IIHR Engineering Services

What IIHR Engineering Services does

IIHR Engineering Services is the consulting and applied-research services arm of IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering, a hydraulics research laboratory embedded in the University of Iowa and in continuous operation since 1920. The organization sells specialized engineering expertise — physical hydraulic modeling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, and field data collection — to hydroelectric utilities, municipal water/sewer authorities, federal agencies, and engineering firms confronting complex fluids-related problems such as fish mortality at dams, total dissolved gas supersaturation, sedimentation, cooling-water intake design, and large-diameter stormwater conveyance. Technical delivery combines scale physical models (e.g., a 50x33x1.4-meter replica of the Columbia River gorge), FLUENT-based 3D CFD with in-house add-on numerical models (including a first-of-kind two-phase total-dissolved-gas model and the Numerical Fish Surrogate co-developed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), and field campaigns using research vessels equipped with multi-beam bathymetry, sediment coring, and large-scale particle image velocimetry.

The service portfolio is organized around three core capabilities — Physical Modeling, Computational Modeling, and Fieldwork/Data Collection — supported by in-house Construction & Fabrication, Electronics & Instrumentation, Flume Design & Construction, and Design & Drafting functions. These capabilities are applied to vertical-specific offerings including Fish Passage Modeling, Total Dissolved Gas Modeling, Dropshafts & Stormwater Conveyance, Wave Energy Converter Testing, Self-Cleaning Culvert Design, and Wind Energy Research. Notable named engagements include the Cowlitz Falls Dam Fish Collector (95% federally mandated fish survival achieved), the Priest Rapids/Wanapum dams ($44.6M fish bypass construction), the Thames Tideway Tunnel in London, and the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District dropshaft (4,420 MGD peak flow).

Revenue mechanics are professional-services project contracting with no publicly disclosed pricing; go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales via a Director of Engineering Services (Troy Lyons), supported by a professional website, LinkedIn presence, and University of Iowa research publications. The entity has no external investors, no venture funding, and operates as a unit of a public state university with over 100,000 ft2 of dedicated facilities across Iowa City and Coralville, including a designated National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark (Stanley Hydraulics Laboratory, ASCE 2005).

Name

IIHR Engineering Services

Legal name

IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering

Website

https://iihrengineering.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

IIHR Engineering Services, the consulting arm of the University of Iowa's IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering lab, provides physical hydraulic modeling, CFD simulation, and field data collection to hydroelectric utilities, municipal water authorities, federal agencies, and engineering firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydraulic Engineering Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals) (EUAMAFAG), Hydrodynamics & Performance Engineering (Resistance, Propulsion, Seakeeping, Maneuvering) (IMAJAGAB)

Keywords

• Hydraulic engineering services
• Physical hydraulic modeling
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Fish passage engineering
• Stormwater conveyance modeling

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: IIHR provides specialized hydraulic engineering consulting services including physical modeling, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and field data collection to clients including utility districts, government agencies, engineering firms, and private companies. Projects are contracted directly with clients for specific engineering challenges.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IIHR Engineering Services provides specialized hydraulic engineering consulting, including physical scale modeling of dams, rivers, and sewer systems, fully 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using FLUENT-based software, and field data collection via research vessels and instrumentation. The firm supports hydroelectric utilities, municipal water/sewer districts, federal agencies, and naval clients in designing, validating, and optimizing fluids-related infrastructure such as fish passages, total dissolved gas mitigation, stormwater conveyance, and wave energy converters.

Product overview

IIHR Engineering Services is a consulting and research services provider offering specialized hydraulic engineering services through a portfolio of integrated capabilities. The core offerings include Physical Modeling (scale models of hydraulic structures), Computational Modeling (CFD simulations using FLUENT), and Fieldwork/Data Collection. These are supported by Construction & Fabrication, Electronics & Instrumentation, Flume Design & Construction, and Design & Drafting services. IIHR applies these capabilities to specific project types including Fish Passage Modeling, Total Dissolved Gas Modeling, Dropshafts & Stormwater Conveyance, Wave Energy Converter Testing, Self-Cleaning Culvert Design, and Wind Energy Research. The services are provided primarily to hydroelectric utilities, municipal water systems, and government agencies for engineering analysis and design validation of water-related infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Physical Modeling Physical hydraulic modeling service using scale models of hydraulic structures (dams, rivers, sewers) to test and validate engineering designs before construction.
• Computational Modeling (CFD) Fully 3-D computational fluid dynamics simulations using FLUENT software for temperature modeling, fish passage analysis, and total dissolved gas prediction in hydraulic structures.
• Fieldwork and Data Collection Field data collection services including bathymetric surveying, sediment sampling, groundwater studies, and deployment of flood-related instrumentation using research vessels and specialized equipment.
• Construction & Fabrication Precision fabrication services for physical hydraulic models using materials including acrylic, polycarbonate, PVC, aluminum, and stainless steel, with CNC milling and welding capabilities.
• Electronics & Instrumentation Custom data-acquisition equipment design, construction, calibration, and deployment for measuring fluid-flow parameters including velocity, pressure, temperature, and water elevation, with sampling capability up to 2 million samples per second.
• Flume Design & Construction Design and construction of custom laboratory flumes including tilting flumes, Kennedy flumes, environmental flow facilities, and towing tank flumes for research and testing.
• Design & Drafting 2D and 3D design/drafting services using software including ArcGIS and LabView for laboratory models, wind tunnels, flumes, and CFD grid generation.
• Dropshafts & Stormwater Conveyance Modeling Physical and computational modeling of sewer and stormwater conveyance systems including dropshafts, tunnels, interception chambers, and deaeration structures for large municipal infrastructure projects.
• Fish Passage Modeling Hydraulic modeling and CFD analysis to improve fish passage structures at hydroelectric dams, including fish bypass design, total dissolved gas reduction, and salmon survival optimization.
• Total Dissolved Gas Modeling Fully 3-D computational models to predict total dissolved gas (TDG) distribution in dam tailraces and evaluate spillway deflector technologies to protect migrating fish.
• Wave Energy Converter Testing Testing of wave energy converter (WEC) technologies in IIHR's advanced wave basin facility, including precision wave-generating capabilities for DOE Wave Energy Prize competition.
• Self-Cleaning Culvert Design Fillet-based culvert design that prevents blockage by sedimentation and vegetation by using stream flow power to flush sediment deposits automatically.
• Wind Energy Research Research on wind turbine performance under various weather conditions using Doppler wind LiDAR, meteorological towers, and wind tunnel studies to improve wind power plant design and forecasting.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% federally mandated fish survival rate achieved at Cowlitz Falls Dam with $35.5M fish collector
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Idaho Power CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 1983 for hydraulic modeling and analysis to improve fish passage structures at hydroelectric dams including Hells Canyon Dam, Brownlee Dam, and other Snake River projects. IIHR provides both physical modeling and CFD capabilities to support fish passage design and total dissolved gas reduction.
• Grant County Public Utility District #2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for hydraulic modeling and fish passage improvements at Priest Rapids Dam and Wanapum Dam on the Columbia River. IIHR conducted integrated studies using laboratory models and numerical simulations to design fish bypass systems.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative relationship including McNary Dam project and joint development of the Numerical Fish Surrogate computer model. IIHR's fully 3D multiphase numerical model was validated with USACE data for total dissolved gas studies.
• U.S. Department of EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE selected IIHR as a test facility for the Wave Energy Prize competition, testing wave energy converter technologies in IIHR's advanced wave basin facility located over a thousand miles from any ocean.
• MidAmerican Energy CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of wind energy research to understand how weather conditions affect wind turbine performance. Research aims to build more accurate turbine flow models and optimize operation in less than ideal conditions.
• Tacoma PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Cowlitz Falls Dam fish collector design improvement. IIHR provided numerical modeling to improve fish collection structure design, contributing to 95% federally mandated fish survival rate achievement.
• Pend Oreille Public Utility DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Box Canyon Dam fish passage improvements. IIHR has worked with the utility district since 1983 to reduce salmon mortality through improved turbine and spillway designs.
• American Electric Power (AEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Cardinal Power Plant project: IIHR assessed river hydraulics and complex flow patterns in the Ohio River near the 1800 MW coal-fired plant to evaluate submerged screen installation for EPA 316(b) compliance.
• CH2M Hill (for Thames Tideway Tunnel)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKey partnership in London's massive sewer system upgrade. IIHR conducted physical modeling to simulate water and air movement through interception chambers, dropshafts, and deaeration chambers for the 19-mile tunnel system.
• Jacobs EngineeringcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJacobs Engineering contracted IIHR for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District project to review design recommendations and construct physical models of dropshafts.
• Baxter & Woodman Consulting EngineerscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting engineering firm hired IIHR to create CFD models of Pump Station 15 in Madison, Wisconsin for retrofitting and reconfiguring to handle larger sewage flows.
• National Science Foundation (NSF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of wind energy research to improve understanding of wind turbine performance under various weather conditions.
• NASAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of wind energy research with focus on atmospheric flow modeling and wind turbine wake analysis.
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of wind energy research contributing to environmental impacts understanding of wind turbines.
• Iowa Energy CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of wind energy research focusing on wind power plant performance and forecasting.
• City of Madison, WisconsinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan Sewerage District of Madison engaged IIHR for pump station CFD modeling to adapt Pumping Station 15 to handle new sewage loads sustainably.
• Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for stormwater conveyance modeling. IIHR constructed 1:16 scale physical model of the Forest Park Intake Facility including dropshaft, approach channel, and deaeration chamber to validate vortex dropshaft performance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stantec: Stantec is a large global engineering and environmental services firm with significant water and hydraulics modeling practices serving utilities and municipalities — an overlapping competitor and potential partner.
• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure consultancy with a large water and environment practice offering hydraulic modeling, dam engineering, and tunnel design services that overlap materially with IIHR's portfolio.
• HDR Inc. HDR is a major AEC firm with deep water resources and hydroelectric dam practice, including hydraulic and CFD modeling capabilities that compete with IIHR's specialist offering.
• Jacobs Engineering: Jacobs is a global AEC firm with substantial water, hydraulics, and tunneling capabilities; it has contracted IIHR (e.g., St. Louis Sewer District) but increasingly internalizes similar physical/CFD hydraulic modeling services.

Direct peers

• HR Wallingford: HR Wallingford is a UK-based specialist hydraulic engineering consultancy with physical modeling and CFD capabilities serving ports, water utilities, and energy clients globally — directly comparable to IIHR's service model.
• Alden Research Laboratory: Alden Research Laboratory is a direct peer — a specialized hydraulic and fluids engineering consulting firm offering physical modeling, CFD, and field services to utilities and government agencies, mirroring IIHR's core service mix and customer base.
• St. Anthony Falls Laboratory: University of Minnesota's St. Anthony Falls Laboratory is a near-direct peer: a university-affiliated hydraulics research center offering physical and computational modeling, similar in structure, mission, and capabilities to IIHR.
• Northwest Hydraulic Consultants: Northwest Hydraulic Consultants is a specialized hydraulic and water resources engineering firm serving hydroelectric, mining, and municipal clients in North America — comparable niche and customer base to IIHR.
• DHI (Danish Hydraulic Institute): DHI is a specialist water and environment modeling consultancy combining CFD, physical modeling, and proprietary MIKE software for water utilities and coastal/infrastructure clients — closely aligned with IIHR's hydraulic modeling focus.
• Utah Water Research Laboratory: Utah State University's Utah Water Research Laboratory is a comparable university-affiliated hydraulics and water resources research center serving utilities, governments, and industry with physical and numerical modeling capabilities similar to IIHR's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iihr-engineering-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IIHR Engineering Services