Do you work with government departments?

Yes — a substantial part of our portfolio is for state and central government - Water and Irrigation Departments, including projects under bodies like the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). We're set up to handle standard government procurement and reporting requirements.

What is the typical scale and duration of a physical model study at the IHE Lab?

Model scales range from 1:25 to 1:100 depending on Froude similitude, available laboratory footprint, and design discharge. A typical study runs 2 to 5 months from kickoff to final report, including model construction, instrumentation, calibration runs, design iterations and reporting.

Can you do CFD without a physical model — or vice versa?

Yes, both. For many briefs (preliminary screening, internal flows, single-issue investigations) CFD alone is appropriate. For complex free-surface, sediment-laden or air-entrainment problems, a physical model is the more defensible primary deliverable. We'll recommend the right approach for your specific brief — not the most expensive one.

What software stack do you use for hydraulic modelling?

For CFD: ANSYS Fluent, Flow-3D and OpenFOAM. For 1D/2D hydrodynamic modelling: HEC-RAS (1D & 2D) and the MIKE suite (MIKE 11, MIKE 21). For hydrology: HEC-HMS, SWAT and bespoke Python workflows. We document every assumption made.

Do you publish your work?

Where the client brief allows it, yes. Our team has published peer-reviewed papers on Piano Key Weir CFD, floating solar capacity assessment, bathymetric methodology and reservoir aquatic ecology. See our Insights page.

How quickly can you scope a new project?

For most briefs we return a scoping note with proposed methodology, programme and indicative budget within five working days of receiving site information and design drawings. Faster if it's straightforward. Slower if it's genuinely novel — we'd rather be honest than rush.

Do you offer training or capacity-building?

We host MTech and PhD researchers on lab-based thesis work and run focused short courses on hydraulic modelling for partner government departments. Get in touch to discuss specifics.

Where are you based?

Our office and the IHE Laboratory are in Roorkee, Uttarakhand — within plausible distance of IIT Roorkee, India's oldest engineering institute and the historic centre of water engineering education in the country. We have our corporate office at D-41, Second Floor, Block D, Sector 108, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. However, we work on projects across India.

What is Flood modelling?

Flood modelling is the use of mathematical and computational methods to simulate how floodwater behaves — where it goes, how deep it gets, how fast it moves, and how long it lasts. It creates a digital representation of real-world flooding events, past or future.

Why is flood modelling important?

It allows engineers, planners, and governments to predict and prepare for flooding before it happens. Instead of reacting to disasters, decision-makers can assess risk, design better infrastructure, set planning rules, and deploy emergency responses more effectively.

How is flood modelling used in climate change planning?

Models can be run with future climate projections — higher rainfall intensities, sea level rise, more extreme storm events — to show how flood risk changes over time. This helps governments and infrastructure owners plan long-term adaptations and set appropriate safety standards for new developments.

What are 1D, 2D, and 3D flood models?

These refer to the number of spatial dimensions simulated. 1D models represent water flowing along a defined channel cross-section — fast and simple, good for rivers. 2D models simulate water spreading across a surface, making them more realistic for floodplains. 3D models are used for detailed local studies, such as flow around complex structures.

Have a different question?

The fastest way to get an answer is to email us directly.

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