Project Portfolio
Technical Milestone: The SHARC software
Developed through DFID-funded research at HR Wallingford, the algorithms in SHARC such as tools to predict settling basin or sediment excluder performance, created by Edmund Atkinson are now a leading method for quantitative sediment prediction at intakes.
Since 2001, Edmund has applied this methodology to optimize sediment management at intakes across Asia and Africa, bridging the gap between theoretical research and field-proven engineering.
Category: Training & Technical Advisory
International Capacity Building (Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Africa, Vietnam, China, Albania)
The Work: Provided specialised training to public service engineers and research institutes (such as IWHR in China) on canal sedimentation, reservoir management, and the application of SHARC and RESSASS software.
The Impact: Empowered national water authorities to move from reactive desilting to proactive, model-based sediment management.
Some other projects
Name | Country | Focus | Technology/Method |
|---|---|---|---|
Chatra Canal | Nepal | Canal Siltation | Pump sampling and design of control measures |
Hong Kong
Reservoirs | Hong
Kong | Reservoir Storage | Development of sediment removal and reduction
options |
Sarawak River | Malaysia | River
Morphology | ISIS Sediment modelling for morphological impact
of flood mitigation |
Category: Barrages & Irrigation
Sukkur Barrage, Pakistan
The Challenge: Severe sedimentation in the Right Bank canals despite river training works introduced in the 1940s. Concurrently, upstream shoal growth threatens the barrage’s capacity to pass historic flood volumes safely.
The Intervention: Utilising SHARC, Edmund modelled river training works and the results correlated well with complex 3D and scale modelling, allowing for rapid assessment of design alternatives. The study included satellite-
based shoal diagnosis (dating back to the 1970s) and the implementation of a sediment monitoring program using a minimum of imported equipment.
The Result: Demonstrated that traditional structural alternatives would be ineffective, pivoting the strategy towards operating the Approach Channel as a settling basin. The new strategy is currently undergoing trials.
Guddu Barrage, Pakistan
The Challenge: Canal sedimentation and upstream shoal growth. Specific issues were a non-functioning tunnel-type sediment excluder and an ineffective divide wall gap at the Left Pocket.
The Intervention: Applied SHARC to predict the potential performance of the existing excluder versus the potential of operating the Pockets as flushed settling channels. The project integrated decades of satellite imagery and
initiated suspended sediment measurements.
The Result: Provided the evidence to reject costly excluder recommissioning in favour of extending Divide Walls, which would enable successful sediment control through flushing.
Khanabad Barrage, Afghanistan
The Challenge: Sediment-laden river flows cause deposition in the primary irrigation canals. The rehabilitated system would enable increased abstraction at higher river discharges and so increase sediment loads entering the canals, which would threaten agricultural output.
The Intervention: Edmund reviewed existing sediment management proposals and utilised SHARC to design custom sediment excluders (at the headworks) and extractors (within the canals).
The Result: Provided a specialised design suite that ensured sediment control was integrated into the barrage’s rehabilitation, securing water delivery for the region's irrigation network.
Category: Dams & Hydropower
Tarbela Reservoir, Pakistan
The Challenge: Rapid advancement of the sediment delta toward the power intakes threatened the longevity and power generation at the world’s largest earth-filled dam.
The Intervention: Edmund led the technical development of RESSASS to model sand delta evolution and silt deposition. This allowed for the prediction of storage loss across multiple operational scenarios, including large-scale flushing.
The Result: Established the long-term operation strategy to protect power intakes and demonstrated the potential for storage maintenance through annual flushing, informing WAPDA’s ongoing management of Pakistan’s primary energy source.
Category: River Morphology
Marawaji Flow Diversion, Nigeria
The Challenge: Sedimentation at a critical bifurcation was causing flow loss to an irrigation channel and threatening the Hadejia-Nguru Wetlands. A diversion structure was proposed to rebalance the system.
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The Intervention: Conducted a comprehensive field investigation supported by 1D morphological modelling and desk studies to evaluate the bifurcation’s long-term stability.
The Result: Confirmed the viability of the diversion structure, providing the client with the necessary long term dredging load to ensure project success.
River Lee crossing, Ireland and River Conway crossing, Wales
The Challenge: The estuary crossings used a tunnel construction sequence involving floating out tunnel sections and laying them in a dredged trench. A temporary vertical gap between the sections and the trench bed was part of
the sequence. This enabled backfilling the gap with gravel to leave a solid, uniform foundation. Deposition of estuarine silt in the gap would compromise the foundation, and so it had to be predicted beforehand.
The Intervention: Developed a model of the flow around and under the tunnel sections before backfilling using the PHOENICS CFD software, including both flow and sediment transport. The model allowed for the oblique nature of the crossing.
The Result: Confirmed the viability of the construction sequence - temporary sedimentation under the tunnel sections would be limited and so could be managed.
Category: Pump Intakes
Karshi Intake and Pump Station, Uzbekistan
The Challenge: Assessing sediment control for a major intake and a 22km supply channel serving a critical pump station.
The Intervention: Applied SHARC to model sediment routing and determine the effectiveness of various control options, including the provision of intake gates.
Bray Intake, Thames, UK
The Challenge: Concern over sediment management at the pump intake for water supply.
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The Intervention: Application of a 3D numerical model (based on PHOENICS) to predict the sedimentation pattern around the intake. It indicated that sedimentation would not cause problems.
Sediment sampling in the Indus at Sukkur Barrage, Pakistan
Khanabad Barrage, Afghanistan
Tarbela Dam, the structures in the foreground were assessed for conversion to large flushing outlets
Tunnel sections ready to be deployed, River Conway crossing, Wales
Pump station on the Karshi main canal