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The Development of a World-Class Hydrodynamic Capability
by Tristan Coleman – Co-founder and Chief Executive at WKC Group
Ravel’s story: from South Africa to Dubai, where he would go on to lead WKC’s Hydrodynamic Modelling Team
“Anyone want to do some Hydrodynamic Modelling in Dubai?”
When the question was put to WKC’s South African office around eight years ago, Ravel Barnard didn’t need much time to consider his answer.
“I stuck up my hand super-quick and the rest is history!” recalls Ravel, now WKC’s hydrodynamic modelling leader.
The prospect of working abroad was an immediate draw. Ravel had a background in mechanical engineering; but zero experience in hydrodynamic modelling.
Ravel recalls his only hesitation in volunteering for his transfer to Dubai, was why nobody else had their hand in the air!
A Service Built Through Necessity
By the time Ravel arrived in Dubai, WKC’s in-house hydrodynamic modelling capability was still in its infancy.
Roughly two years earlier in around 2016, Greg Ashcroft (now WKC’s UAE General Manager) had taken on the challenge of developing WKC’s hydrodynamic modelling services. With some formal training when time allowed, most of Greg’s learning took place during the demands of project delivery.
It was a steep introduction to a complex discipline, but one that quickly caught Greg’s interest.
“Of all WKC’s analytical methods, this was the one I found most interesting and challenging,” Greg recalls.
Hydrodynamic modelling uses complex computer simulations to reproduce how water, and therefore pollutants within it, moves in the marine environment. For WKC’s clients, it provides a way to investigate how a proposed development or discharge could affect the surrounding marine environment, and to assess options for reducing those effects before decisions are taken forward into construction.
Ravel’s arrival brought additional capacity, an engineering perspective and someone with whom Greg could work closely.
From Learning the Discipline to Leading It
Ravel’s first months involved intensive training, followed by a longer period of building experience and confidence through project work. By his own estimate, it took around 18 months of intense learning before he felt comfortable with his modelling skills.
Greg remembers both the demands of that period and the qualities that helped Ravel through it.
“Ravel has a logical mind, and as long as he understands the problem and the process, ninety-nine times out of one hundred he will find the answer.”
WKC’s Managing Director and UAE General Manager, Greg Ashcroft, has overseen Ravel’s rise to leading the Hydrodynamic Team in Dubai
As Ravel’s technical confidence grew, so did his responsibilities. By his third year, Ravel was increasingly taking the lead in client discussions, explaining and defending his technical findings, winning work and managing complex projects.
That progression eventually brought him to the leadership of the service.
“I am very proud of the fact that I started with zero hydrodynamic modelling experience and now I am the service lead,” he says.
The confidence behind that statement was built project by project.
From Technical Milestones to Better Design Decisions
A defining project for Ravel came back in 2021 when he built an extensive model to simulate the complex coastal waters between Saadiyat and Jubail Island for a major port developer in Abu Dhabi. Despite the challenging setting, the model achieved some of WKC’s strongest agreement with conditions measured in the field which was a particular source of pride for Ravel.
The work also formed the foundation for WKC’s wider, in-house Abu Dhabi hydrodynamic model, which continues to develop as the team adds more projects to their impressive portfolio across the emirate.
Advanced Modelling enables WKC to support practical design and planning decisions
On another power generation project, for example, Ravel recalls how he and the team assessed 36 different cooling-water diffuser configurations and alternative outfall locations to improve dilution and reduce the risk of discharged water returning to the plant’s intake. This was a great case study in how the team’s work can help clients select preferred concepts, and demonstrating how modelling early in the design process can improve both engineering and environmental outcomes.
WKC’s engineering-focussed hydrodynamic expertise helps clients optimise outfall designs
People (and Processing!) Power
Behind the work is continued investment in people and computing resources. The wider team brings together expertise in engineering, oceanography, biodiversity and coastal management, all supported by the computing capacity needed to investigate complex settings and compare design options. The aim is to give clients a sound basis for decisions, with findings grounded in an understanding of both the marine environment and the proposed development.
Ravel’s passion for diving brings an extra dimension to his marine simulation work
Passing the Experience On
Having benefited from Greg’s guidance, Ravel now finds himself supporting the development of other’s careers.
Ravel recognises a familiar milestone in his colleague Bruno, who now also plays an important role in the hydrodynamic team; the point at which a modeller grows confident in taking responsibility for the work and the conversations around it.
“Very proud of him,” Ravel says.
Bruno (left) and Ravel (right) are continuing to add certified, specialist skills to WKC’s repertoire
Looking ahead, Greg sees continuing opportunities across coastal infrastructure in the GCC and beyond; helping clients optimise designs, minimise the impacts to some of the most valued and protected natural environments, and preparing the technical evidence needed to support regulatory approval.
WKC offer a fully integrated marine assessment service incorporating desk-based simulation work with field survey capabilities and biodiversity expertise
For Ravel, the international experience he hoped for when he raised his hand has developed into something much more. Responsibility for a specialist team, continuing to push his own limits, develop the team’s technical skillset… and the opportunity to help others progress.
A popular member of the team! Left image: Ravel (front and centre) with colleagues in his native South Africa. Right image: celebrating with teammates in Dubai (third from left).
Quite the story. Thanks Ravel!
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