DHI leads three of the consortia selected to carry out the comprehensive environmental studies for the Fehmarnbelt Link.
Towards 2011 DHI and others will carry out a wide range of studies for Femern Bælt A/S. Studies which will map the various possibilities and solutions, not least from an environmental point of view. ‘With the Fehmarnbelt we are undertaking the one of the largest and most comprehensive environmental assessment ever’ says Jørgen E. Larsen, DHI. ‘The study will cover everything from counting birds to complex computational simulations of the current in the area. This way we will establish a very detailed picture of the current conditions’.
Fehmarnbelt is an interesting stretch of water in the transition from the brackish water of the Baltic Sea to the more saline water of Kattegat. At the same time it is an area noted for its high biodiversity both with regard to the faunal found on the sea bed and the rich sea life.
‘The Client is very focused on adopting an innovative approach. It must be the best knowledge and data which is extracted and used for the future decisions’ says Ian Sehested Hansen, Head of Projects, DHI and adds ‘this is exactly the approach we have taken in our proposal. New methods and models will be developed which combined with our experience from the Great Belt and Oresund Link projects will contribute with considerable new knowledge. And already in the beginning of 2009 three offshore data sampling buoy stations and ten near shore buoys will be deployed in the area to document the hydrographical conditions.
The environmental assessment consists of a number of packages, which each focus on specific areas. The impact of the link on the water exchange, water quality and seabed will be studied closely and meteo-ocean design conditions will be established. The marine biological studies include detailed mapping of the different species and will follow the entire food chain from the smallest organisms to mussels and macro vegetation. The birdlife is to be mapped with traditional methods as well as with newly developed radar technology combined with telemetry. Furthermore DHI participates in a study of marine mammals.
‘We have established some really strong consortia with Danish, German and English partners. We will have a much better understanding of how a complex ecosystem such as Fehmarnbelt functions once the environmental assessment is concluded’ says Jørgen E. Larsen and adds ‘at the same time much of the knowledge gained can be used elsewhere and the studies will further provide a better insight into the interaction between nature and man-made structures.
The results from the comprehensive environmental study will be a used as a central element when deciding on how to proceed.
For further information please contact:
Hydrography: Ian Sehested Hansen, ish@dhigroup.com
Marin Biology: Jørgen Erik Larsen, jln@dhigroup.com
Birds: Henrik Skov, hsk@dhigroup.com