Flume

Where do the best swimmers in the world come to test out the latest high-tech Speedo swim wear? Dunedin, New Zealand, of course - to the best flume in the world, and the only one in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Otago flume uses the latest technology to create a unique swimming environment. It resembles a treadmill but with a narrow, 10 metre-long channel of precisely-controlled flowing water instead of a walkway. The flume, however, is used for more than analyzing the swimming technique of elite athletes.

Built in 1998 by E-Type Engineering of Invercargill, the flume was designed by former Physical Education physiologist Dr Barry Williams of the University's Human Performance Centre specifically for advanced scientific research and aquatic testing including design modifications on yacht hulls, reducing wave drag on swimmers, and highly-accurate aquatic product testing.

With the IP jointly-owned between E-Type Engineering and the University, Otago Innovation worked with the company, selling the flume idea to other universities and institutions.

Recently, in order to give the engineering firm maximum marketing flexibility, Otago Innovation licensed the technology to them so that the company could continue to market the product internationally without having to confer first with the University.