River Engineering Services

Historically, River Engineering solutions to improve navigation, such as the beautiful works on the River Barrow, dating from 1770, were essential to provide links between key urban centres for the purposes of trade and transport. However, in more recent times, the recreational value of these waterways has gained increasing recognition with significant funds being committed to enhance inland waterways, such as the Royal Canal Restoration Programme.

River Engineering in Ireland and Europe is now primarily concerned with providing increased conveyance capacity for flood flows. Internationally, changing perspectives have seen the emphasis on Flood Risk Management shifting to a catchment scale approach, with more pro-active Flood Risk Assessment and Management, combined with an increased use of non-structural and flood impact mitigation measures. In spite of new perspectives, River Engineering solutions to manage existing Flood Risk will continue to form a key part of the overall Flood Risk Management strategy for Ireland.

The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management in Ireland. They are the principal authority for coordinating Flood Risk Assessment in line with national and EU Legislation and are responsible for carrying out any remedial works to the countries drainage network in conjunction with its responsibilities under the Arterial Drainage Act (1945) and the Arterial Drainage Amendment Act (1995). Irelands Rivers have been significantly shaped by River Engineering, particularly during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The evidence of historical Arterial Drainage Schemes such as those carried out by the OPW in the 1950’s and 1960’s still exists today with long reaches of canalised river cutting through the landscape. These large River Engineering schemes have been predominantly concerned with improving channel conveyance.

TOBIN have forged strong connections with the OPW and Local Authorities throughout Ireland, working alongside them on numerous projects. We are delighted to be involved in the most recent strand of Arterial Drainage Schemes, and are currently involved in delivering the detailed design of the Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme. The scheme involves the detailed design and implementation of a Flood Relief Scheme, which will include the provision of approximately 4km of two-stage channel (and necessary embankments) and the modification of seven bridge structures through the provision of bypass culverts, deepening and underpinning, and demolition and replacement.

TOBIN personnel are vastly experienced in all aspects of River Engineering projects, and are capable of providing all the services required for the successful delivery of River Engineering projects of various scale and complexity. We have experience in the analysis of man-made navigation channels in our work on the River Barrow. We have also been responsible for a number of strategically important Road Projects which included numerous river crossings including the proposed M18 Crossing over Dunkellin River and the design of culverts along the N7. Our services and experience includes

• Specification and procurement of survey requirements supplemented by our in-house survey capability
• Hydrological Analysis
• Hydraulic Modelling
• Preparing Section 50 Applications and Scheme Documentation
• Costing
• Public Consultation
• Preparing Contract Documentation
• Issue of Tender Documentation and Evaluation of Tender
• Project Supervisor Design Process duties

Our ability to provide a complete set of services ensures that we have the capability and resources to carry a project through from inception to completion.