Press Release: Australian Engineers use UK Flow Measuring Equipment in Survey of Kuwait City Drainage Network

The use of flow monitoring instrumentation from UK specialist manufacturer Detectronic has facilitated the completion of two comprehensive winter hydrological surveys in Kuwait. To address seasonal flood problems, the Kuwait Government commissioned the multi-disciplinary Australian consultants Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) to develop a master plan for the storm water drainage system.

Charlie Reed, project manager for SMEC on the Kuwait Stormwater Drainage Master Plan explained, “We approached several companies of which only Detectronic fully understood the implications of two short, but separated, survey periods and were able to work with us to provide all the equipment needed, guidance, training and importantly, essential back up and support during the survey period. Detectronic supplied all the equipment for both rainfall monitoring and stormwater flow monitoring. Director, Dave Walker provided initial training in how to set up the equipment for optimum performance, procedures for data download and assistance with analysis of the data.”

A total of 30 data logging flow monitors and 18 rain gauges, complete with data loggers, and spare parts were supplied. These instruments were all calibrated and serviced in the UK workshop before being air freighted to Kuwait. Detectronic handled shipping and all export documentation to Kuwait where SMEC handled inward customs clearance. This process worked efficiently, enabling SMEC to commence the survey promptly. At the end of the survey, the process was reversed and the equipment returned to the UK for use on other hire contracts, before preparation and shipping once more for the following winter season.

Through both winter surveys Detectronic provided technical back up as required. “Most of this communication was by e-mail and via Skype/telephone. We found that Dave Walker and the other members of the team at Detectronic understood our situation, enabling most issues to be resolved speedily, a testament to their experience and professionalism,” commented Charlie Reed.

The survey phase of the project is now complete and SMEC are proceeding to the hydraulic modelling and design phase. Based on their experience of the support provided by Detectronic, Charlie Reed has recommended Detectronic as a company to supply flow monitoring equipment and service to colleagues on other international SMEC projects.

“Kuwait is a normally arid country subject to short but intense winter storms. Kuwait City, however, is far from unusual in having a drainage infrastructure, developed more than 40 years ago, before the massive urbanisation that has since taken place. The master plan being developed by SMEC will signpost the measures needed to alleviate the current winter flooding problems,” commented Dave Walker.

Detectronic is a company dedicated to providing robust flow monitoring equipment and support services to the global water industry. In addition to the production and sale of a new range of advanced flow monitoring equipment the company also has a major hire division. Independently accredited workshop facilities maintain hire equipment in peak condition and provide service, calibration and certification facilities for survey contractors with their own equipment. Based in the UK, the company has the experience and capability to support contractors anywhere in the world.

More Information

Steve Woods, Tel. +44 01282 449 124
E-mail: sales@detectronic.org Web: www.detectronic.org
Detectronic Ltd, 1 Turner Road, Lomeshaye Industrial Estate, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 7DR

Additional Information for Editors

Detectronic

First established in the 1970’s, Detectronic originally developed a range of ultrasonic depth and Doppler velocity measuring systems for the nautical leisure industry. During the early 1980’s this technology was further developed with the UK Water Research Centre to create a flow survey monitor, the Surveylogger. This unit became an industry standard and is still in use by flow survey companies throughout the world. It provides accurate measurement of volumetric flow in any regular shaped channel. Using a pressure sensor to measure depth it computes flow area and by use of a Doppler sensor it measures mean velocity allowing volumetric flow to be calculated. This data is downloaded periodically to a field computer before transfer to a desktop PC where data from several loggers monitoring a network can be collated to generate a computer model of how storm surges pass through a drainage network.

In 1991 the original Detectronic company was absorbed into a larger organisation, which gave up the Detectronic name. By the turn of the century, production of the Surveylogger had ceased. Then, in 2007, in response to an identified need in the marketplace, four core members of the original Detectronic team, with an accumulated 100 years experience in the industry, came together to create a new Detectronic company. This brings to the table the same determination to provide high quality products and services to meet the needs of the water industry.

In addition to producing a new advanced flow survey instrument, the Multi Sensor Flow Monitor (MSFM), Detectronic also offers equipment hire, the repair and recalibration of all makes of flow survey equipment – to IEC Ex certified standards – together with in house and on site training. Detectronic also provides consultancy services and flow surveys for industrial water users and effluent producers.

Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC)

The Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation was forged from Australia’s biggest ever civil engineering project the Snowy Mountains Scheme. This 25 year project was a combined hydropower and irrigation initiative. Waters from the Snowy River, which would otherwise flow direct to the ocean, are dammed and transferred by deep bored mountain tunnels to irrigate interior land.

SMEC was created by the Australian government in 1970 to consolidate the engineering and management skills gained. The company became a public corporation in 1989 and was privatised in 1993. There are now SMEC offices around the world and the company is a consultant for a range of infrastructure, energy, environment and sustainability projects.