The ‘mini’ flume demonstrates the interaction of engineered structures with flow in a channel and can be set up inside, for example in a classroom or office.

It shows the flow of water in a simple channel, driven by a system of re-circulating pumps. It features scale models of typical engineered structures such as weirs, bridges, culverts and debris screens. Observers can see in real time how different structures interact with the flow and what happens under flood conditions.

We are always looking for opportunities to use the tank to talk about fluvial processes and flood resilience studies, and we urge any schools, universities or events to get in touch.

​​See Jeremy Benn on YouTube

In the 17 minute video to the right, we see the 'big brother' to our mini flume in action, with Jeremy Benn demonstrating some of the causes of flooding and how good design and maintenance of rivers and drainage channels can help to manage flood risk.

The Augmented Reality (AR) Sandbox is a very interactive visualisation tool that shows how topography affects water moving through a catchment. We are always looking for opportunities to use the AR Sandbox to talk about hydrology and catchment processes, and we urge any schools, universities or events to get in touch.

Participants can shape real sand to create their own catchments which are then ‘augmented’ in real time by a projector which shows a coloured elevation map and contour lines.

By holding a hand above the sand, participants can ‘make it rain’ and then watch how the virtual water flows through the catchment in real time and explore how changes in land use affect flooding.

Our first prototype was developed with students from the Griffith University as part of their civil engineering degree, and was based on the specifications shared by the University of California, Davis.

​See us on YouTube:

This film was developed by our friends at the JBA Trust and shows two contrasting river catchments and their different responses to rainfall. It shows a managed catchment with straight river channels, extensive upland drainage and housing built in the floodplain vs. an estate protected by engineered flood defences, more natural catchment with a meandering river channel.