Innovative Solutions to Water Challenges: HR Wallingford's Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue

Innovative Solutions to Water Challenges: HR Wallingford's Contributions to the Overseas Territories Trade & Investment Dialogue

Presented as part of a trade and investment study visit co-convened by British Expertise International and Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office

HR Wallingford’s focus is entirely on water and the complex challenges it brings, developing innovative, practical solutions to solve these challenges. Delegates learned how water solutions are helping governments and industry to manage coastal risk, improve maritime and energy systems and strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure internationally.

HR Wallingford design smart, resilient solutions across the natural and built environments to help everyone live and work more sustainably with water. Their work spans the full breadth of water-related challenges, including coastal and marine environments, sea water dynamics, navigation and draught analysis, flood resilience and flood risk management. In parallel, they support critical energy infrastructure, with experience across oil and gas terminals as well as an expanding portfolio in renewable and clean energy systems. 

While engaging with the delegation from the Overseas Territories, HR Wallingford explored its integrated approach, which brings together physical modelling, digital simulation and applied engineering to support governments and industry in managing flood risk, coastal processes, port design and water resource systems. The group was given hands-on exposure to two of HR Wallingford’s flagship capabilities: its Ship Simulation Centres and large-scale hydraulics modelling laboratories. These facilities demonstrate how infrastructure can be tested, validated and optimised before construction, reducing risk and improving long-term resilience.

Key Takeaways

Reducing risk and improving operational effectiveness through simulation

HR Wallingford explored the role of simulation in reducing infrastructure risk before physical delivery by experiencing firsthand both the Thames Simulator and Container Vessel Simulator. HR Wallingford’s ship simulators, used in over 700 projects globally, allow ports, terminals and navigation channels to be designed and tested in a fully controlled, realistic environment. These tools enable planners to assess vessel behaviour, optimise layouts and identify safety risks before investment decisions are made.

Strengthening climate-resilient infrastructure through physical modelling

The hydraulics modelling facilities demonstrate how large-scale physical testing complements digital modelling to validate infrastructure performance under real-world conditions. HR Wallingford’s wave basins, among the largest in the world, allow engineers to simulate complex coastal processes, including wave action, sediment transport and vessel movement.

For example, in Barbados, wave basin testing was used to assess the impact of offshore hotel protection works on beach conditions before construction. This type of modelling enables decision-makers to understand environmental and operational risks in advance, ensuring that infrastructure investments do not unintentionally damage surrounding ecosystems or coastal dynamics.

Integrating water, energy and maritime systems for resilience

HR Wallingford’s work spans across interconnected sectors, including coastal infrastructure, ports, oil and gas terminals and, increasingly, renewable energy systems. This integrated approach is particularly important for island and coastal economies, where ports, energy infrastructure and water systems are tightly linked. The ability to model and design across these sectors ensures that infrastructure investments are aligned with broader economic and environmental objectives.

Strengthening critical national infrastructure through environmental resilience

The session highlighted the growing importance of protecting critical national infrastructure (CNI) from both environmental and security risks. HR Wallingford’s modelling and testing capabilities help ensure that infrastructure is designed with sufficient robustness to withstand these pressures. For Overseas Territories, where infrastructure networks are often limited and highly exposed, building resilience into design from the outset is essential.