Passau Island sea defences tested

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Entry posted by Belfastsocrates · March 7, 2015

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Passau Island's innovative new flood defences successfully tested

Conor Aston, Minister for Transport and Regional Development, was joined by James Bradbury, Minster for the Environment, to witness the first full-scale in situ test of the new automated tidal and storm surge defence barriers which will protect the Passau Island development. The barriers are the first automated sea defence system of it's kind in Perseus and it's hoped they will be installed along the sea frontage and tidal river sections of the wider Passau city region, a preliminary cost study is being undertaken to assess the full cost of such a city-wide system. Further studies will be undertaken to assess cost in other important coastal cities such as Axehaven.

Passau Island has been designed with rising sea levels and an increasing number of tidal surges in mind. The entire island is ringed by a linear parkland which has been planted with trees and plants which can survive flooding events and contamination of the soil by sea water using an innovative freshwater flushing system to remove excess salt. The linear park also acts as sacrificial land in times of small scale flooding and when combined with the barriers at full height affords protection of over 10 metres.

The barriers operate in conjunction with a series of sea buoys and a ring of various hydrological sensors that tell the system when to raise and lower the barriers. The barriers can operate at various heights up to a current maximum of 8 meters

When they aren't in operation the barriers are hidden within the quay embankment and don't restrict access in any form. The barriers which are built into the road surface of the new link bridge retract into the foundations allowing for an uncompromised road surface.

Passau Island is the largest land reclamation project ever undertaken in Perseus and once complete will provide tens of thousands of new homes and approximately 30 million square feet of new office space as well as new facilities such as a new cruise ship terminal and opera house. As reclaimed land it is vulnerable to tidal surges and the defence barriers were seen a high priority before construction activity reaches it's height.

Speaking at today's event the Minister for Transport and Regional Development, Conor Aston, praised the people and companies behind the project which he hailed it as a "fine example of Persusian technological advancement" and a one he was "keen to see expanded upon, not only in Passau but in coastal cities and towns across the country". He continued "The Persusian Government is fully committed to ensuring Perseus is capable of defending itself against rising sea levels and our flood and tidal defence infrastructure is a key priority area for my department"