• Engineering of new land surfaces

  • Applying sustainable design principles to ensure cost-efficient and sustainable land reclamation projects

Land Reclamation

Land reclamation requires an integrated approach in which planning, engineering and realisation are closely coordinated. Thanks to our extensive expertise and experience in land reclamation, we can provide broad-based advice in this field. We engineer new land surfaces in seas, lakes and rivers for the realisation of new residential districts, port expansion projects, etc.

In order to create an integrated design, we assemble a customised team for each project, consisting of specialists in (coastal) hydraulic engineering, geotechnical engineering, hydrodynamics, morphology, water management, dredging and ecology. We carefully assess the feasibility (in terms of costs and execution) and environmental impact of relevant alternatives, so we can prepare a practical design that will be approved by the relevant authorities. During the work performance phase, we support the contractor in optimising the design, or help the client in preparing the contract to be concluded with the contractor. Witteveen+Bos can also fulfill the role of site manager and supervise the performance of work.

A land reclamation project has a significant impact on the surroundings, which is largely determined by such factors as the location, the method used (sand suppletion or drainage), the project’s size and dimensions, and the construction materials used (particularly the extraction location). We apply our seven sustainable design principles to ensure cost-efficient and sustainable land reclamation projects that are optimally integrated within existing natural systems. We minimise the use of finite sources and materials and aim to achieve an optimal ‘fit’ with the socio-economic systems of which the reclaimed land will form part.

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Witteveen+Bos medewerker Ruud Bouw

Ruud Bouw

PMC manager Coasts, Rivers and Land Reclamation