The Hydroinformatics Institute (H2i) supports the National Environment Agency (NEA) in its watch on Singapore’s coastal waters through the NEPTUNE Operational Management System (OMS), a role it has played since 2014.

Singapore’s coastal waters are heavily used for port and shipping activities, recreational activities, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as by the maritime and petroleum industries. H2i provides maintenance and technical support for the continuous water quality monitoring and prediction system.

NEPTUNE integrates hydrodynamics and water quality modelling using eight specially outfitted buoys that act as miniature labs. The buoys continuously collect data on pollutants, including oil and nutrients, and send live updates to the authorities on how these could spread.

They also monitor Singapore’s coastal waters for other abnormalities. The high resolution 3D models capture the complex tidal interactions in the Singapore and Johor Straits, allowing NEA to predict the impact of coastal incidents on the marine environment. This has bearing on marine ecosystems including corals, mangroves and other living organisms, and industries like aquaculture and tourism.

H2i will also support NEA in investigating major water quality incidents, like fish kill or algal bloom.

Our Operational Management Systems hold much potential for industries and countries concerned with monitoring water quality, especially as the impact of climate change, urbanisation and commerce take their toll. Such systems can help anticipate, manage, or even prevent damage before it is done.

Sources: The Straits Times