Which Indian Institute of Technology has recently commissioned Asia’s largest indigenously developed shallow wave basin research facility to support advanced marine and coastal engineering research?

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) has commissioned Asia’s largest indigenously developed shallow wave basin research facility to support both academic research and the evolving needs of the maritime industry. The facility is located at Discovery Campus in Thaiyur, a suburban area of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Important Features of the Facility 1. The facility has been established by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC), the technology arm of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. 2. It is designed to simulate complex wave and current interactions, addressing key challenges in coastal engineering, port development, and waterway management. 3. It is equipped with a mobile wave maker, making it one of the few such advanced research facilities in the world. 4. Most of the components, especially the wavemaker, were fabricated indigenously at IIT Madras, reducing the country’s dependence on imported technology. Applications of the Facility • Testing of coastal infrastructure designs • Analysis of climate change impacts on coastal areas • Study of floating solar plants • Post-impact analysis of port and coastal structures • Supporting multi-disciplinary marine and ocean engineering research