Coastal Engineering Expert Interview

The field of Coastal Hydrodynamics plays a crucial role in helping us understand waves through mathematical models, as well as using physical principles, to predict how big waves become higher and higher and eventually break as they come towards the shore.

Ashwini Otta, our next pathbreaker, works with Consulting Groups, Multinational Donor Banks [MDBs] and Oil & Gas companies, and offers advisory services in the field of coastal infrastructure like ports, coastal protection and climate change adaptation.

Ashwini talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from  The Interview Portal about coastal engineering which is a rapidly evolving field and how nature-based solutions are being increasingly adopted for coastal resilience. So, you see an amalgamation of biological sciences (mangroves, coral reef, seaweed) and physical sciences in coastal engineering research and practical applications.

For students, society and economic prosperity need many different types of skills. But fundamental knowledge is very vital to adapt to changing work needs. Follow your motivations and interests and enjoy your studies.

Ashwini, Your background? 

I grew up in a middle class family in a small town, called ‘Baripada’ in Odisha. I studied in the Government High School ‘MKC High School’. The high school had a good tradition of interest in education. I was interested in mathematics and physical sciences more than Biological science. At the same time, I was interested in other branches like history, economics and literature. 

I played with my friends for fun, but didn’t really join any sports for serious representation. I did well in my school debates and essay writing competitions.

What did you do for graduation/post graduation? 

I was enrolled in the engineering stream ‘Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture’ at IIT Kharagpur. This engineering stream is about designing and building ships and ocean going vessels as well as other marine infrastructures like oil rigs in the sea. 

I also did my Masters and PhD in Coastal Engineering from University of Delaware.

What were some of the influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional and uncommon career in Coastal Engineering?

I had an interest in Mechanical Engineering and Electronics at the time I joined my bachelor’s degree in engineering. One of the professors in IITKGP introduced me to the stream of Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture at the time of admission counselling. At that age, I had only visited a seashore a couple times and seen the vessels in the sea from a distance. I was quite fascinated to study in an engineering stream that would enable me to design those ships plying the ocean.

Many people influenced my academic career and life. My grandfather had the most influence on my academics during my high school days. My parents had the most influence on my ways and outlook towards life. I had excellent professors during my days in IITKGP and later during my master’s and doctoral degrees. Among them Prof. R.P Gokarn and Prof. S.C. Mishra of IITKharagpur are two most prominent figures. I still meet them in different events and conferences now and then. During my master’s and doctoral work, three key figures were Prof. N. Kobayashi, Prof. R. Dalrymple and Prof. I. Svendsen. They instilled a sense of research and problem solving to my thinking. 

There have been several small and big events, too many of them. One that is particularly fresh after almost 40 years is a conference presentation I delivered to a room teeming with many pioneers in coastal/ocean engineering. This was on the occasion of Prof. Dean’s 60^th birthday. I had several interesting discussions with many reputed researchers in the field following the talk.

While participating in a technical conference during the last phase of my doctoral research in the US, I met a team of R&D professionals from Delft Hydraulics in the Netherlands. They invited me to visit Delft Hydraulics and discuss a career with them.

How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path 

Coastal Engineering is available as a Master degree programme. It is available in India at a few institutes as well. Students can come to coastal engineering from various disciplines like civil/mechanical engineering, Naval Architecture and also from physics and mathematics. It depends on the faculty’s emphasis and research area. In my case, I was interested in applied hydrodynamics and the group at University of Delaware was reputed for conducting research on coastal hydrodynamics. The other core areas are maritime structures, marine geotechnic. It is interesting to note that it is a rapidly evolving field and nature-based solutions are being increasingly adopted for coastal resilience. So, you see an amalgamation of biological sciences (mangroves, coral reef, seaweed) and physical sciences in coastal engineering research and practical applications. This gives me opportunities to work with marine biologists on some projects.  

The problem statement for my doctoral research was to understand coastal hydrodynamics, as they happen close to the shore. More specifically, the objective was to develop mathematical models, using physical principles, to predict how big waves become higher and higher and eventually break as they come towards the shore. The swash motion of waves running up and down on the beach and seawalls was also part of the outcomes of the target model.

After my PhD, I worked as a domain expert offering my specialized knowledge as part of solutions to a range of complex problems. These problems came from various industrial sectors. Any infrastructure like a port, a jetty/terminal, an oil platform, marine aquaculture or a gas pipeline, electric or data cable between land and sea invariably requires the knowledge of how the sea and the land on either side of the shore behave. The engineering of the process and the operation had to be built around them. As a domain expert, I provided that quantification. I also worked in the position of a project leader. In this position, I used my overall knowledge of coastal engineering to design the project structure and identified the different experts needed. Further, I provided the interface between the experts for streamlining the project execution. 

Why did you come back to India?

I came back due to personal circumstances.

I took on the role of Head :Research & Development, Research Infrastructure at Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies, Lonavala/Mumbai

My role was  to identify, plan and setup R&D infrastructure in consultation with the management for corporate research and education of maritime students. I was instrumental for designing and implementing a wave channel to generate waves (water, like the ones you see on the sea surface) through a programmable Mechatronic paddle system. I also mentored junior colleagues to operate the system and methods of conducting R&D to address clients’ problems.

I continue to work as an Independent Expert. In this role, I provide consulting services based on my domain expertise. Sometimes, I work as an individual advisor directly with the end client and other times, I work as a specialized consultant with a larger consulting group from other companies to various clients.

How did you get your first break in such a rare field?

My approach was to find a job that enabled me to combine my interest in R&D and real-life problem solving. Delft Hydraulics in the Netherlands was one of the few organizations in the world that offered these opportunities in ports, coasts and offshore engineering. So, it was quite a privilege to get an invitation from the Delft Hydraulics team to visit them and discuss working with them. It was not without some fear though. I was going to leave the US and go to a country with a different culture and language. In the end, the deciding factor was an opportunity to work in a very stimulating and supportive environment.

The rigour of my masters and PhD had given me enough training and background. I didn’t have any other other internship. 

I have worked hard during my student days. I had enough to show for my performance and background. I believe that was enough. I did not have a break as such. What came my way came as a result of the hard work put in prior to that.  

In my case, my professors had research contacts with my first employer. That made it easier for me and my first employer to start discussing my research interest and experience and what I could expect from them.

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them? 

Challenge 1: Working in different cultures and understanding the little nuances that make co-working much more pleasurable

I had to try hard to learn the nuances but maintain good professional interactions. It becomes easier over time.

Where do you work now?  What problems do you solve? 

I offer consulting solutions through System2C which is my own consulting company. It is a B2B and B2C company. Clients are other larger consulting groups, Multinational Donor Banks [MDBs] and oil and gas companies.and advisory services in the field of coastal infrastructure like ports, coastal protection and climate change adaptation.

What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills? 

A good scientific and engineering background is needed in order to understand how the sea impacts infrastructures that are built on shores or in water. My academic background and subsequent jobs prepared me for this.

What’s a typical day like? 

On a typical day, I may respond to a few email queries from potential clients, read a few new case studies and work on projects at hand. Sometimes, I go to the project sites for visual inspections of the physical conditions. On average, I have one or two group meetings once every three days.

What is it you love about this job?  

There is something new with each project. In the end, I provide solutions for a port, a coast or something related to the maritime industry knowing that they are going to improve safety of the community, operational personnel and add to the economy.

How does your work benefit society?  

I and the teams I work with help design and build ports, protect shoreline and prepare plans against future sea level rise and storm surges. It helps the society in saving lives against threats from the sea, and saving nature. At the same time, our work opens up new economic avenues for coastal communities. 

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you! 

Very close to us, something that is very visible is the coastal protection work along the Trasi-Maravanthe coastal highway near Mangalore. You might have seen the pictures of the stone works that look like ‘T’ protecting the beach and thereby the highway and the connectivity. Myself and my team did the design of the coastal protection system. The work was implemented by a follow-on team who executed the phase 2 of the project.

Your advice to students based on your experience? 

Society and economic prosperity need many different types of skills, and knowledge. Fundamental knowledge is very vital to adapt to changing work needs. Follow your motivations and interests and enjoy your studies. Don’t get fixed or obsessed with one thing from blind faith in what your friends are doing.

FuturePlans?

I plan to keep working as a consultant and advisor in the same field that I have enjoyed for many years.