SERI KEMBANGAN: The National Hydraulic Research Institute (NAHRIM) is open to being utilized by public and private agencies and higher learning institutions.
Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar (pix) said public and institution researchers should collaborate with NAHRIM that could bring new ideas and innovation for an alternative water usage in contributing to the conservation of the country.
Natural phenomena have become alarming with the climate change the rising sea level effects such as coastal erosion, river estuaries, runoff sediment, flood frequency, drought, polluted water resources and the environment.
“Our rapid development requires infrastructure development such as irrigation and drainage, flood control, eco-tourism, hydropower generation, river transportation and navigation, river hydraulic structures as well as coastal infrastructures such as ports and jetty, wave breakers and others.” He said in his speech during the launch of National Seminar on Physical Modelling Application and Technology (PHYMAT) dan Hydraulic Invention and Innovation Show (Hydrauliis) 2018 here.
Physical modelling is helpful and needed in the field of river and coastal engineering which then can be implemented in the hydraulic structure development in the country.
“For example, in flood mitigation projects, physical modelling studies is needed to help address design related issues in terms of the operation of the flood diversion channel, the design efficiency of the spillway and the weir.
“With physical modelling studies, it can help to solve environmental issues that can not be solved by using conventional methods.” He said.
It is learned that most developed countries have applied the technology and the physical model studies in our country have been implemented in overseas for research purposes.
“All of these facilities are available at NAHRIM and should be utilized by various public and private agencies and higher learning institutions.” He added.
Xavier also urges all department heads to be more creative in providing various platforms to generate new ideas that suit all layers of civil servants.
The government has set one of the strategic thrusts of changes in achieving the developed nation status through the implementation in the green growth to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the country in the Mid-term Review (KSP) Malaysia’s 11th Plan (RMKe11).
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Book of Records recognized NAHRIM Hydraulic and Instrumentation Laboratory (MHI) as the largest Rainwater Harvesting System in Malaysia for the lab category.
NAHRIM has successfully implemented a physical modelling in water usage by cost saving of RM18,000 by delivering 11,383 cubic meters of water from March to September 2018.
NAHRIM, one of the research bodies under the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry is responsible in conducting the basic and applied research in water field including applying and developing numerical and physical modelling methods to solve water-related problems and the impact of uncontrolled development as we see today.
