Modelling Symposium
In the time when social gatherings were still normal, 60 Modellers from New Zealand attended the Water New Zealand Modelling Symposium which was hosted in Auckland.
Hydraulic and hydrological modelling has been an important analytic tool for several decades. Modelling continues to develop as an analytical tool continuously and other data analytic methods and datasets are also maturing rapidly. The symposium aims to bring together those involved in using these tools and interpreting their outputs to be able to discuss the different advances in the modelling world.
The symposium started with keynotes on both days, the first was about NIWA’s flood forecasting tool that is being developed and the second was about modelling a swamp and river in Australia’s Banyule catchment and how modelling can be answer questions around water quality and ecology.
There was a range of topics presented and all the presentations have all been extremely well received. It was good to have discussions with other modellers around NZ and Australia on how they tackle similar challenges. There were numerous papers from Auckland Council on the recent modelling they are completing for water quality, flood options and raintanks.
The highlight of the symposium however was a trip to the Auckland’s University Fluid Lab. We were like kids in a lolli shop. The university research lecturers and students highlighted some of the recent research they were looking at, which included air trapping in pipes (research for Auckland Interceptor), sediment transport, culvert overtopping etc. My absolute favourite was experimenting the wave action should and Auckland volcano erupt in Auckland Waitemata harbour, it was lovingly named the “fart in a bathtub” experiment by the researchers.
A networking event was held the first evening and it was good to have discussions in a social event.
Overall it was a very successful and inspiring two days and worth getting together to discuss and debate similar modelling challenges and also obviously the current affairs.
Bertrand Salmi - Development of a Citywide Drainage Model
Bertrand Salmi - Banyule Swamp
Bill Syme - Recent Advancements in 2D Modelling
Brendon Schicker - Making Models Work
Girija Mulay - Three-Way Coupled Modelling - Innovations and Lessons Learned