIONAL SIDE SCAN SONAR

SALIENT APPLICATIONS OF GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS

Recommendations for maintenance of navigational channel in Haldia for Kolkata Port Trust Sub seabed stratification studies for dredgeability recommendations for major Indian Port basins & navigational channels Route survey for submarine pipeline for British Gas, L & T at Dahej, CPCL off Ennore Planning of Port expansion proposals for Ennore Port Ltd., for locating SPMs Port Planning for Vizhinjam Harbor, Dighi Port Post dredge surveys at Tuticorin for TPT

Side Scan Sonar image of rock exposure

Typical seabed stratification from sub bottom profile survey

MARINE GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS

Focussed ground truting (where exactly to sample) integrated with insitu investigations adds impetus to the traditional geotechnical investigations.   NIOT’s possession of the Cone Penetrometer enables rapid yet accurate evaluation of soil properties and sub seabed soil classification.  This rapid evaluation considerably reduces the errors prone to operations in hostile conditions for marine boreholes.

Processing of the CPT data is done using Swedish Geotechnical Institute software, CONRAD The extensive laboratory facilities at NIOT enable determination of all engineering properties samples, obtained from grabs, vibrocores and gravity cores.  Soil map of the sub seabed is obtained from integration of results of insitu investigations and laboratory/ physical measurements. This provides inputs to recommendations on dredgeable nature of soils in channels/port basins, feasibility of pipeline laying, borehole locations for foundation design for structures,

KEY PROJECTS

Determination of soil properties, surficial soil bed properties, grain size distribution in the navigational channel in Haldia for Kolkata Port Trust Sub seabed stratification studies for dredgeability recommendations for major Indian Port basins & navigational channels Engineering properties of sub seabed soils for locating submarine pipelines for British Gas, L & T at Dahej, CPCL off Ennore coast,

Geotechnical capability

CONE PENETROMETER TESTING ROSON SYSTEM – 100 KN ELECTRICAL IBRO CORER SEABED SYSTEM- SVC 300 E   ROCK CORING OPERATIONS ROCK CORE VAN VEEN GRAB   Well equipped geotechnical Laboratory

MODELING

Mathematical and physical modelling are effective tools to demonstrate theoretical assumptions and to make quantitative estimates of scientific predictions.  Key areas of application of modelling are wave tranquillity; dredge spoil disposal, sediment transport, thermal dispersion, water quality, and hydrology.  MIKE21 modeling suite (Hydrodynamic and Particle transport), developed by the Danish Hydraulic Institute is being used for the numerical modeling for all these studies. One of the cases that required specialized modelling was for the sediment transport in the Hugli River estuarine system.

Predictions of window of operations – justification of investment

Modeling of wave conditions near a proposed terminal was carried out for assessing feasibility of handling container carriers round the year for Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited.  . Numerical simulations were carried out to obtain the wave transformation pattern and disturbance coefficient in the port area for different incident wave conditions and different tide levels.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SERVICES

Environmental Impact & Risk Assessments

Under the MoEF EIA Notification [27th Jan 1994 upto 21/11/2001], Ports & Harbours are site-specific projects and require SITE CLEARANCE from the Central Govt. in the MoEF.  No construction work, preliminary or otherwise, relating to the setting up of the project may be undertaken till the environmental and site clearance is obtained. The group equipped with state-of-the-art equipment capacity, well-trained personnel and documented procedures, carries out baseline surveys.  Interpretations of baseline are made to establish trends for future estimates.  Predictions for air quality impacts cargo transport, noise level increase from piling / dredging operations, water quality assessments for dredge dump disposal are carried out by quantitative methods including mathematical modelling.

Oil spill modeling software.

MEASUREMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY – A FEW EXHIBITS

High Tech Environmental Laboratory Sample collection & insitu measurements     Well-equipped Mobile Laboratory     ICPMS YSI

SOME OF OUR CLIENTS

OVERSEAS CUSTOMERS

BRITISH GAS MAERSK L&T RAMBOLL CAIRN ENERGY HITACHI

PORT TRUSTS

CHENNAI PORT TRUST ENNORE PORT TRUST KANDLA PORT TRUST KOLKATA PORT TRUST TUTICORIN PORT TRUST VISHAKAPATNAM PORT TRUST GOA PORT TRUST ANDAMAN & LAKSHADWEEP HARBOUR WORKS

DEFENCE

Indian Navy Coast Guard

PUBLIC SECTOR

Dredging Corporation of India NTPC ONGC BPCL RITES Cochin Refineries CPCL GIDC APGENCO NLC

GOVERNMENT

Harbour Engineering Department- Kerala Andaman PWD NPCIL

PRIVATE SECTOR

NAGARJUNA OIL CHEMPLAST SPIC BPCL L&T MRL MUNDRA PORT PIPAVAV PORT TANIR BAVI POWER CO DIGHI PORT