Hydraulic Area
A hydraulic area is one that consists of very fine clay material containing pore water that makes soil support unstable when a load is applied. The load causes settlement over a period of time, but settlement can be accelerated by the draining of the pores as a pre-construction activity. These hydraulic areas exist along the coastline and property owners must be careful as to how they place their structures in these areas, to avoid building failures and the resulting financial losses. LeadingEdge Synergy Consulting can guide owners/developers and help them steer clear of these issues.
Drainage
Water is essential to life, by unwanted or uncontrolled water can cause a myriad of problems, such as flooding, erosion, attracting pests and even epidemics. In most instances, proper drainage is the most reliable mechanism to control and remove unwanted water until it reaches its final destination. Unfortunately, it is quite common for adequate drainage to be given little to no attention in many building projects until it is too late and additional costs are incurred. For example, a common, logical but erroneous approach to drainage issues is to raise the level of the land by filling as an alternative to providing a drainage system that would be more sustainable. We know that proper drainage incorporated into development projects from the start will guarantee their success. We can analyze the conditions that cause these problems and recommend a simple or combined drainage solution.
Coastal Engineering
Coastal engineering is a branch of civil engineering concerned with the specific demands posed by constructing at or near the coast, as well as the development of the coast itself. The hydrodynamic impact of waves, tides, storm surges and the damaging nature of the salt water are typical challenges that face a coastal engineer. There are also the morphodynamic changes of the coastal topography to consider, caused by both man-made changes and the autonomous development of the system. Without the proper knowledge, building near the coast could not only be a costly mistake, it could also be fatal. LeadingEdge Synergy Consulting has two Dutch-trained Coastal Engineers with Masters degrees in hydraulic engineering for low-lying areas like Belize, with close ties to the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute. We have the tools to capture data on parameters that influence coastal changes, allowing us to provide analysis and authoritative recommendations. We are strong advocates for working with nature, rather than against it, as the natural world often provides the most sustainable solutions.
As well as recommending coastal defense strategies, we also provide input on environmental impact assessments, port development, land reclamation, energy-production facilities etc. This includes recommendations on the optimal earth-moving equipment and the supervision of dredging operations.
Erosion
Erosion is the loss of material due to the regular movement of water and/or wind at a velocity that is able to move surface material. To combat this, one must slow down/redirect the water and/or wind , or increase the weight of the surface particles. Erosion and accretion commonly occur along the coast and are more complex because they are influenced by wind, waves, tidal movements and human activity. Too often, well-intentioned initiatives by community groups to address or to try and control coastal erosion end up exacerbating the situation. We can design a strategy rooted in information gathered on the influencing parameters of erosion and the application of coastal engineering principles, firmly based on nature, with vegetation and surface revetment as an integral part of the design.