Our expertise

WRL is a leader in water engineering research, with a wealth of expertise built up over 60 years.

Through our networks, partnerships and collaborations we are engaged with industry, government and the community, delivering commercial projects within a Quality Management System.

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Illustration by Anna Blacka, UNSW Water Research Laboratory
Water Research Laboratory - Coastal engineering

Coastal engineering

Established in 1959, WRL is widely regarded as an industry leader of Coastal Engineering practice.

WRL was commissioned to undertake 2D and 3D physical modelling of geotextile coastal management systems, which were proposed a resort at an island development in Abu Dhabi. The proposed coastal development scheme consisted of a field of low crested geotextile container breakwaters, utilised in combination with beach nourishment.

Coastal physical modelling

The hydraulics laboratories at WRL are the largest and most comprehensive in Australia. WRL occupies 3.8 ha of land immediately downstream of Manly Dam, and has 4 fully equipped laboratories for research and specialist consulting studies.

WRL researcher with a logo of Water Research Laboratory on his jacket amongst a wetland

Environmental engineering

Our environmental team (EcoEng @ WRL) places a strong emphasis on partnerships, collaborations and joint studies. While our research focuses on the water-based processes in the environment, we value our partnerships for the successful restoration and functional recovery of damaged, contaminated or endangered ecosystems.

The Blue Carbon Method is focused on the introduction of tidal flows to low-lying coastal floodplains through the modification or removal of existing infrastructure.

Blue Carbon

Blue Carbon is the carbon captured by the world's ocean and coastal ecosystems. Coastal Blue Carbon ecosystems, including mangrove forests, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows, are highly effective at sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and locking it away for very long periods of time.

Wetland restoration - UNSW Water Research Laboratory

Wetland restoration

WRL scientists and engineers can provide a range of expert services to assess and restore both tidal and riverine wetlands. Our researchers understand the environmental issues behind the observable problems and have a track record of developing tailored, on-ground solutions to stimulate functional wetland recovery.

WRL has several decades of experience in the research, investigation and application of fundamental and applied civil engineering hydraulics.

Civil engineering hydraulics

When hydraulic behaviour is crucial to the operations of large (or small) infrastructure, WRL can utilise its knowledge and experience, specialist hydraulic laboratories and instrumentation to provide robust and cost saving solutions.

Water Research Laboratory - project Hydrodynamics

Outfalls

WRL is an industry leader in the engineering and science of marine and riverine outfalls. Over the past 20 years WRL has been involved in numerous studies covering all aspects of outfalls including hydraulics, dilution, commissioning and field studies.

Groundwater field equipment

Groundwater

WRL has a team of hydrogeologists and environmental engineers who are highly regarded for groundwater problem solving. This team is recognised in Australia and internationally for expert groundwater services.

Water Research Laboratory - Hydrology and water resources

Hydrology and water resources

WRL have specialist expertise to provide solutions for critical water resource issues including the hydrology and quality of runoff in urban catchments, water budgeting, reservoir operations, environmental flows and the sedimentation, geomorphology, and flooding of rivers.

A device that converts wave power into electricity

Offshore renewable energy

In the last 20 years, WRL has drawn on its long-standing experience in marine and coastal engineering to provide expert advice to the Australian Offshore Renewable Energy industry.