Applied Science Associates

A MODEL(ING) ENTERPRISE: Photographed in 2009, the leadership team for Applied Science Associates included CEO and President Eoin Howlett, left, and founders Craig Swanson, center, and Malcolm L. Spaulding. The environmental-modeling firm aggregates marine data to model environmental impacts. / PBN FILE PHOTO/BRIAN MCDONALD
A MODEL(ING) ENTERPRISE: Photographed in 2009, the leadership team for Applied Science Associates included CEO and President Eoin Howlett, left, and founders Craig Swanson, center, and Malcolm L. Spaulding. The environmental-modeling firm aggregates marine data to model environmental impacts. / PBN FILE PHOTO/BRIAN MCDONALD

A South Kingstown-based environmental research firm founded in 1979 by four University of Rhode Island scientists was boosted into a gigantic new sphere when it became part of a global firm based in the United Kingdom.

In late 2011, the former Applied Science Associates was acquired by the RPS Group, a consulting firm of offshore and coastal engineers that conducts business around the world. RPS works with people in government, industry and universities to analyze marine, freshwater, air and land resources.

The original Applied Science Associates specialized in creating computer models of freshwater and marine environments to work on problems like marine oil spills or to plan port dredging or bridge building.

RPS is especially recognized in the fields of oil spill risk, oil and chemical spill modeling, physical oceanography, coastal geology, sediment transport and dispersion, and oceanographic data and modeling.

- Advertisement -

Since the merger in 2011, the management and staff of the former company have remained the same in Rhode Island, and they continue to maintain business relationships in Latin America and the Asia Pacific region. The South Kingstown office employs about 50 people.

By 2014, the former Applied Science Associates had arrived at a full transition from the parent/child branding of RPS ASA to simply RPS.

Aside from Rhode Island and the U.K., RPS has offices in Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Asia. n

Established: 1979

Type of Business: Computer modeler of marine and freshwater environments

THEN:

OWNER/MANAGER: Malcolm L. Spaulding, founder

LOCATION: Narragansett

EMPLOYEES: 16

ANNUAL SALES: WND

Now:

RPS

OWNER/MANAGER in Rhode Island: Linda Nolan Gagne, executive vice president – Ocean Science; Eoin Howlett, divisional manager, Built and Natural Environment

LOCATION: South Kingstown

EMPLOYEES: 50 in Rhode Island; 300 employees and 800 consultants globally

ANNUAL Sales: 567 million pounds

No posts to display